Injury prevention programs including balance exercises with compliance and follow-up reduce the incidence of knee injuries in athletes: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia | [b] Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia | [c] Department of Physical Therapy, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | [d] Department of Physical Therapy, Security Forces Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia | [e] Department of Physical Therapy, King Fahd Central Hospital, Jazan, Saudi Arabia | [f] Department of Physical Therapy, Medical Rehabilitation Hospital, Medina, Saudi Arabia | [g] Discipline of Exercise and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Wesam Saleh A. Al Attar, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al Qura University, PO Box: 715, Makkah, 21955, Saudi Arabia. Tel.: +966 548206504; E-mail: wsattar@uqu.edu.sa.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The knee is one of the most common injuries in sports. However, the incidence of knee injuries can be decreased by enhancing balance and neuromuscular control. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate how injury prevention programs (IPPs) that include balance training influence knee injury rates in athletes. METHODS: Data were obtained from different databases (1985–2021). Only randomised controlled trials that used IPPs that include balance training, were considered. Two investigators extracted data from the qualifying documents. The critical outcome data elements derived from the included studies were the number of ACL/knee injuries, ACL/knee injury rates, exposure hours, compliance rate, and follow-up duration. RESULTS: Compared to the control groups, those who participated in the IPP had a 54% lower risk of knee injuries per 1000 hours of exposure (IRR 0.457 (95% CI 0.346–0.603), P= 0.001) and a 60% lower risk of ACL injuries per 1000 hours of exposure (IRR 0.401 (95% CI 0.215–0.750), P= 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: IPPs that include balance training may reduce the risk of knee injuries.
