Study type: Meta-analysisConfidence: High

Exercise Interventions to Prevent Sports Injuries: A Meta-Analysis of Stretching and Strength Training

Lauersen JB, Bertelsen DM, Andersen LB

Year2014

Sample sizen=26610

JournalBritish Journal of Sports Medicine

AuthorsLauersen JB, Bertelsen DM, Andersen LB

High-confidence evidence from multiple solid studies

Summary

A meta-analysis of 25 RCTs (26,610 participants) evaluating injury prevention by intervention type. Strength training reduced injuries to less than a third, whereas stretching alone showed no significant preventive effect.

Source (read the original)

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DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2013-092538

Key Findings

Key findings

Key point

1
Analysis of 25 RCTs, 26,610 participants and 3,464 injuries
2
Stretching showed a risk ratio of 0.963 (95% CI 0.846–1.095): no significant preventive effect
3
Strength training reached a risk ratio of 0.315 (0.207–0.480), cutting injuries to under a third; proprioceptive training was 0.550
4
Across all programmes, acute injuries fell to a risk ratio of 0.647 and overuse injuries to 0.527

Articles featuring this study

Research vs Bro-science
Should You Never Static Stretch Before Training? Myth vs Research
'Static stretching before training kills your strength, so don't do it' vs 'you should stretch to prevent injury' — opinions on warm-up stretching are split. Should you really avoid static stretching (slow, held stretches without bouncing) before exercise? We look at the research from three angles: injury prevention, strength, and flexibility. This topic includes a round where the common belief is partly right.
Hirotsugu Yoshimura

Last checked: 2026-07-06

Exercise Interventions to Prevent Sports Injuries: A Meta-Analysis of Stretching and Strength Training

Summary

Key findings

Articles featuring this study

Should You Never Static Stretch Before Training? Myth vs Research