Cognitive functioning in the injury risk of ACL injuries in athletes: a scoping review

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries should be considered through a neurocognitive perspective, not only as a neuromuscular or biomechanical issue, so that neurocognitive testing could be considered in athletes’ assessments. The present scoping review aims to summarize and map a range of studie...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: González Alcántara, Javier Alcantara, Romero Moraleda, Blanca, Del Hoyo Lora, Moisés, Carrasco Páez, Luis
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2026
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repositorio:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:idus________::02a1d9158ad284625b73a2898662198f
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/185616
https://doi.org/10.52165/kinsi.32.1.61-86
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Neurocognition
ACL Injury
Athletes
Injury Risk Factors
Nevrokognicija
ACL Poškodba
Športniki
Dejavniki Tveganja Za Poškodbo
Descripción
Sumario:Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries should be considered through a neurocognitive perspective, not only as a neuromuscular or biomechanical issue, so that neurocognitive testing could be considered in athletes’ assessments. The present scoping review aims to summarize and map a range of studies about cognitive functioning in the injury likelihood of ACL injuries among athletes, providing a starting framework of the tests and cognitive domains that are usually assessed. Six databases were searched between the 28 January 2024 to 8 February 2024. Studies were included when containing participants who participated in any sport and in which cognitive assessments were investigated. Author and year, characteristics of participants, objectives, measured variables and results were extracted. A total of 9 articles were scoped. The majority of studies are based on mixed assessment (cognitive and biomechanical measures) (n=7) using inhibitory control and working memory as the main cognitive domains (n=5 and n=4, respectively). To assess these domains, the most common tests used are: Stroop test (inhibitory control) and Digit Span Test (working memory). We have summarized and mapped 9 studies about neurocognitive functioning in the injury risk of ACL injuries in athletes. The most common cognitive domains are inhibitory control and working memory and the most used tests are Stroop test and Digit Span Test for the domains mentioned respectively. This could represent valuable information for physiotherapists, rehab fitness coaches, and strength and conditioning coaches to begin to consider introducing them into their daily practice