Looking for the evidence: a systematic review of prevention strategies addressing sport and recreational injury among children and youth

Injury Prevention in Child and Adolescent Sport: Whose Responsibility Is It?

“…The evidence that injuryprevention strategies reduce the risk of sports injuries in youth is weak and is based primarily on cohort studies for specific injuries in specific sports. 41 In elite athlete populations, there is some randomized controlled trial (RCT) evidence that balance training, in conjunction with other preseason training strategies, reduces the incidence of specific injuries in specific sports including European handball, soccer, and volleyball. [42][43][44][45][46][47][48] Emery et al 48 have further demonstrated in a cluster RCT study that a balance training program alone is effective not only to improve balance, but also to reduce injury in sport among high school physical education participants.…”

Craniomaxillofacial injury in sport: a review of prevention research

“…Examining only one aspect of an injury can result in naive, ineffective, or even harmful conclusions. 50 …”

“…These studies lack a systematic analytical approach that would provide a reliable basis for the development of preventive strategies. A systematic review of prevention strategies addressing sport and recreational injuries among children and youth was preformed by MacKay et al 50 This review found few well designed and controlled studies investigating strategies to prevent injuries and even fewer that evaluated strategies to reduce injury in children and youth. 51 A review of a field level New Zealand five year sports injury prevention programme documented the importance of basing prevention strategies on scientific evidence rather than popular belief.…”

“…Table 4 shows the use of the Haddon's matrix model in the study of sport related craniomaxillofacial injury. 50 Lett et al 51 addressed the weaknesses of the public health approach and Haddon's matrix models, and proposed a comprehensive unified approach ( fig 1C, fig 2). The unified model exposed the lack of systematic point of application in the PHA, and a lack of systematic plan of action for the HM.…”

“…It can be used as an inventory and for a complete understanding of a particular injury. 50 Meeuweisse 52 developed a linear multifactorial model according to the intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors for injury distant from the injury, and the injury itself (fig 3). This model acknowledges that the sport related injuries are a multirisk phenomenon, with a variety of risk factors interacting at any one time.…”