Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40051003›Full record

SynthesisJournal of orthopaedic surgery and research2025

Injury risk reduction programs including balance training reduce the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in soccer players: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Wenbo Su, Jing Wang, Yuxuan Ying, Bin Lu, Hangbing Liu, Zixiang Zhou, Chang Liu, Hezhang Yun

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Wenbo Su *Department of Sports Teaching and Research, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 73000, China.
Jing Wang *School of Physical Education, Zhejiang Guangsha Vocational and Technical University of Construction, Dongyang, 322100, China.
Yuxuan YingSchool of Physical Education, Zhejiang Guangsha Vocational and Technical University of Construction, Dongyang, 322100, China.
Bin LuSchool of Physical Education, Zhejiang Guangsha Vocational and Technical University of Construction, Dongyang, 322100, China.
Hangbing LiuSchool of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China.
Zixiang ZhouSchool of Sport Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, 100084, China.
Chang LiuSchool of Sport Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, 100084, China. c.liu@bsu.edu.cn.
Hezhang YunSchool of Physical Education, Zhejiang Guangsha Vocational and Technical University of Construction, Dongyang, 322100, China. runhzdyx@bsu.edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAnterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are exceedingly common among soccer players and severely impact their careers and health. This study evaluates the effects of injury risk reduction programs, including balance training exercises, on the incidence of ACL injuries in soccer players through a meta-analysis. The aim is to promote the health of soccer players, enhance their athletic performance, and provide valuable insights for further research in the field of sports medicine.

methodsThis study strictly adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was conducted through PubMed, EBSCO, and Web of Science databases, covering all entries from the inception of the databases until February 2024.

resultsEligible studies were individually assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool version 2, and the quality of the evidence obtained was rigorously evaluated using the GRADE approach. Data analysis and processing were performed using Stata 18 software. Eight studies were ultimately selected for inclusion in the meta-analysis, encompassing 20,336 participants and 1,512,099 exposure hours, with 190 cases of ACL injuries identified among soccer players. The pooled results indicated that, compared to the control group, groups using injury risk reduction programs that included balance training had a 58% reduction in the overall rate of ACL injuries per 1,000 exposure hours (IRR 0.42, 95% CI: 0.27 to 0.66). The overall study heterogeneity was low, with an I

conclusionIn summary, injury risk reduction programs that include balance training significantly reduce the risk of ACL injuries in soccer players. The reduction in injuries is more pronounced in female athletes, and high-frequency training along with longer-duration interventions further enhance the preventative effects.

Indexed as

Anterior Cruciate Ligament InjuriesAthletic InjuriesPostural BalanceRisk Reduction BehaviorSoccerFemaleHumansIncidenceMaleACL injuryBalance exercisesFootball sports injuryInjury risk reduction programsSoccer sports injury

Identifiers

PMID40051003
PMCPMC11887387

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.