A critical appraisal of "Effectiveness of a neuromuscular and proprioceptive training program in preventing the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in female athletes"

Over a course of 10 weeks, this term paper was developed, step-by-step, and concluded in this critical appraisal. The idea of evidence-based practice was brought to first year PT students, and this paper is one of the products. The importance and basis of evidence-based practice in the PT profession is only as significant as the critical appraisal of it. Through a Pubmed and PEDro search, this article was chosen to answer for critical appraisal. Its introduction left out a key variable in that it does not state what proprioceptive training is, or what it has to do with the study, but otherwise frames the situation with the rising trend in female athletes participating and ACL injury. There were inherent flaws in the research design due to the scale of the study and the variability in the extent to which the intervention was adhered to. But because of its scale and homogenous demographic, these flaws can be negligible. Results section were clear and presented clinically significant outcomes. The discussion section addressed most of its own weaknesses, and further implicated its importance, and future design. It largely does not address the significance of this study to the clinical setting. Ultimately, the applicability of this study to PT practice is safe, can be effective in preventing musculoskeletal injury, and is significant to the PT profession.