The next generation of strength and conditioning practice to enhance performance and reduce injury risk: virtual reality-based integration of neuromuscular, neurocognitive, and sensorimotor training

Sport-related concussion (SRC) increases the risk of subsequent lower extremity musculoskeletal injury, particularly in youth athletes. This may be due to SRC-altered movement patterns, particularly under neurocognitive challenges. Specifically, dual-tasking—simultaneously completing motor and cognitive tasks—can distinguish patients with a higher risk of lower extremity musculoskeletal injury, offering a unique and unexplored intervention target for clinical, rehabilitation, strength and conditioning practitioners, and coaches. This narrative provides evidence outlining the addition of cognitive components to movement-based interventions to reduce injury risk after SRC. We propose a theoretical framework for a virtual reality-based neuromuscular training intervention that incorporates dual-tasking to target deficits underlying potential mechanisms of increased injury risk after SRC. Virtual reality technology offers a unique environment that may help reduce lower extremity musculoskeletal injury risk after SRC to improve long-term health, well-being, and athletic performance.
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Bibliographic Details
Subjects:
Notations:biological and medical sciences training science technical and natural sciences
Tagging:Gehirnerschütterung virtuelle Realität Dual tasking
Published in:Strength and Conditioning Journal
Language:English
Published: 2025
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1519/SSC.0000000000000902
Document types:article
Level:advanced