Age-Related Differences in Hamstring Flexibility in Prepubertal Soccer Players: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study
This study aimed to investigate the hamstring flexibility rate among prepubertal soccer players from U8 to U12 and the role of age and soccer years of practice on the course of hamstring flexibility. Six hundred eleven young Italian soccer players from a local soccer school in Turin were recruited f...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.741756/full |
| _version_ | 1818838830010073088 |
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| author | Federico Abate Daga Federico Abate Daga Marco Panzolini Ruben Allois Ruben Allois Luca Baseggio Samuel Agostino |
| author_facet | Federico Abate Daga Federico Abate Daga Marco Panzolini Ruben Allois Ruben Allois Luca Baseggio Samuel Agostino |
| author_sort | Federico Abate Daga |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study aimed to investigate the hamstring flexibility rate among prepubertal soccer players from U8 to U12 and the role of age and soccer years of practice on the course of hamstring flexibility. Six hundred eleven young Italian soccer players from a local soccer school in Turin were recruited for this research and assigned to each group according to their chronological age (U8 = 124 players; U9 = 130 players; U10 = 151 players; U11 = 89 players; and U12 = 120 players). Hamstring flexibility was measured using the Sit and Reach Test (SAR), while data analysis was run using a one-way analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA). Furthermore, Tuckey’s post hoc was used to determine differences among the classes of age. Finally, a bivariate ordinal regression analysis was used to evaluate a potential association between age categories and hamstrings flexibility. In addition, multivariable ordinal regression was used to analyze this relationship adjusted for the Body Mass Index (BMI). The one-way ANOVA showed significant differences in flexibility among groups (F = 32.76, P < 0.0001). Tuckey’s post hoc identified significant differences between U8 and U10 (p < 0.01; −2,39 cm of hamstring stretching), U8 and U11 (p < 0.05; −2.19 cm), U8 and U12 (p < 0.0001; −5.90), U9 and U12 (p < 0.0001; −4.98 cm), U10 and U12 (p < 0.0001; −3.5 cm), U11 and U12 (p < 0,001; −3.70 cm). In the bivariate ordinal regression analysis, there was a negative association between the age categories and hamstrings flexibility (R2 = 0.137; p < 0.0001). The association persisted in multivariable ordinal regression analysis adjusted for BMI (R2 = 0.138; p < 0.0001). This study underlines changes in hamstring flexibility across different age groups of prepubertal soccer players. The older and more experienced in soccer are less flexible than the younger, considering the hamstring muscles. Thus, appropriate stretching protocols should be included in prepubertal soccer training to avoid the risk of lead players to excess hamstring tightness. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T03:44:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-18ff2519fb5c4d58b950370ac3d242dd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T03:44:37Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-18ff2519fb5c4d58b950370ac3d242dd2022-12-21T20:37:10ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782021-11-011210.3389/fpsyg.2021.741756741756Age-Related Differences in Hamstring Flexibility in Prepubertal Soccer Players: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional StudyFederico Abate Daga0Federico Abate Daga1Marco Panzolini2Ruben Allois3Ruben Allois4Luca Baseggio5Samuel Agostino6Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, ItalySchool of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, ItalySchool of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, ItalySchool of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, ItalySchool of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, ItalySchool of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, ItalyThis study aimed to investigate the hamstring flexibility rate among prepubertal soccer players from U8 to U12 and the role of age and soccer years of practice on the course of hamstring flexibility. Six hundred eleven young Italian soccer players from a local soccer school in Turin were recruited for this research and assigned to each group according to their chronological age (U8 = 124 players; U9 = 130 players; U10 = 151 players; U11 = 89 players; and U12 = 120 players). Hamstring flexibility was measured using the Sit and Reach Test (SAR), while data analysis was run using a one-way analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA). Furthermore, Tuckey’s post hoc was used to determine differences among the classes of age. Finally, a bivariate ordinal regression analysis was used to evaluate a potential association between age categories and hamstrings flexibility. In addition, multivariable ordinal regression was used to analyze this relationship adjusted for the Body Mass Index (BMI). The one-way ANOVA showed significant differences in flexibility among groups (F = 32.76, P < 0.0001). Tuckey’s post hoc identified significant differences between U8 and U10 (p < 0.01; −2,39 cm of hamstring stretching), U8 and U11 (p < 0.05; −2.19 cm), U8 and U12 (p < 0.0001; −5.90), U9 and U12 (p < 0.0001; −4.98 cm), U10 and U12 (p < 0.0001; −3.5 cm), U11 and U12 (p < 0,001; −3.70 cm). In the bivariate ordinal regression analysis, there was a negative association between the age categories and hamstrings flexibility (R2 = 0.137; p < 0.0001). The association persisted in multivariable ordinal regression analysis adjusted for BMI (R2 = 0.138; p < 0.0001). This study underlines changes in hamstring flexibility across different age groups of prepubertal soccer players. The older and more experienced in soccer are less flexible than the younger, considering the hamstring muscles. Thus, appropriate stretching protocols should be included in prepubertal soccer training to avoid the risk of lead players to excess hamstring tightness.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.741756/fullbiological maturationmuscles flexibilitystretchingyouth soccerkids |
| spellingShingle | Federico Abate Daga Federico Abate Daga Marco Panzolini Ruben Allois Ruben Allois Luca Baseggio Samuel Agostino Age-Related Differences in Hamstring Flexibility in Prepubertal Soccer Players: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study Frontiers in Psychology biological maturation muscles flexibility stretching youth soccer kids |
| title | Age-Related Differences in Hamstring Flexibility in Prepubertal Soccer Players: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full | Age-Related Differences in Hamstring Flexibility in Prepubertal Soccer Players: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Age-Related Differences in Hamstring Flexibility in Prepubertal Soccer Players: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Age-Related Differences in Hamstring Flexibility in Prepubertal Soccer Players: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_short | Age-Related Differences in Hamstring Flexibility in Prepubertal Soccer Players: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_sort | age related differences in hamstring flexibility in prepubertal soccer players an exploratory cross sectional study |
| topic | biological maturation muscles flexibility stretching youth soccer kids |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.741756/full |
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