The Relationship Between Acute: Chronic Workload Ratios and Injury Risk in Sports: A Systematic Review

Danny Maupin,1 Ben Schram,2 Elisa Canetti,2 Robin Orr2 1Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, QLD, Australia; 2Tactical Research Unit, Bond University, Robina, QLD, AustraliaCorrespondence: Danny Maupin 2 Promethean Way, Robina, QLD 4226, AustraliaTel +61 07 5595 5530Fax...

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Main Authors: Maupin D, Schram B, Canetti E, Orr R
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2020-02-01
Series:Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/the-relationship-between-acute-chronic-workload-ratios-and-injury-risk-peer-reviewed-article-OAJSM
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author Maupin D
Schram B
Canetti E
Orr R
author_facet Maupin D
Schram B
Canetti E
Orr R
author_sort Maupin D
collection DOAJ
description Danny Maupin,1 Ben Schram,2 Elisa Canetti,2 Robin Orr2 1Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, QLD, Australia; 2Tactical Research Unit, Bond University, Robina, QLD, AustraliaCorrespondence: Danny Maupin 2 Promethean Way, Robina, QLD 4226, AustraliaTel +61 07 5595 5530Fax +61 7 5595 1111Email dmaupin@bond.edu.auPurpose: Low injury rates have previously been correlated with sporting team success, highlighting the importance of injury prevention programs. Recent methods, such as acute:chronic workload ratios (ACWR) have been developed in an attempt to predict and manage injury risk; however, the relation between these methods and injury risk is unclear. The aim of this systematic review was to identify and synthesize the key findings of studies that have investigated the relationship between ACWR and injury risk.Methods: Included studies were critically appraised using the Downs and Black checklist, and a level of evidence was determined. Relevant data were extracted, tabulated, and synthesized.Results: Twenty-seven studies were included for review and ranged in percentage quality scores from 48.2% to 64.3%. Almost perfect interrater agreement (κ = 0.885) existed between raters. This review found a high variability between studies with different variables studied (total distance versus high speed running), as well as differences between ratios analyzed (1.50– 1.80 versus ≥ 1.50), and reference groups (a reference group of 0.80– 1.20 versus ≤ 0.85).Conclusion: Considering the high variability, it appears that utilizing ACWR for external (eg, total distance) and internal (eg, heart rate) loads may be related to injury risk. Calculating ACWR using exponentially weighted moving averages may potentially result in a more sensitive measure. There also appears to be a trend towards the ratios of 0.80– 1.30 demonstrating the lowest risk of injury. However, there may be issues with the ACWR method that must be addressed before it is confidently used to mitigate injury risk. Utilizing standardized approaches will allow for more objective conclusions to be drawn across multiple populations.Keywords: injury prevention, training load, athletics
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spelling doaj.art-809a2d1970a8458b999603e8fcf8cf842022-12-21T19:35:06ZengDove Medical PressOpen Access Journal of Sports Medicine1179-15432020-02-01Volume 11517552032The Relationship Between Acute: Chronic Workload Ratios and Injury Risk in Sports: A Systematic ReviewMaupin DSchram BCanetti EOrr RDanny Maupin,1 Ben Schram,2 Elisa Canetti,2 Robin Orr2 1Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, QLD, Australia; 2Tactical Research Unit, Bond University, Robina, QLD, AustraliaCorrespondence: Danny Maupin 2 Promethean Way, Robina, QLD 4226, AustraliaTel +61 07 5595 5530Fax +61 7 5595 1111Email dmaupin@bond.edu.auPurpose: Low injury rates have previously been correlated with sporting team success, highlighting the importance of injury prevention programs. Recent methods, such as acute:chronic workload ratios (ACWR) have been developed in an attempt to predict and manage injury risk; however, the relation between these methods and injury risk is unclear. The aim of this systematic review was to identify and synthesize the key findings of studies that have investigated the relationship between ACWR and injury risk.Methods: Included studies were critically appraised using the Downs and Black checklist, and a level of evidence was determined. Relevant data were extracted, tabulated, and synthesized.Results: Twenty-seven studies were included for review and ranged in percentage quality scores from 48.2% to 64.3%. Almost perfect interrater agreement (κ = 0.885) existed between raters. This review found a high variability between studies with different variables studied (total distance versus high speed running), as well as differences between ratios analyzed (1.50– 1.80 versus ≥ 1.50), and reference groups (a reference group of 0.80– 1.20 versus ≤ 0.85).Conclusion: Considering the high variability, it appears that utilizing ACWR for external (eg, total distance) and internal (eg, heart rate) loads may be related to injury risk. Calculating ACWR using exponentially weighted moving averages may potentially result in a more sensitive measure. There also appears to be a trend towards the ratios of 0.80– 1.30 demonstrating the lowest risk of injury. However, there may be issues with the ACWR method that must be addressed before it is confidently used to mitigate injury risk. Utilizing standardized approaches will allow for more objective conclusions to be drawn across multiple populations.Keywords: injury prevention, training load, athleticshttps://www.dovepress.com/the-relationship-between-acute-chronic-workload-ratios-and-injury-risk-peer-reviewed-article-OAJSMinjury preventiontraining loadathletics
spellingShingle Maupin D
Schram B
Canetti E
Orr R
The Relationship Between Acute: Chronic Workload Ratios and Injury Risk in Sports: A Systematic Review
Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine
injury prevention
training load
athletics
title The Relationship Between Acute: Chronic Workload Ratios and Injury Risk in Sports: A Systematic Review
title_full The Relationship Between Acute: Chronic Workload Ratios and Injury Risk in Sports: A Systematic Review
title_fullStr The Relationship Between Acute: Chronic Workload Ratios and Injury Risk in Sports: A Systematic Review
title_full_unstemmed The Relationship Between Acute: Chronic Workload Ratios and Injury Risk in Sports: A Systematic Review
title_short The Relationship Between Acute: Chronic Workload Ratios and Injury Risk in Sports: A Systematic Review
title_sort relationship between acute chronic workload ratios and injury risk in sports a systematic review
topic injury prevention
training load
athletics
url https://www.dovepress.com/the-relationship-between-acute-chronic-workload-ratios-and-injury-risk-peer-reviewed-article-OAJSM
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