Neuromuscular training for the prevention of injuries in sports

Abstract

Introduction: Sports injuries have been progressively increasing, negatively affecting professional and amateur athletes. In this context, preventive programs have gained importance when applied to reduce the incidence and severity of injuries. Among them, neuromuscular training (NMT) stands out, as it has been shown to be beneficial by covering various aspects such as motor control, strength, and stability, which are predisposing factors in reducing the injury rate. The objective of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of neuromuscular training in the prevention of sports injuries, analyzing its impact on different sports. Materials and methods: A systematic review was carried out following the PRISMA guidelines, using databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, and PEdro. The search was limited to articles published between 2020 and 2025. The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated using the PEDro scale, considering studies with scores ≥6 as good quality. Results: The main findings demonstrated that NMT significantly reduces the incidence of lower extremity injuries. Among the most notable results: In basketball, the "SHRed Injuries" program reduced ankle and knee injuries by 36% in both supervised and unsupervised groups. In youth soccer, a 32% decrease in acute non-contact injuries was observed. Discussion: Furthermore, NMT was shown to be beneficial in the rehabilitation of athletes with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, improving knee flexion angles during landing. Conclusions: However, limitations were identified, such as heterogeneity in study designs and a lack of standardization in NMT protocols.