Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40111742›Full record

SynthesisSports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)2025

Effects of Anticipation and Dual-Tasking on Lower Limb Biomechanics While Performing Change-of-Direction Tasks in Physically Active Individuals: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

Clara Ebner, Urs Granacher, Dominic Gehring

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
13citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

13 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Clara EbnerDepartment of Sport and Sport Science, Exercise and Human Movement Science, University of Freiburg, Sandfangweg 4, 79102, Freiburg, Germany.
Urs GranacherDepartment of Sport and Sport Science, Exercise and Human Movement Science, University of Freiburg, Sandfangweg 4, 79102, Freiburg, Germany. urs.granacher@sport.uni-freiburg.de.ORCID 0000-0002-7095-813X
Dominic GehringDepartment of Sport and Sport Science, Exercise and Human Movement Science, University of Freiburg, Sandfangweg 4, 79102, Freiburg, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAnterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are highly prevalent in team sport athletes and often occur while performing change-of-direction (COD) tasks in combination with high cognitive demands, such as decision making or divided attention. Given the expanding body of research in this field, an updated literature review is warranted, as the most recent meta-analysis on this topic included original studies published up to November 2020.

objectiveThe aim of this systematic review was to examine the effects of anticipation and/or dual-tasking on lower limb biomechanics during COD tasks in healthy individuals.

designSystematic review with meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: A systematic literature search was conducted in the electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL and SPORTDiscus from inception until February 2024. The included studies examined the effects of anticipation and/or dual-tasking on knee kinetics and kinematics in the frontal and sagittal planes during COD tasks.

methodsA multilevel meta-analysis was performed to aggregate the results of studies comparing unanticipated versus anticipated CODs on lower limb biomechanics. Due to the limited available literature on dual-task versus single-task conditions, this aspect was analyzed qualitatively.

resultsThe meta-analysis included 17 studies involving 355 individuals from different sports (e.g., soccer, American Football). No statistically significant differences were found between unanticipated and anticipated CODs for knee abduction and flexion moments as well as knee abduction angles (p > 0.05). Significantly higher knee flexion angles were found in unanticipated CODs (SMD = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.30-1.19; p < 0.01). Qualitative analyses of six studies including 171 individuals provided initial evidence for higher knee abduction moments and flexion angles during anticipated CODs while performing a secondary task concurrently.

conclusionFindings from quantitative and qualitative analyses indicate that anticipation and dual-tasking during COD performance have an impact on injury-related aspects of lower limb biomechanics. Hence, cognitive challenges should be implemented in injury risk screening and preventive strategies. Further studies with high methodological quality are needed to improve the understanding of the biomechanical and cognitive interplay in injury-threatening situations. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42023433074. DATE OF REGISTRATION: 13.10.2023.

Indexed as

Anticipation, PsychologicalLower ExtremityAnterior Cruciate Ligament InjuriesAttentionBiomechanical PhenomenaHumansTask Performance and Analysis

Identifiers

PMID40111742
PMCPMC12011905

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.