A. Doctor1,2, A. Irani2
1AquaCentric Therapy, Physiotherapy, Mumbai, India, 2Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital, Physiothearpy, Mumbai, India
Background: Football is a globally played sport with kicking being a fundamental ball based skill. The adductor longus is the most commonly injured muscle during this sporting activity. Prospective studies have shown an adductor strain prevalence of 10%-18% of all injuries in football players and incidence reported to be 1.0 and 1.1 per 1,000 playing hours. Hip adductors are one of the main muscles used when performing In-step and Front kicks, weakness of the adductor group of muscle can make them more susceptible to injuries therefore adductor strength is important to football players. There is a lack of literature on the impact of adductor strengthening on football player kicking skills.
Purpose: This study aimed to show the effectiveness of hip adductor strengthening on kicking performance in football players.
Methods: Following screening against inclusion and exclusion criteria, 32 male football players (maximum subjects: 62% were between 21-24years years of age and 67% were within normal BMI) were included in this study, anthropometric measurements like height, weight and body mass index were recorded. The following outcome measures were assessed spot instep kick distance, spot front kick distance and kick velocity using Bushnell velocity speed gun radar. Intervention program consisting of 8 Adductor strengthening exercises such as Adductor Isometrics, Side lying adductor, Adductor strengthening with resistance band, Sumo squats with resistance band, Side lying adductor with chair, V sitting long arm adductor, adductor lunges and adductor strengthening with stepper were incorporated into training for four weeks on the subjects. Post intervention evaluation was conducted with the same outcome measures. Result were recorded and analysed using Paired samples T-test.
Results: After 4 weeks of Adductor strengthening protocol there was improvement seen from pre mean 41.650±1.05m to post mean 43.466±1.07m (p<0.05) in instep kick distance, pre mean 41.688±6.27m to post mean 45.303±5.53 (p<0.05) in front kick distance and pre mean 80.03±8.52kph to post mean 85.06±7.24kph (p<0.05) in kick velocity following the adductor strengthening intervention protocol.
Conclusion(s): Hip adductor strengthening is effective in enhancing the kicking performance of football players. There was a significant improvement in parameters of instep kick distance, front kick distance and kick velocity.
Implications: The adductor muscle groups play a crucial role in the kicking performance of football players. Dedicated strengthening of these muscles can improve kicking performance and may reduce injury risk.
Funding, acknowledgements: No fundng taken
Keywords: Adductor strengthening, Instep kick distance, Kick velocity
Topic: Sport & sports injuries
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital
Committee: Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital
Ethics number: BHN/1601/2018
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
