Implementing strength training strategies for injury prevention in soccer: scientific rationale and methodological recommendations

Due to the negative effects that injuries have on performance, club finances, and long-term player health (permanent disability after a severe injury), prevention strategies are an essential part of both sports medicine and performance. Purpose: This commentary aims to summarize the current evidence regarding strength training (ST) for injury prevention in soccer and to inform their evidence-based implementation in research and applied settings. Conclusions: The contemporary literature suggests ST proposed as traditional resistance, eccentric, and flywheel training may be valid methods to reduce the injury risk in soccer players. Training strategies involving multiple components (e.g., a combination of strength, balance, plyometrics) which include strength exercises are effective at reducing non-contact injuries in female soccer. Additionally, the body of research current published support the use of eccentric training in sports, which offers unique physiological responses compared to other resistance exercise modalities. It seems that the Nordic hamstring exercise, in particular, is a viable option for the reduction of hamstring injuries in soccer players. Moreover, flywheel training has specific training peculiarities and advantages which are related to the combination of both concentric and eccentric contraction, which may play an important role in injury prevention. It is authors’ opinion strength and conditioning coaches should integrate the ST methods here proposed in their weekly training routine to reduce the likelihood of injuries in their players, however, further research is needed to verify the advantages and disadvantages of these training methods to injury prevention using specific cohorts of soccer players