Comprehensive profile of hip, knee and ankle ranges of motion in professional football players

López-Valenciano, Alejandro, Ayala, Francisco, Vera-García, Francisco J, De Ste Croix, Mark B ORCID: 0000-0001-9911-4355, Hernández-Sánchez, Sergio, Ruiz-Pérez, Iñaki, Cejudo, Antonio and Santonja, Fernando (2019) Comprehensive profile of hip, knee and ankle ranges of motion in professional football players. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 59 (1). pp. 102-109. doi:10.23736/S0022-4707.17.07910-5

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Limited ranges of motion (ROM) has been considered as a primary risk factor for some football injuries, but only a few studies have analysed differences in lower extremity joints. The main purposes were (a) to describe the lower extremity ROM profile in professional football players; and (b) to examine differences between goalkeepers and outfield players. METHODS: 82 professional male football players from 4 teams were measured in the 2013 pre-season. Measures of passive hip (flexion with knee flexed [PHFKF] and extended [PHFKE], extension [PHE], abduction [PHA], external [PHER] and internal [PHIR] rotation), knee (flexion [PKF]) and ankle (dorsiflexion with knee flexed [ADFKF] and extended [ADFKE]) ROMs were taken. Magnitude-based inferences exploring differences between player position and limb were made. RESULTS: 46% of all participants showed restricted PHFKE and/or around 30% showed restricted ADFKF ROM values. Contrarily, most players reported normal PHFKF, PHE, PHIR and PHER as well as PKF ROM scores with percentage values close to 100%. Bilateral meaningful differences for PHA, PHIR and PHER were found in approximately 30% of outfield players and goalkeepers. Statistical analysis found trivial differences between players for PHFKE, PHE, PHIR, PHER, ADFKE and ADFKF. However, moderate differences between players were found for PHFKF, PHA and PKF, with goalkeepers demonstrating higher values than outfield players. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study reinforce the necessity of prescribing exercises aimed at improving PHFKE and ADFKF ROM within everyday football training routines. In addition, as some bilateral deficits were observed, unilateral training should be considered where appropriate.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Clinical examination; Injury prevention; Sport therapy; Muscle strain
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV557 Sports R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science
Research Priority Areas:	Health, Life Sciences, Sport and Wellbeing
Depositing User:	Anne Pengelly
Date Deposited:	20 Oct 2017 13:24
Last Modified:	31 Aug 2023 09:08
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/5050

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