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Published on: September 25, 2014
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Sport-related Concussion Can be Prevented by Injury Prevention Program: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of
Yan-Long Chen1,2, Tsung-Yeh Chou3, Ming-Chih Sung4
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, Ningbo, China.
Sports Medicine - Open
|November 21, 2025
Summary
Sport-related concussion (SRC) prevention programs significantly reduce injury rates by 34%. These programs are effective regardless of intervention type or whether athletes are in practice or games, offering consistent protection.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Injury Prevention
- Concussion Research
Background:
- Sport-related concussions (SRCs) are a growing concern in sports medicine.
- The effectiveness of current injury prevention programs for SRCs is not definitively established.
- Evaluating these programs is crucial for athlete safety and performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze the efficacy of injury prevention programs in preventing SRCs.
- To determine if intervention type (physical vs. educational) impacts SRC prevention.
- To assess if the athletic exposure context (practice vs. match) affects program efficacy.
Main Methods:
- A systematic search of six major databases was conducted in March 2024.
- Included studies featured prospective designs with reported incidence rates for intervention and control groups.
- Eight studies involving 2571 athletes (1281 intervention, 1290 control) met the inclusion criteria.
Main Results:
- Injury prevention programs significantly reduced the rate of SRCs (IRR = 0.66, p = .002).
- The overall reduction in SRC incidence was 34% for athletes in prevention programs.
- Neither intervention type nor exposure context (practice vs. match) significantly altered program effectiveness.
Conclusions:
- SRC prevention programs demonstrate a significant protective effect, reducing injury rates by 34%.
- Program efficacy is consistent across physical and educational interventions and various athletic contexts.
- Further research is needed to develop female-specific protocols and explore factors influencing intervention effectiveness.
