Physical Differences between Injured and Non-Injured Elite Male and Female Futsal Players

Abstract

Futsal is one of the most harmful sports due to its great physical demands. The asymmetries have been proposed as one of the most important risk factors of suffering an injury. However, no study has analysed the relationship between neuromuscular assessment and its implication on the likelihood of suffering injuries comparing male and female players. The purpose of the study was to analyse the physical fitness differences between elite futsal players (both male and female) who suffered an injury in the following four months after being evaluated with those who did not suffer the injuries. Twenty-six and twenty-two male and female elite futsal players were recruited from four different teams and underwent an evaluation of different neuromuscular assessments (isometric hip abduction and adduction peak torque, flexion-rotation trunk test, hop test, countermovement jump (CMJ), drop vertical jump (DVJ), leg stiffness, 15 m sprint, Y-balance test, and Illinois test) that have been considered potential sport-related injury risk factors during the pre-season. Statistical analysis only showed differences between injured and non-injured players in isometric hip adduction strength and unilateral ratio for the non-dominant leg (p < 0.05). Neuromuscular performance scores showed significant differences (p < 0.001) between male and female futsal players in several variables (hip abduction non-dominant leg, hops, CMJ, DVJ, leg stiffness, sprint, and Illinois test) but not in ratio or asymmetry. Isometric hip adduction and abduction–adduction unilateral ratio deficits for the non-dominant leg might be an important factor toward suffering an injury. Male and female futsal players showed different neuromuscular performances and consequently different training programs should be implemented for them.