Table 1.
Study characteristics
| Study | Country | Population (all soccer) |
Age | Intervention | Intervention details* | Sample size analysed† | Risk of bias |
| Barber Foss et al 49 | USA | Middle and high schools | 14.0±1.7‡ | Neuromuscular training (CORE intervention) | 3× week preseason (20–25 min) 2× week in-season (10–15 min) |
Total: 142 IG: 74 CG: 68 |
High |
| Emery and Meeuwisse50 | Canada | Under-13 to 18 teams (indoor soccer) | IG: U13–15: 54% IG: U16–18: 46% CG: U13–15: 38.6% CG: U16–18: 61.4% |
Neuromuscular training (plus home-based balance training) |
Every practice and game (15 min) Balance board at least 3× week (15 min) |
Total: 412 IG: 161 CG: 251 |
Unclear |
| Espinosa et al 51 | Spain | First and second National divisions | Team 1: 23±4 Team 2: 19±2 Team 3: 22±3 |
Eccentric hamstring exercises | 2× week (estimated 10–15 min) | Total: 43 IG: 22 CG: 21 |
High |
| Gilchrist et al 52 | USA | College teams (NCAA) | IG: 19.88 CG: 19.88 |
Neuromuscular training (PEP programme) | 3× week (<30 min) | Total: 1435 IG: 583 CG: 852 |
High |
| Heidt et al 53 | USA | High schools | 14–18 | Neuromuscular training (Frappier Acceleration Training programme) | 3× week during preseason only (unknown duration) | Total: 300 IG: 42 CG: 258 |
High |
| LaBella et al 54 | USA | High schools | IG: 16.52 CG: 16.37 |
Neuromuscular training | Every practice (20 min) and game (shorter version) | Total: 654 IG: 321 CG: 333 |
High |
| Rössler et al 55 | Switzerland, Germany, Czech Republic, The Netherlands | Under-9 to 13 teams | IG: 11.6±1.1 CG: 11.4±1.0 |
Neuromuscular training (FIFA 11+Kids) | At least 2× week (15–20 min) | Total: 171 IG: 103 CG: 68 |
High |
| Söderman et al 56 | Sweden | Second and third National divisions | IG: 20.4±4.6 CG: 20.5±5.4 |
Balance board training (home-based) |
Every day for 30 days then 3× week for the rest of the season (10–15 min) | Total: 140 IG: 62 CG: 78 |
High |
| Soligard et al 57 | Norway | Under-15 and under-16 teams | 15.4±0.7 | Neuromuscular training (FIFA 11+) | Every practice (20 min) and game (10 min) 2–5× week depending on team |
Total: 1892 IG: 1055 CG: 837 |
High |
| Steffen et al 58 | Norway | Under-17 teams | 15.4±0.8 | Neuromuscular training (FIFA 11) | Every training for 15 sessions then 1× week for the rest of the season (20 min) | Total: 2020 IG: 1073 CG: 947 |
High |
| Waldén et al 59 | Sweden | Under-14 to 18 teams | IG: 14.0±1.2 CG: 14.1±1.2 |
Neuromuscular training (Knäkontroll) | 2× week (15 min) | Total: 4564 IG: 2479 CG: 2085 |
High |
| Zebis et al 60 | Denmark | Under-18 teams | 15–18 | Using a lighter, smaller football | The different football was used during matches and training | Total: 332 IG: 147 CG: 185 |
High |
*All interventions were for one season/year.
†Sample size only relates to female football players.
‡The age of these participants includes women from other sports (volleyball and basketball).
Risk of bias, Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool; CG, control group; CORE, exercises focused on the trunk and lower extremity; IG, intervention group; NCAA, National Collegiate Athletic Association; PEP, Prevent injury and Enhance Performance.