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The Relationship Between Acute: Chronic Workload Ratios and Injury Risk in Sports: A Systematic Review.

PMID 32158285 (2020): injury, load — Injury risk (study note for endurance athletes).

Last updated/Feb 23, 2026, 10:34 PM

Study note • PMID 32158285

The Relationship Between Acute: Chronic Workload Ratios and Injury Risk in Sports: A Systematic Review.

Open access journal of sports medicine2020 • DOI 10.2147/OAJSM.S231405
Evidence B73/100
Action 1: Default

Low risk + high feasibility for most athletes.

ELI5

In plain language

Low injury rates have previously been correlated with sporting team success, highlighting the importance of injury prevention programs. (systematic review / meta-analysis; participants).

In this systematic review / meta-analysis, the abstract reports associations involving Injury risk (not necessarily causation). Treat this as a signal, not a guarantee; confirm methods and context in the full paper.

Takeaways

What the abstract suggests

  • Study question: Low injury rates have previously been correlated with sporting team success, highlighting the importance of injury prevention programs.
  • In this systematic review / meta-analysis, the abstract reports associations involving Injury risk (not necessarily causation).
  • Population: participants.
  • Protocol cues: abstract may omit dose/timing; use the full paper to replicate accurately.

Protocol

Protocol (as reported)

  • Intervention/exposure: injury, load.
  • Dose/time/duration: abstract doesn’t include enough detail; use the full paper’s methods section.
  • Outcomes: Injury risk.
  • Replication note: abstracts often omit adherence and timing; confirm details before changing training or supplementation.

Fit

Who it helps, and who should skip it

Who it helps

  • Athletes similar to the study population (participants) working on injury risk.
  • Athletes who can measure Injury risk with a repeatable workout or time-trial effort.

Who should skip

  • If you have symptoms or conditions that make the intervention risky, get professional guidance.
  • If you’re near race day and can’t safely test, defer the experiment.

Methods

What the study actually did

  • Design: systematic review / meta-analysis.
  • Population: participants.
  • Outcomes measured: Injury risk.
  • Source: PubMed PMID 32158285 (2020) — Open access journal of sports medicine.

Results excerpt

What the abstract reports

Almost perfect interrater agreement (kappa = 0.885) existed between raters.

Note: excerpts are short; for full context, read the paper.

Limits

Limitations & bias

  • Abstract-only summaries can miss critical details (population, protocol, adherence, and context).
  • Reviews and consensus statements mix protocols and populations; recommendations may not match your exact constraints.
  • If your context differs (elite vs recreational; cycling vs running), adjust expectations and be conservative.
  • This is performance information, not medical advice.

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Sources