Agilidade, equilíbrio e flexibilidade de atletas de futebol: avaliação por meio de testes funcionais e fotogrametria / Agility, balance and flexibility in soccer athletes: evaluation by functional tests and photogrammetry

Introdução: Avaliar agilidade, equilíbrio e flexibilidade é importante para o desempenho esportivo e seus resultados podem estar associados a lesões no futebol. Objetivos: Avaliar a agilidade, equilíbrio e flexibilidade de atletas de futebol. Métodos: Foram submetidos 50 atletas de futebol masculino aos testes funcionais Figure 8 Test (F8), Side Hop Test (SHT) e Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) e à avaliação da flexibilidade dos músculos isquiotibiais e quadríceps, por fotogrametria. Estes foram distribuídos em grupos em função da dominância do membro inferior, queixas álgicas, posição de jogo e categoria, e comparados por meio dos testes t de Student e Anova. O nível de significância foi de 5%. Resultados: Os resultados dos testes funcionais não diferiram para dominância e posição de jogo e não apresentaram correlação com a dor. Os atletas de maior idade apresentaram melhores scores nos testes funcionais. A flexibilidade dos músculos quadríceps e isquiotibiais não apresentaram diferenças para a dominância e categorias; porém, todos os atletas demonstraram flexibilidade diminuída nos isquiotibiais quando comparados às referências literárias. Conclusão: Atletas profissionais apresentaram melhores escores na execução dos testes funcionais e flexibilidade diminuída. Os resultados valorizam as avaliações com testes funcionais e fotogrametria, pois são formas de baixo custo e fácil reprodutibilidade. (AU)

Introduction: The assessment of agility, balance and flexibility is important in sports performances and the results obtained could be related to injuries in soccer. Objectives: To evaluate agility, balance and flexibility of soccer players. Methods: Fifty male soccer players were submitted to the following functional tests: Figure 8 Test (F8), Side Hop Test (SHT) and Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) and to the evaluation of flexibility of the hamstrings and quadriceps using photogrammetry. The athletes were divided into groups based on the dominant lower limb, pain complaints, position in the field and category and compared using the Student's t-test and ANOVA. The level of significance was set at 5%. Results: The results of the functional tests did not differ for dominance and position in the field and showed no correlation with pain. Older athletes presented better scores in functional tests. The flexibility of the quadriceps and hamstrings showed no differences to the dominance and categories; however, all athletes have demonstrated decreased flexibility in the hamstrings when compared to the literature references. Conclusion: Professional athletes presented higher scores in functional tests and lower flexibility. The results encourage the use of functional tests and photogrammetry because these assessment tools are less expensive and can be easily reproduced.(AU)

Five-week sensory motor training program improves functional performance and postural control in young male soccer players - A blind randomized clinical trial.

Sensory motor training programs are used in the rehabilitation and prevention of injuries among soccer players. Inconsistencies are found in the literature regarding the duration of the protocols and the exercises and equipment used. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the benefits of a five-week sensory motor training program on the functional performance and postural control of young soccer players. METHODS: The study sample comprised 22 young male soccer players who were evaluated using: the Figure-of-Eight Test (F8), Side Hop Test (SHT), Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), and a force platform. The players were randomly divided into a control group (N = 10), who continued their soccer practice sessions and an intervention group (N = 12), who continued their soccer practice sessions and were also enrolled in a supervised five-week sensory motor training program. RESULTS: After the five-week training program, the intervention group obtained significant results in the F8, SHT and SEBT, as well as in the following parameters: area of pressure of sway center (COP), mean velocity and mean frequency of COP. CONCLUSION: The five-week sensory motor training program, carried out with easily available and low cost equipment, was effective at improving functional performance and postural control in young soccer players.