The Effect of Exercise Program Obtained from Functional Movement Screening Test on Hip Muscle Strength and Dynamic Postural Stability to Prevent Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Healthy Male Soccer Players

 Soccer is one of the most popular sports and it is necessary to use preventive exercises in this sport. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the exercise programs obtained from the functional movement screening tests on hip muscle strength and dynamic postural stability to prevent anterior cruciate ligament injury in healthy male soccer players.

 The statistical population of the present study consisted of healthy male football players aged 18-27 years and with a history of playing in provincial league teams who were eligible to enter the study. Thirty football players (age: 22 ± 2.98, height: 185.93 ± 6.5, and weight: 83.06 ± 6.27) were selected as a sample and randomly divided into two equal experimental and control groups. Kincam isokinetic dynamometer and Biodex balance device were used to evaluate the strength of hip muscles and dynamic postural stability, respectively. An exercise program as the warm-up was performed for 20-25 minutes per session, three sessions per week, and for eight weeks, by the experimental group. The Control group continued to perform their daily program. It should be noted that informed consent and voluntary consent were obtained from all subjects. Correlated t-tests and analysis of variance with repeated measures were used for statistical analysis at the significant level of P≤0.05.  

 Significant differences were observed in the strength of the hip extensors, external rotators, and abductors muscles in both legs (P<0.05) as well as total deviation index, anterior-posterior deviation index, and a medial-lateral deviation index (P <0.05) between experimental and control groups.

 It could be concluded that training programs obtained from functional movement screening tests effects hip muscle strength and dynamic posture stability in healthy male soccer players. Therefore, it may prevent Anterior Cruciate Ligament injuries.