Exercise for mechanical anterior cruciate ligament injury: An umbrella review

This is a preregistered protocol for an umbrella review evaluating the comparative effectiveness of exercise-based interventions for prevention, rehabilitation, and functional recovery in mechanical ACL injuries (non-contact/contact, sports-related). ACL injuries account for ~45% of severe knee traumas, with heterogeneous evidence on neuromuscular, strength, plyometric, and structured programs (e.g., FIFA 11+, PEP, Sportsmetrics). Objectives: Systematically analyze existing systematic reviews/meta-analyses (2013–2023) from PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane using PRISMA/PRIOR guidelines and AMSTAR-2 quality assessment. Narrative synthesis due to expected heterogeneity; no meta-meta-analysis planned. Inclusion: SRs/MAs of RCTs/cohorts on exercise therapy vs. control/standard care; outcomes: injury incidence (OR/RR), functional recovery (proprioception, strength, RTS rates). Exclusion: Primary studies, non-exercise interventions (e.g., surgery-only), non-mechanical/sports ACL. Search: 'exercise AND anterior cruciate ligament AND injury AND mechanical' + SR/MA filters; dual screening/extraction. Registered: not yet. DOI pending. Conflicts: None.