Injury risk analysis of movement restriction and body asymmetry in sports injury prediction

BACKGROUND: Sports injuries remain a major concern for athletes and fitness enthusiasts, affecting performance and long-term well-being. Effective prediction and prevention strategies are critical for reducing injury incidence. This study investigates the predictive roles of movement restriction and body asymmetry in sports injury risk. METHODS: Sports injuries remain a major concern for athletes and fitness enthusiasts, affecting performance and long-term well-being. Effective prediction and prevention strategies are critical for reducing injury incidence. This study investigates the predictive roles of movement restriction and body asymmetry in sports injury risk. RESULTS: Significant restrictions in knee and shoulder mobility were associated with increased injury risk. Notably, asymmetries in lower limb strength and flexibility were linked to higher rates of unilateral injuries. For example, a 10% increase in movement restriction corresponded to a 15% higher injury risk, while a 20% strength imbalance predicted a 30% increase. The leg strength imbalance ratio showed a moderate positive correlation with injury rates (r = 0.35, p = 0.03), while the gait symmetry index was negatively correlated (r = -0.42, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Joint mobility and interlimb balance play critical roles in injury susceptibility. Targeted interventions such as personalized exercise regimens and movement retraining may help mitigate these biomechanical risk factors. Future research should explore sport-specific injury mechanisms and refine predictive models using real-time monitoring and machine learning approaches.