Injury Epidemiology, Prevention, and Rehabilitation in Student Triple Jump Athletes Insights from a Decade of Research

Purpose of the study: This systematic literature review aimed to synthesize current evidence on injury prevention strategies and rehabilitation protocols specifically for student athletes participating in triple jump events, identifying effective interventions and gaps in current practice. Materials and methods: A comprehensive systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Electronic databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, and Web of Science were searched from January 2010 to September 2024. Search terms included combinations of "triple jump," "injury prevention," "rehabilitation," "student athletes," and "track and field." Studies were included if they focused on injury prevention or rehabilitation in triple jump athletes aged 16-25 years. Data extraction included study design, participant characteristics, intervention types, outcome measures, and key findings. Results: Twenty-three studies met inclusion criteria, comprising 1,847 student athletes. Common injuries identified included knee injuries (32%), ankle sprains (28%), hamstring strains (21%), and lower back pain (19%). Effective prevention strategies included neuromuscular training programs (risk reduction 35-45%), biomechanical analysis and technique correction (injury rate reduction 28%), and progressive loading protocols. Rehabilitation interventions showed varying effectiveness, with multimodal approaches demonstrating superior outcomes compared to single-intervention protocols. Conclusions: Evidence supports the implementation of comprehensive injury prevention programs incorporating neuromuscular training, biomechanical assessment, and progressive loading for student triple jump athletes. Rehabilitation effectiveness is enhanced through individualized, multimodal approaches. However, research gaps exist in long-term follow-up studies and sport-specific rehabilitation protocols.