title: Exercise-Based Interventions for Injury Prevention in Tackle Collision Ball Sports: A Systematic Review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The injury burden in collision sports is relatively high compared to other team sports. Therefore, participants in these sports would benefit by having effective injury prevention programs. Exercise-based interventions have successfully reduced injuries in soccer, but evidence on exercise-based interventions in tackle collision sports is limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this review is to systematically examine the evidence of exercise-based intervention programs reducing injuries in tackle collision sports.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed, EBSCOHost, and Web of Science were searched for articles published between January 1995 and December 2015. The methodological quality was assessed using an adapted Cochrane Bone Joint and Muscle Trauma Group quality assessment tool.
  
  
  METHODS
  The inclusion criteria were (1) (randomized) control trials and observational studies; (2) sporting codes: American, Australian and Gaelic Football, rugby union, and rugby league; (3) participants of any age or sex; (4) exercise-based, prehabilitative intervention; and (5) primary outcome was injury rate or incidence (injury risk). The exclusion criteria were (1) unavailability of full-text; and (2) article unavailable in English.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine studies with a total of 3517 participants were included in this review. Seven of these studies showed a significant decrease in injury risk. These studies included three sporting codes and various age groups, making it difficult to make inferences. The two highest methodological quality studies found no effect of an exercise-based intervention on injury risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is evidence that exercise-based injury preventions can be beneficial in reducing injury risk in collision sports, but more studies of high methodological quality are required.
authors.affiliation: Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. nicolasewry@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1022-4780
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sewry
authors.affiliation: Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.|Amsterdam Collaboration on Health and Safety in Sports, Department of Public and Occupational Health and EMGO+ Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Evert
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Verhagen
authors.affiliation: Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.|Amsterdam Collaboration on Health and Safety in Sports, Department of Public and Occupational Health and EMGO+ Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.affiliation: Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.|Amsterdam Collaboration on Health and Safety in Sports, Department of Public and Occupational Health and EMGO+ Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Willem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van Mechelen
authors.affiliation: Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.|South African Rugby Union, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Viljoen
authors.affiliation: Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.|South African Rugby Union, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Clint
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Readhead
authors.affiliation: Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.|Amsterdam Collaboration on Health and Safety in Sports, Department of Public and Occupational Health and EMGO+ Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D056352:Athletes; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D012916:Soccer / Q000293:injuries*
keywords: American Football; Ankle Sprain; Injury Risk; Methodological Strength; Rugby League