Abstract
The purposes of this study were to describe the lower extremities joints range of motion (ROM) profile using a comprehensive approach in futsal players and to examine potential player position (goalkeepers vs. outfield players), competitive level (first [top] division vs. second division), number of playing years, sex (males vs. females), and bilateral (dominant limb vs. non-dominant limb) differences. A total of 72 male and 67 female elite futsal players from 11 clubs were measured of passive hip (flexion with knee flexed [HFKF] and extended [HFKE], extension [HE], abduction [HA], external [HER], and internal [HIR] rotation), knee (flexion [KF]) and ankle (dorsiflexion with knee flexed [ADFKF] and extended [ADFKE]) ROMs. Bayesian inferences exploring differences between player position, competitive level, sex and limb were made. A Bayesian correlation analysis was conducted to explore the influence of playing years on joints ROMs. The results showed no significant player position or competitive level related differences in any average ROM score. However, statistically significant sex-related differences were documented whereby female players reported higher hip and knee joints ROM average values than their male counterparts. Especially relevant were the proportions of males (72%) and players from teams engaged in the second division (61%) displaying limited HFKE ROMs. Likewise, around 35% of all players showed restricted ADFKF ROMs. In addition, approximately 21, 18, 22, and 25% of the futsal players were identified as having bilateral asymmetries (≥8°) for HA, HIR, HER, and KF ROMs, respectively. Finally, Bayesian correlation analysis did not report any significant association between years of playing futsal and ROM measures (all r values < 0.34). The implications that these restricted HFKE and ADFKF ROMs and bilateral asymmetries in hip (abduction, internal and external rotation) and knee (flexion) ROMs caused by the practice of futsal may have on physical performance and injury risk warrant future research.
Highlights
Futsal is played worldwide with more than one million registered players all over the world (FIFA, 2007)
The comprehensive analysis conducted in this study found that a significant number of the futsal players demonstrate limited HFKE (≈47%) and/or ADFKF (35%) range of motion (ROM) (Table 2)
The findings of this study indicate that the average values of the nine ROMs assessed in the futsal players may be categorized as normal or non-limited according to the cutoff scores described in the literature to identify athletes at high risk of sustaining a soft-tissue injury
Summary
Futsal (the five-a-side version of associated football) is played worldwide with more than one million registered players all over the world (FIFA, 2007). It may be plausible that these muscle adaptations are likely to result in the development of a futsal-specific lower extremities joints range of motion (ROM) profile that might be characterized by the presence of some restricted or limited ROMs and significant bilateral asymmetries (dominant limb vs non-dominant limb) This hypothetical futsal-specific lower extremities ROM profile may become more evident at elite levels, mainly attributed (but not exclusively) to the higher physical demands of the game and larger number of training sessions per week that players at these levels are usually exposed to Mohammed et al (2014), Ribeiro et al (2020), Spyrou et al (2020). The well-documented sex-related anatomical (Hahn and Foldspang, 1997), hormonal (Wojtys et al, 1998), and neuromuscular (Komi and Karlsson, 1978) differences may lead female futsal players to develop a different lower extremities ROM profile in comparison with their male counterparts
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