Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Range Of Motion In Lower Limbs

2017; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Volume: 49; Issue: 5S Linguagem: Inglês

10.1249/01.mss.0000518504.47781.74

1530-0315

Sandra L. Prieto, Juan C. Mazza, Raúl R. Festa, Patricia Cosolito,

Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation

BACKGROUND: The mechanics of sports abilities in professional soccer development requires extensive bilateral joint control of the lower limbs. The differences in the range of motion (ROM) from side to side in the lower limbs could imply a risk of musculoskeletal injury, especially for young athletes who are still during growing period. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the range of motion and muscle length of the lower limbs, and to identify side to side differences, in young soccer players who belong to Rosario Central soccer club, Argentina. METHODS: Twenty young and healthy males soccer players participated in a cross-sectional cohort study (age: 14.18 ± 0.61 yr; weight: 58.74 ± 6.73 kg; height: 170.38 ± 6.20 cm). We included asymptomatic subjects, with no history of lumbar spine, hip, knee or ankle injuries. Three tests were performed for the active range of movement (hip flexion and extension, and knee flexion), and three tests for muscle length (iliopsoas, rectus femoris and hamstrings). Mean and standard deviation (SD) values were calculated by dominant and non-dominant leg, for all ROM measurements. We applied paired t-test differences to determine statistical differences (sd) between dominant and non-dominant leg at p<0.05 level. RESULTS: Analyzing ROM we have found sd (p≤ 0.01) for active hip flexion between dominant (111.73 ± 5.72) and non-dominant (108.55 ± 6.97) limb values. No sd were found in ROM for active knee flexion between dominant (138.00 ± 4.03) and non-dominant (138.18 ± 4.67) limb; active hip extension between dominant (17.98 ± 7.11) and non-dominant (16.23 ± 6.69) limb; muscle length for dominant (8.08 ± 4.50) and non-dominant (7.88 ± 4.82) iliopsoas, dominant (133.40 ± 4.84) and non-dominant (131.68 ± 5.87) rectus femoris and dominant (55.28 ± 7.47) and non-dominant (52.53 ± 8.11) hamstrings. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of the present study, we have found symmetrical ROM and muscle lengths of the lower limbs for young soccer players, with the exception of active hip flexion. In view of these results, it is recommended that professionals who work with this population assess symmetry of mobility, especially of the lower limbs, in order to guide active-passive stretching programs that maintain joint dynamic balance.