Association between Foot Posture and Agility in Amateur Soccer Players

Abstract

Background: Agility is the ability to accelerate, decelerate and sprint with change in direction. The risk factors for injuries in soccer players are imbalance, decreased agility, and improper foot posture. Understanding the relationship between foot posture and agility can facilitate agility training and rehabilitation to improve their performance in the sport. Objective: To determine an association between foot posture and agility in amateur soccer players. Methodology: The cross sectional study recruited 78 age and gender-matched amateur soccer players. They were then allocated into pronated, supinated and neutral foot postures based on the foot posture index scores. Later the modified Illinois change of direction test (MICODT) was administered to all the players to test agility. With standing as the starting position of the test the players were made to run from the starting point to the finish point without any stop in between. The time to complete the test was noted. Results: Out of 78 subjects, 26 subjects had supinated feet 26 had pronated feet and 26 had normal feet. An association was found between foot posture and agility with a significance of p0.001. Logistic regression analysis revealed that players with supinated a feet demonstrated 3.53 times greater influence on agility than players with normal feet (p0.05). Players with pronated feet showed 0.54 times greater influence on agility than players with normal feet. Conclusion: A significant association between foot posture and agility was detected in amateur soccer players. Supinated feet influenced agility to a greater degree when compared to pronated and normal foot postures in amateur soccer players.