Lower limb performance evaluation of professional and young soccer players

Introduction Evaluation of soccer players physiological measurements is important to understand overall fitness of each athlete and to avoid injuries due to muscular imbalances. Since 2010 Sports Science Faculty of University of Verona and A.C. Chievo Verona collaborate to assess anthropometric and physiological tests on main and youth team athletes in order to check potential imbalances or physical problems. Therefore aim of project is to verify differences between First League and youth team, to detect within subjects imbalances and to correlate physiological and performance measures. Methods A total of 104 evaluations have been concluded, considering First League team (54) and youth team (48). Knee extensors and flexors concentric and eccentric peak torque (60°/sec, 85° as ROM) has been measured using Cybex isokinetic dynamometer. Functional ratio has been calculated as ratio between hamstring eccentric peak torque and quadriceps concentric peak torque (Delextrat 2010). Jump height and single limb force development during jump have been measured using force platform. One way ANOVA has been used to detect differences between groups, while correlation among variables has been detected using Pearson coefficient. Results A good lateral balance resulted both in main team and in youth team in knee extensors strength (0.9 N,CI95% -1,9 to 3,7, n.s.) and knee flexors (0,8 N, -24 to 23, n.s.).Quadriceps strength was significantly greater in main team compared to youth team (43N, 17 to 70, p<0,01), no difference appeared in knee flexors strength, while H/Q functional ratio resulted higher in latter (0,05 A.U., 0,023 to 0,093, p<0,01). Significant correlation was found between single limb knee extensors peak torque and single limb force developed during jump ( dx 0,630, p<0,05 and sx 0,724, p