Table 1.
Characteristics of included studies.
| Author, year | Sample size (n)a | Age (years), mean ± SDb,e | Sport | Leveld | Intervention group | Control group | Period (weeks) | Duration (minutes) | Frequency (per week) | Primary outcome | Number of injuriesb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cumps et al., 2007 | F:17, M:37 | IG:17.7 ± 3.9, CG:18 ± 2.7 | Basketball | Elite | Balance training intervention (warm-up including basketball-skills on balance semi-globes, progressive difficulty) | Normal routine | 22 | 5–10 | 3 | Ankle injury | IG:5, CG:10 |
| Emery et al., 2007 | F:456, M:464 | 12–18 (range) | Basketball | Sub-elite | Balance training (10 min warm-up routine including aerobic and stretching and 5 min sport-specific balance training warm-up + 20 min home training on wobble board) | Standardized warm-up (specified by research team) | 18 | 15–20 | 5 | Any LE injury, ankle injury | IG:106, CG:111 |
| Emery and Meeuwisse, 2010 | F/M:1018 | 13–18 (range) | Indoor soccer | Sub-elite | Soccer-specific neuromuscular training program (5 min aerobic and stretching and 10 min neuromuscular components including strength, agility, and balance + 15 min home-based balance training on wobble board) | Standardized warm-up (specified by research team) | 20 | 15 | No data | Any LE injury, knee injury, ankle injury | IG:42, CG:60 |
| Hewett et al., 1999 | F:829, M:434 | No data | Soccer, volleyball, basketball | Sub-elite | Pre-season neuromuscular training program (jump technique and performance, stretching and weight training) | No preseason neuromuscular training program | 6 | 60–90 | 3 | Knee injury | IG:2, CG:10 |
| LaBella et al., 2011 | F:1,558 | IG:16.2 ± 1.5, CG:16.2 ± 1.1 | Basketball, soccer | Sub-elite | Neuromuscular warm-up training program (progressive strengthening, plyometric, balance, and agility exercises) | Usual warm-up | 9–18c | 20 | 3 | Any LE injury, knee injury, ankle injury | IG:50, CG:96 |
| Longo et al., 2012 | M:221 | IG:13.5 ± 1.2, CG:15.2 ± 4.6 11–24 (range) | Basketball | Elite | Neuromuscular warm-up training program—FIFA 11+ (running, strength, balance, jumping exercises, and agility) | Usual warm-up | 36 | 20 | 3–4f | Any LE injury, knee injury, ankle injury | IG:10, CG:11 |
| Mandelbaum et al., 2005 | Year 1: F:2,946, year 2: F:2,757 | 14–18 (range) | Soccer | Sub-elite | Prevent Injury and Enhance Performance (PEP) program (warm-up activities, stretching techniques, strengthening exercises, plyometric activities, soccer-specific agility drills) | Usual warm-up | 16 | 20 | 2.18 | ACL injury | Year 1: IG:2, CG:32; year 2: IG:4, CG:35 |
| McGuine and Keene, 2006 | F:523, M:242 | IG:16.4 ± 1.2, CG:16.6 ± 1.1 | Basketball, soccer | Sub-elite | Balance training program (single- and double-limb balance training on balance board, including 5 phases) | No balance training program | No data | 10 | 3 (preseason 5) | Ankle injury | IG:23, CG:39 |
| McHugh et al., 2007 | 125 | 15–18 (range) | American football | Sub-elite | Balance training intervention (single-limb balance training on a foam stability pad) | No control group | 13 | 10 | 2 (preseason 5) | Ankle injury | IG:20, CG:21 |
| Olsen et al., 2005 | F:1,586, M:251 | IG:16.3 ± 0.6, CG:16.2 ± 0.6, 15–17 (range) | Handball | Sub- elite | Neuromuscular warm-up training program (exercises with ball, wobble board and balance mat to improve technique, balance and strength) | Usual warm-up | 32 | 15–20 | 1 | Any LE injury, knee injury, ankle injury | IG:66, CG:115 |
| Owoeye et al., 2014 | M:416 | IG:17.8 ± 0.9, CG:17.5 ± 1.1, 14–19 (range) | Soccer | Elite | Neuromuscular warm-up training program—FIFA 11+ (running, strength, balance, jumping exercises and agility) | Usual warm-up | 24 | 20 | 2 | Any LE injury, knee injury, ankle injury | IG:26, CG:76 |
| Pfeiffer et al., 2006 | F:1,439 | No data | Soccer | Sub-elite | Knee Ligament Injury Prevention (KLIP) program (plyometric and agility exercises) | No KLIP program | 24 | 20 | 2 | ACL injury | IG:3, CG:3 |
| Soligard et al., 2008 | F:1,892 | 15.4 ± 0.7, 13–17 (range) | Soccer | Sub-elite | Neuromuscular warm-up training program- FIFA 11+ (running, strength, balance, jumping exercises and agility) | Usual warm-up | 32 | 20 | 2-6f | Any LE injury, knee injury, ankle injury | IG:121, CG:141 |
| Steffen et al., 2008 | F:2,100 | 17.1 ± 0.8, 13–18 (range) | Soccer | Sub-elite | Neuromuscular warm-up training program—FIFA “the 11”(core stability, balance, eccentric hamstrings strength and dynamic stabilization) | Usual warm-up and training | 32 | 20 | 1 | Any LE injury, knee injury, ankle injury | IG:181, CG:173 |
| Walden et al., 2012 | F:4,564 | IG:14.0 ± 1.2, CG:14.1 ± 1.2, 12–17 (range) | Soccer | Sub-elite | Neuromuscular warm-up training program (focus on knee control and core stability in six exercises) | Usual training and play | 28 | 20 | 2 | Knee injury | IG:49, CG:47 |
| Wedderkopp et al., 1999 | F:237 | 16–18 (range) | Handball | Mix | Balance training + functional activities for the upper and lower extremities (ankle disk training, warm-up and training of all muscle groups) | Usual practice and play | 40 | 10–15 | 3 | Any LE injury, knee injury, ankle injury | IG:10, CG:37 |
a
If data available distributed by sex (F, Female; M, Male).
b
If data available distributed in IG: intervention group and CG: control group.
c
9–12 weeks in soccer, 15–18 weeks in basketball.
d
Sub-elite and elite organized in club or high-school sports, mix includes different levels.
e
For missing mean ± SD the range is specified.
f
Depending on the number of training sessions per week; ACL, Anterior Cruciate Ligament.