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Exercise interventions to prevent hamstring injuries in athletes: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Rok Vatovec1, Žiga Kozinc1,2, Nejc Šarabon1,3
1Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, Izola, Slovenia.
European Journal of Sport Science
|November 5, 2019
Summary
Exercise interventions significantly reduce hamstring injury risk in sports. The frequency and load progression of these exercises do not appear to be critical factors in their effectiveness for injury prevention.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Exercise Science
- Injury Prevention
Background:
- Hamstring injuries are common in sports, leading to significant athlete downtime.
- Effective prevention strategies are crucial for maintaining athletic performance and participation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of exercise-based interventions in preventing hamstring injuries.
- To identify specific intervention characteristics that enhance protective effects.
Main Methods:
- A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies.
- Searched multiple databases including PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Google Scholar.
- Conducted subgroup analyses based on intervention frequency, load progression, supervision, sport type, and exercise inclusion.
Main Results:
- Exercise interventions demonstrated a significant reduction in hamstring injury risk (RR = 0.49).
- Similar effectiveness was observed for interventions performed ≤2 times/week and >2 times/week.
- Both progressive and constant load interventions showed comparable injury risk reduction.
Conclusions:
- Exercise-based programs are effective in decreasing hamstring injury incidence in athletes.
- Key intervention characteristics like weekly frequency and load progression are not primary drivers of preventive effects.
