Research summary · Youth development
An eight-week ACL programme in preadolescent handball
A trial tests whether a brief, targeted injury-prevention programme changes cutting-related neuromuscular and biomechanical measures in young female handball players.
- Publication year
- 2026
- First published online
- Publication type
- Randomized controlled trial
- Journal
- Translational Sports Medicine
- Population / context
- Elite female handball players aged 11–13
What the publication reports
Thirty-five players received either ACL-focused exercises or shoulder-prevention exercises for 15 minutes twice weekly over eight weeks. Between-group changes in hamstring preactivity, hip strength and measured hip/knee mechanics were not significant; an additional eight-week follow-up found no retained effects.
Limits and interpretation
The small trial measured proposed risk factors rather than ACL injuries. Its null findings apply to this dose and exercise programme, not to all neuromuscular training or injury-prevention approaches.
Read the source
Consult the original record for the full author list, methods, references, funding and competing-interest disclosures.
No Alterations in ACL Injury Risk Factors in Preadolescent Elite Female Handball Players Following an Eight-Week Targeted Training Intervention: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Original publication / indexed recordPMID: 41522287DOI: 10.1155/tsm2/2570210Full text at the sourceReader discussion
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