Lower limb musculoskeletal profiling in Malaysian professional footballers during pre-season pre-competition medical assessments

Abstract

Background: Lower limb musculoskeletal profiling is important in pre-competition medical assessment (PCMA) as it helps to identify musculoskeletal pathologies that need rehabilitation and risk factors for injury that need specific prevention programme. However, a normative value is needed to identify which is normal or pathological. Our objective in this study is to establish a normative value for football-specific adaptation of lower limb musculoskeletal examination among Malaysian professional footballers. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective cross-sectional examining 83 Malaysian footballers from a single club during PCMA from 17 January 2022 to 17 February 2022. We included anthropometric assessments using body impedance analysis, objective lower limb muscle strength assessments using handheld dynamometer, range of motion and objective dynamic balance test using the Biodex system. Results: The mean age of our study was 20.3 ± 3 years. Goalkeepers and defenders have a higher body mass index and a higher skeletal muscle mass. Strikers and midfielders have a higher quadriceps and hamstring strength. Non-dominant leg has a better overall stability and anterior posterior stability index compared to dominant leg. Defender has a better overall stability. Sixty-six footballers (80%) have at least 1 low Add: Abd ratio of less than 0.9, which requires preventive programme for groin injury. Conclusion: This study demonstrates a position-specific adaptation in different positions in football.