The Assessment of Ankle Range-of-Motion and Its Relationship with Overall Muscle Strength in a Cross-Section of Soccer Players
Soccer (football) practice can induce a limitation of ankle range of motion (ROM) that is a possible risk factor for injury and other negative consequences over time. The main objective of this research was to investigate the effects of soccer practice on ankle ROM throughout the entire period of a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Sports |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/11/1/12 |
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| author | Piergiorgio Francia Carlo Ferri Marini Leonardo Bocchi Barbara Piccini Giuseppe Seghieri Ario Federici Sonia Toni Francesco Lucertini |
| author_facet | Piergiorgio Francia Carlo Ferri Marini Leonardo Bocchi Barbara Piccini Giuseppe Seghieri Ario Federici Sonia Toni Francesco Lucertini |
| author_sort | Piergiorgio Francia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Soccer (football) practice can induce a limitation of ankle range of motion (ROM) that is a possible risk factor for injury and other negative consequences over time. The main objective of this research was to investigate the effects of soccer practice on ankle ROM throughout the entire period of a sports career of soccer players (SP). Furthermore, the relationship between ankle ROM and muscle strength in SP of different ages was studied. A total of 204 SP (range 6.7–45.1 years) and 87 controls (range: 7.5–45.2 years) matched for age, body mass index (BMI), and gender, were assessed. Ankle ROM in both plantar flexion (APF) and dorsiflexion (ADF) in addition to handgrip strength (HGS) were evaluated using an inclinometer and the Jamar hydraulic hand dynamometer, respectively. The comparison between SP and control groups showed a significant reduction in ankle ROM of both APF (26.3 ± 7.2° vs. 32.6 ± 7.4°; d = −0.90; <i>p</i> < 0.001) and ADF (95.5 ± 15.6° vs. 105.5 ± 15.8°; d = −0.66; <i>p</i> < 0.001). In SP, the results of the ANOVAs test indicate that age had a significant effect on ADF (F = 4.352, <i>p</i> = 0.038, partial eta-squared (η<sub>p</sub><sup>2</sup>) = 0.015) but not on APF (F = 0.430, <i>p</i> = 0.746, η<sub>p</sub><sup>2</sup> = 0.001). Moreover, considering only the SP, a weak inverse correlation between ADF and HGS group ADF was found (r<sub>s</sub> = −0.27; <i>p</i> < 0.001). Factors such as the non-linear trend of growth in young SP could hinder the definition of the relationship between ankle ROM, age, and muscle strength. However, the appropriate consideration of age and muscle strength could facilitate the management of ankle ROM in PF of different ages. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:14:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-28c4d9efd1714eb6abdc44f8c51efd28 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4663 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:14:41Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sports |
| spelling | doaj.art-28c4d9efd1714eb6abdc44f8c51efd282023-12-01T00:34:16ZengMDPI AGSports2075-46632023-01-011111210.3390/sports11010012The Assessment of Ankle Range-of-Motion and Its Relationship with Overall Muscle Strength in a Cross-Section of Soccer PlayersPiergiorgio Francia0Carlo Ferri Marini1Leonardo Bocchi2Barbara Piccini3Giuseppe Seghieri4Ario Federici5Sonia Toni6Francesco Lucertini7Department of Biomolecular Sciences—Division of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Urbino, 61029 Urbino, ItalyDepartment of Biomolecular Sciences—Division of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Urbino, 61029 Urbino, ItalyDepartment of Information Engineering, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, ItalyMeyer Children’s Hospital, 50139 Florence, ItalyEpidemiology Unit, Agenzia Regionale Sanità, 50141 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Biomolecular Sciences—Division of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Urbino, 61029 Urbino, ItalyDepartment of Information Engineering, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Biomolecular Sciences—Division of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Urbino, 61029 Urbino, ItalySoccer (football) practice can induce a limitation of ankle range of motion (ROM) that is a possible risk factor for injury and other negative consequences over time. The main objective of this research was to investigate the effects of soccer practice on ankle ROM throughout the entire period of a sports career of soccer players (SP). Furthermore, the relationship between ankle ROM and muscle strength in SP of different ages was studied. A total of 204 SP (range 6.7–45.1 years) and 87 controls (range: 7.5–45.2 years) matched for age, body mass index (BMI), and gender, were assessed. Ankle ROM in both plantar flexion (APF) and dorsiflexion (ADF) in addition to handgrip strength (HGS) were evaluated using an inclinometer and the Jamar hydraulic hand dynamometer, respectively. The comparison between SP and control groups showed a significant reduction in ankle ROM of both APF (26.3 ± 7.2° vs. 32.6 ± 7.4°; d = −0.90; <i>p</i> < 0.001) and ADF (95.5 ± 15.6° vs. 105.5 ± 15.8°; d = −0.66; <i>p</i> < 0.001). In SP, the results of the ANOVAs test indicate that age had a significant effect on ADF (F = 4.352, <i>p</i> = 0.038, partial eta-squared (η<sub>p</sub><sup>2</sup>) = 0.015) but not on APF (F = 0.430, <i>p</i> = 0.746, η<sub>p</sub><sup>2</sup> = 0.001). Moreover, considering only the SP, a weak inverse correlation between ADF and HGS group ADF was found (r<sub>s</sub> = −0.27; <i>p</i> < 0.001). Factors such as the non-linear trend of growth in young SP could hinder the definition of the relationship between ankle ROM, age, and muscle strength. However, the appropriate consideration of age and muscle strength could facilitate the management of ankle ROM in PF of different ages.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/11/1/12footballersflexibilitysport practicemuscle strengthhand gripinjuries |
| spellingShingle | Piergiorgio Francia Carlo Ferri Marini Leonardo Bocchi Barbara Piccini Giuseppe Seghieri Ario Federici Sonia Toni Francesco Lucertini The Assessment of Ankle Range-of-Motion and Its Relationship with Overall Muscle Strength in a Cross-Section of Soccer Players Sports footballers flexibility sport practice muscle strength hand grip injuries |
| title | The Assessment of Ankle Range-of-Motion and Its Relationship with Overall Muscle Strength in a Cross-Section of Soccer Players |
| title_full | The Assessment of Ankle Range-of-Motion and Its Relationship with Overall Muscle Strength in a Cross-Section of Soccer Players |
| title_fullStr | The Assessment of Ankle Range-of-Motion and Its Relationship with Overall Muscle Strength in a Cross-Section of Soccer Players |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Assessment of Ankle Range-of-Motion and Its Relationship with Overall Muscle Strength in a Cross-Section of Soccer Players |
| title_short | The Assessment of Ankle Range-of-Motion and Its Relationship with Overall Muscle Strength in a Cross-Section of Soccer Players |
| title_sort | assessment of ankle range of motion and its relationship with overall muscle strength in a cross section of soccer players |
| topic | footballers flexibility sport practice muscle strength hand grip injuries |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/11/1/12 |
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