Table 1.
Overview of the studies included in the meta-analysis
| Study | Design | Population | n | Injuries | Variables | Definition of RTP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brewer et al35 | Prospective study | Competitive and recreational athletes | 95 | Acute ACL injury | Negative responses, adherence | NA |
| Heredia et al16 | Prospective study | Competitive athletes | 20 | All types of injuries | Negative responses, adherence, RTP | The period between the date when the athlete was declared medically fit and the data on which the athlete returned to play |
| Lentz et al36 | Prospective study | Injured athletes | 60 | Acute ACL injury | Negative responses, RTP | RTP |
| Lu and Hsu37 | Cross-sectional study | Collegiate student athletes | 224 | All types of injuries | Negative responses, adherence | NA |
| Muller et al38 | Prospective study | Injured athletes | 40 | Acute ACL injury | Negative responses, RTP | RTP 7 months after surgery |
| Podlog et al39 | Cross-sectional study | High-school students (study 1), collegiate athletes (study 2) | 118 (study 1) 105 (study 2) |
All types of injuries | Negative responses, adherence | NA |
| Shin et al40 | Prospective study | Competitive athletes | 40 | All types of injuries | Adherence, RTP | RTP |
Note: n, sample size.
Abbreviations: RTP, return to play; ACL, anterior cruciate ligament; NA, not available.