Online exercise-based sports injury risk reduction programs—a systematic review protocol

Abstract

Background: Physical activity and sports participation are beneficial for health but also pose an injury risk. Research efforts in sports injury risk reduction are offering more and more solutions; however, implementation seems to be lagging behind. Research results are mainly disseminated through professional journals, which may restrict their accessibility. Therefore, Internet-based resources may be a useful complement, but their availability, content and quality are not yet known.

Objectives: To assess the availability, content and quality of sports injury risk reduction exercise-based programs in an online environment.

Method: Google, Yahoo and Bing search engines will be used. Two researchers will independently review the retrieved websites for eligibility through an initial and an in-depth screening. Inactive pages or duplicate pages will be excluded. For each retrieved program data on website and program characteristics will be extracted. The JAMA benchmark criteria and HONcode certification will be used to judge the quality of the websites, and the quality of the exercise programs will be assessed via modified CERT.

Discussion: In light of implementation delays in sports injury risk reduction practices, there is a need to broaden dissemination strategies to include media such as the Internet. At the same time, there is also a need to assess the quality and content of online-based resources to guide their potential use. The outcomes of this review will inform clinicians, coaches and others of the current availability and content of injury risk reduction exercise-based programs on the Internet.

Keywords:

• Sports injury risk reduction
• injury prevention
• sports injuries
• exercise program
• online resources

Acknowledgments

The authors thank their families for their ongoing support on this project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Aleksandra Katarzyna Mącznik

Aleksandra Mącznik has received her PhD from the University of Otago (School of Physiotherapy, New Zealand) in 2015. Currently, she holds a research position at the Keio University (Institute for Integrated Sports Medicine, School of Medicine) as the recipient of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan Standard Program. Her research focuses on injury risk reduction and pain management in athletes, especially females. She has also a strong interest in a use of online and mobile technologies in support of athletes and health professionals.

Poonam Mehta

Poonam Mehta is a lecturer at the Graduate School of Health, University of Technology, Sydney. Her doctoral research was in the area of neuropathic pain and was completed in 2015 (School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, New Zealand). Her research focused on identifying the reliable and valid outcome measures for diabetic neuropathic pain. Her current research interests are in the health and wellbeing of ageing people and through her current roles she is further developing her skills and passion for research in the area of health and wellbeing.

Mandeep Kaur

Mandeep Kaur graduated with a PhD from the University of Otago (School of Physiotherapy, New Zealand) in 2018. Her research was focused on the outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) from 2 to 20 years post-surgery. She explored the medium (2–10 years) and long-term (10–20 years) outcomes of current management of ACLR in terms of muscle strength, physical performance, knee laxity and biomechanical outcomes. She also explored the participants’ experiences of the outcomes of their surgery more than 2 years in relation to physical activity, sports, occupation and quality of life. Her future research focus is on the ACL injury prevention, management and rehabilitation.