(English) Episode 89-Injury Proof Your Legs - The Science of Preventing Lower Body Sports Injuries

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to investigate the effects and differences of various hamstring eccentric training protocols for the prevention of lower limb injuries, and we further propose a more refined hamstring eccentric training protocol for the prevention of lower limb injuries. A total of 23 randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies were found to be included in the meta-analysis, and 15 of these trials, totaling 14,721 patients, were determined to be included in the overall lower extremity injury prevention effect. The analysis showed that the implementation of a hamstring eccentric training program reduced lower extremity injuries by 28%, and it resulted in a 46% decrease in hamstring injury rate and a 34% decrease in knee injury rate. The subgroup analysis revealed that the frequency of exercise was most significant in the twice-a-week exercise group, that the exercise program was most effective in preventing injuries in the 21–30-week exercise period, and that the program was most effective in preventing injuries in elite athletes and amateur adult athletic populations, compared with adolescents.(Hu C, Du Z, Tao M, Song Y. Effects of different hamstring eccentric exercise programs on preventing lower extremity injuries: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health [Internet]. 2023;20(3):2057. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032057)