Power assessment of lower limbs and strength asymmetry of soccer goalkeepers

<strong>BACKGROUND</strong>: Effective execution of vertical jump depends on the explosive power of lower limbs and their symmetrical integration mainly. Assessment of lower extremity bilateral asymmetries in soccer players is important for both injury prevention and performance. <st...

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Main Authors: František Zahálka, Tomáš Malý, Lucia Malá, Tomáš Gryc, Pavel Hráský
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Palacky University 2013-06-01
Series:Acta Universitatis Palackianae Olomucensis. Gymnica
Subjects:
Online Access:http://gymnica.upol.cz/index.php/gymnica/article/view/372
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author František Zahálka
Tomáš Malý
Lucia Malá
Tomáš Gryc
Pavel Hráský
author_facet František Zahálka
Tomáš Malý
Lucia Malá
Tomáš Gryc
Pavel Hráský
author_sort František Zahálka
collection DOAJ
description <strong>BACKGROUND</strong>: Effective execution of vertical jump depends on the explosive power of lower limbs and their symmetrical integration mainly. Assessment of lower extremity bilateral asymmetries in soccer players is important for both injury prevention and performance. <strong>OBJECTIVE</strong>: The aim of this study was to identify and compare parameters of lower limb power in three different jump tests in elite soccer goalkeepers. The next aim was to describe and compare strength asymmetries of force exerted by lower limbs in the take-off phase in all tests. <strong>METHOD</strong>: The research group consisted of 25 elite soccer goalkeepers (age 26.5 &plusmn; 9.1 years, height 186.1 &plusmn; 7.8 cm, weight 86.7 &plusmn; 14.8 kg). Three types of a vertical jump &ndash; countermovement jump with arms included (CMJFA), countermovement jump with arms excluded (CMJ) and squat jump (SJ) were performed on two force platforms. Following parameters were assessed &ndash; maximum force during the take-off phase Fmax (N) and their relative value Frel (N &bull; kg&ndash;1), jump height h (m) and force asymmetry between limbs (∆Fmax). RM ANOVA was used in statistical analysis. <strong>RESULTS</strong>: The type of jump had a significant effect on jump height (F2, 48 = 109.66, p &lt; .01, &eta;2 = .82). The highest jump was reached in CMJFA. This result was higher by 11.1% (5.01 cm) in comparison to CMJ and by 19.9% (8.98 cm) than in SJ. Type of jump significantly influenced Fmax (F1.6, 38.7 = 44.29, p &lt; .01, &eta;2 = .65) and Frel (F2, 48 = 50.33, p &lt; .01, &eta;2 = .68). Force asymmetry between limbs (∆Fmax) was significantly different with respect to the type of jump performed (F1.3, 31.7 = 5.14, p &lt; .05, &eta;2 = .18). The highest force asymmetry was found in CMJFA test (∆Fmax = 8.61%), while the difference in CMJ test was (7.06%) and in SJ test (∆Fmax = 3.95%). We found a significantly greater difference in ∆Fmax between CMJFA vs. SJ (p &lt; .05) and CMJ vs. SJ (p &lt; .01). <strong>CONCLUSION</strong>: The best results of jump height were achieved, as expected in the CMJFA but in this test also the greatest force asymmetry was detected. Monitoring of power level and strength asymmetries at the beginning of the preparatory period enables identification of possible strength imbalances in elite soccer goalkeepers, which should be further reduced during the preparatory period. Screening examination of strength asymmetry may be thus a useful tool for both performance and injury prevention in goalkeepers.
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spelling doaj.art-626284a4f1db4e57ad0a1a6f463c7efb2022-12-22T00:40:56ZengPalacky UniversityActa Universitatis Palackianae Olomucensis. Gymnica1212-11851213-83122013-06-014323138233Power assessment of lower limbs and strength asymmetry of soccer goalkeepersFrantišek Zahálka0Tomáš Malý1Lucia Malá2Tomáš Gryc3Pavel Hráský4Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, PragueFaculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, PragueFaculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, PragueFaculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, PragueFaculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, Prague<strong>BACKGROUND</strong>: Effective execution of vertical jump depends on the explosive power of lower limbs and their symmetrical integration mainly. Assessment of lower extremity bilateral asymmetries in soccer players is important for both injury prevention and performance. <strong>OBJECTIVE</strong>: The aim of this study was to identify and compare parameters of lower limb power in three different jump tests in elite soccer goalkeepers. The next aim was to describe and compare strength asymmetries of force exerted by lower limbs in the take-off phase in all tests. <strong>METHOD</strong>: The research group consisted of 25 elite soccer goalkeepers (age 26.5 &plusmn; 9.1 years, height 186.1 &plusmn; 7.8 cm, weight 86.7 &plusmn; 14.8 kg). Three types of a vertical jump &ndash; countermovement jump with arms included (CMJFA), countermovement jump with arms excluded (CMJ) and squat jump (SJ) were performed on two force platforms. Following parameters were assessed &ndash; maximum force during the take-off phase Fmax (N) and their relative value Frel (N &bull; kg&ndash;1), jump height h (m) and force asymmetry between limbs (∆Fmax). RM ANOVA was used in statistical analysis. <strong>RESULTS</strong>: The type of jump had a significant effect on jump height (F2, 48 = 109.66, p &lt; .01, &eta;2 = .82). The highest jump was reached in CMJFA. This result was higher by 11.1% (5.01 cm) in comparison to CMJ and by 19.9% (8.98 cm) than in SJ. Type of jump significantly influenced Fmax (F1.6, 38.7 = 44.29, p &lt; .01, &eta;2 = .65) and Frel (F2, 48 = 50.33, p &lt; .01, &eta;2 = .68). Force asymmetry between limbs (∆Fmax) was significantly different with respect to the type of jump performed (F1.3, 31.7 = 5.14, p &lt; .05, &eta;2 = .18). The highest force asymmetry was found in CMJFA test (∆Fmax = 8.61%), while the difference in CMJ test was (7.06%) and in SJ test (∆Fmax = 3.95%). We found a significantly greater difference in ∆Fmax between CMJFA vs. SJ (p &lt; .05) and CMJ vs. SJ (p &lt; .01). <strong>CONCLUSION</strong>: The best results of jump height were achieved, as expected in the CMJFA but in this test also the greatest force asymmetry was detected. Monitoring of power level and strength asymmetries at the beginning of the preparatory period enables identification of possible strength imbalances in elite soccer goalkeepers, which should be further reduced during the preparatory period. Screening examination of strength asymmetry may be thus a useful tool for both performance and injury prevention in goalkeepers.http://gymnica.upol.cz/index.php/gymnica/article/view/372Vertical jumpgoalkeepersoccersymmetryimbalanceinjury prevention
spellingShingle František Zahálka
Tomáš Malý
Lucia Malá
Tomáš Gryc
Pavel Hráský
Power assessment of lower limbs and strength asymmetry of soccer goalkeepers
Acta Universitatis Palackianae Olomucensis. Gymnica
Vertical jump
goalkeeper
soccer
symmetry
imbalance
injury prevention
title Power assessment of lower limbs and strength asymmetry of soccer goalkeepers
title_full Power assessment of lower limbs and strength asymmetry of soccer goalkeepers
title_fullStr Power assessment of lower limbs and strength asymmetry of soccer goalkeepers
title_full_unstemmed Power assessment of lower limbs and strength asymmetry of soccer goalkeepers
title_short Power assessment of lower limbs and strength asymmetry of soccer goalkeepers
title_sort power assessment of lower limbs and strength asymmetry of soccer goalkeepers
topic Vertical jump
goalkeeper
soccer
symmetry
imbalance
injury prevention
url http://gymnica.upol.cz/index.php/gymnica/article/view/372
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AT tomasmaly powerassessmentoflowerlimbsandstrengthasymmetryofsoccergoalkeepers
AT luciamala powerassessmentoflowerlimbsandstrengthasymmetryofsoccergoalkeepers
AT tomasgryc powerassessmentoflowerlimbsandstrengthasymmetryofsoccergoalkeepers
AT pavelhrasky powerassessmentoflowerlimbsandstrengthasymmetryofsoccergoalkeepers