Preventing Sports Injuries

If it could be done, we'd be doing it.

Apr 15, 2025

∙ Paid

Strong male rugby athlete injured on the sidelines of a night-game on a crutch. — Image created using Midjourney.

This study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, investigated whether physical activity programs can reduce sports injuries. It evaluates the effectiveness of different interventions, including strength training, proprioception exercises, stretching, and combined approaches, in preventing both acute and overuse injuries.

PMID: 24100287

Key Points

Aim

The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of various exercise programs in reducing sports injuries and to provide separate analyses for acute and overuse injuries.

Methods

Data Collection: Researchers analysed 25 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) involving 26,610 participants and 3,464 injuries.
Interventions Studied: Strength training, proprioception exercises (to improve joint stability), stretching, and combined programs.
Analysis: Risk reduction (RR) was calculated for each intervention type. Sensitivity analyses were performed to ensure robustness.
Injury Types: We analysed acute (sudden-onset) and overuse injuries (caused by repetitive strain) separately.

Results

Overall Effectiveness:
- Physical activity programs reduced sports injuries by 37% overall (RR = 0.632).
- Acute injuries were reduced by 35% (RR = 0.647).
- Overuse injuries were reduced by 47% (RR = 0.527).
Intervention-Specific Findings:
- Strength Training: Most effective intervention, reducing injuries by nearly 70% (RR = 0.315).
- Proprioception Training: Reduced injury risk by about 45% (RR = 0.550).
- Stretching: No significant effect on injury prevention (RR = 0.963).
- Combined Programs: Reduced injury risk by about 34% (RR = 0.655).
Age Stratification:
- Adolescents experienced slightly better outcomes than adults (57% vs. 32% reduction in injury risk).
Robustness of Results:
- Sensitivity analyses confirmed that the results were consistent, even when accounting for study quality and methodological differences.