Young Age Soccer Player's Lower Limb Muscle Imbalance and Functional Status

The Effect of Eccentric Exercises on Lower Limb Muscle Imbalances and Functional Status of Young Female Football Players

A randomized controlled trial is designed to examine the effects of low-load and high-velocity eccentric exercises on lower limb muscular properties, imbalances and functional status of 13-15 years old female football players.

Twenty participants were included in the study. All participants were divided in two groups - control and experimental. In the experimental group (n=10) participants after team soccer training additional received 4 weeks eccentric exercises, in the control group (n=10) - did not perform additional exercises. The research group performed additional low-load and high-velocity - lying prone - eccentric hamstring exercise 3 times per week for 4 weeks. Pre- and post- training assessment included concentric/eccentric knee extension and flexion at 60°/s and 120°/s, changes in muscle contractile characteristics and dynamic balance.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy players able to participate in training and competitions.
• Playing football for at least 2 years.
• Regularly participating in team training, 2-3 times a week.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Female soccer players with a lower extremity injury (in a period of 6 months)
• Pain is less than 2 points on the Visual Analog Pain Scale.
• Irregular exercise
• The number of years of training attended is too low