Malaria in Britain

Abstract

<h3>Background</h3> The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) protocol consists of 7 tests (Cook &amp; Burton, 2014). At higher values mean higher quality of movement execution. Lower limb functional asymmetry (FA) is monitored to control the athlete9s injury risk (Sannicandro <i>et al</i>., 2011). <h3>Objective</h3> To examine the correlation between the FMS score and strength asymmetry in professional soccer players (PSP). <h3>Design</h3> Descriptive study (correlation study investigating the relationship between variables). <h3>Setting</h3> Professional soccer. <h3>Participants</h3> n=30 professional soccer players (age: 22.2±4.6; weight: 74.3±10,1 kg; height: 176.1±8.7 cm), 4 players were excluded due to joint or muscle injury within the last 18 months. <h3>Assessment of Risk Factors</h3> The FMS protocol identifies athletes as being at risk of injury when the total score is ≤14. The Hop Test (HT), Side Hop (SH) and Hop Crossover (CH) test are considered to represent a valid assessment of the single lower limb FA. The counter movement jump (CMJ) test indirectly evaluates explosive strength capacity (jump height). <h3>Main Outcome Measurements</h3> The sample was evaluated using the 7 FMS test and CMJ, HT, SH and CH tests for strength capacity. FA was calculated between the two limbs as follows: (jump dominant limb–jump non-dominant limb)/jump dominant-limb*100 (Yamamoto, 1993). <h3>Results</h3> We observed a significant inverse correlation between FMS score and the SH asymmetry percentage (r=−0.678, p&lt;0.01) and the CH asymmetry percentage (r=−0.572,p&lt;0.01). We also observed a significant positive correlation between the FMS score and CMJ values (r=0.531, p&lt;0.01). No significant correlation was found between FMS and the HT asymmetry percentage (r=−0.245). <h3>Conclusions</h3> The best quality movement in FMS test was correlated with high performance in CMJ and with low percentage of lower limb FA, respectively.