Effects of functional correction training on injury risk of athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background We explored functional correction training using the Functional Movement Screen (FMS™) tool. We also analyzed the effects of training on the injuries of athletes in a systematic review and meta-analysis of non-randomized clinical trials. Methodology We collected twenty-four articles from PubMed, CENTRAL, Scopus, ProQuest, Web of Science, EBSCOhost, SPORTDiscus, Embase, WanFang, and CNKI that were published between January 1997 to September 2020. Articles were selected based on the following inclusion criteria: randomized and non-randomized controlled trials, studies with functional correction training screened by FMS™ as the independent variable, and studies with injury risk to the athlete as the dependent variable. Data conditions included the sample size, mean, standard deviation, total FMS™ scores, number of injuries, and asymmetry movement patterns after interventions in the experimental and control groups. Exclusion criteria included: conference abstracts, cross-sectional studies, articles with retrospective study design. Results Twelve non-randomized trials were included in the meta-analysis. The injury risk ratio of athletes after functional correction training was 0.39 RR (95 CI [1.50–1.93]; Z  = 15.53;  P  < 0.0001; I 2  = 2.6%), indicating an improvement of athletes functional patterns. Conclusion Grade B evidence indicates that functional correction training based on FMS™ may improve the functional patterns of athletes and Grade D evidence indicates that it may reduce the risk of sports injury. However, the true effect is likely to be different from the estimate of the effect. Therefore, further studies are needed to explore the influence of functional correction training on the injury risks of athletes. Protocol registration: CRD42019145287.