A multicomponent neuromuscular warm-up program reduces lower-extremity injuries in trained basketball players: a cluster randomized controlled trial

Objective To assess the effects of a novel multicomponent neuromuscular warm-up program on lower-extremity injury incidence in basketball players competing at the regional level. Methods A cluster randomized controlled experimental design was adopted to compare injury incidence between players exposed to the injury prevention warm-up program and those exposed to a typical warm-up program across an entire basketball season. Four teams consisting of 57 players (male: n = 42; female: n = 15) were allocated to the intervention group (age: 21.6 +/- 2.5 years; height: 186.2 +/- 8.8 cm; body mass: 80.0 +/- 10.4 kg) and four teams consisting of 55 players (male: n = 43; female: n = 12) were allocated to the control group (age: 21.6 +/- 2.6 years; height: 186.9 +/- 9.1 cm; body mass: 81.5 +/- 10.9 kg). The novel warm-up combined running exercises with active stretching, plyometrics, balance, strength, and agility drills. Coaching and medical staff provided details on injury incidence each week. Data analyses included the use of poisson regression analyses and the incidence rate ratio (IRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results The intervention group experienced a significantly lower ankle sprain incidence rate (IRR = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.05, 0.98, p = 0.02) and a tendency toward a lower knee injury incidence rate (IRR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.03, 1.78, p = 0.07) compared to the control group. Considering only non-contact lower-extremity injuries of any type, the intervention group experienced a significantly lower incidence rate compared to the control group (IRR = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.05, 0.98, p < 0.001). Conclusion This multi-team study demonstrated a novel multicomponent warm-up program resulted in less lower-extremity injuries, particularly ankle sprains and knee injuries, compared to a typical warm-up program in regional-level male and female basketball players.