Background
This study examined the effect of neuromuscular programs on proprioception and balance in athletes with dynamic knee valgus (DKV) defects.
Methods
The present investigation involved the purposive and random allocation of 45 male soccer players with dynamic knee valgus (DKV) defects into three distinct groups: a control group (n = 15, age = 11.40 ± .74, weight = 36.24 ± 5.31, height = 140.73 ± 3.34, BMI = 19.93 ± 3.74, sport experience = 2.47 ± .52), Fifa11 + kids group (n = 15, age = 11.07 ± .88, weight = 32.61 ± 3.53, height = 138.40 ± 3.38, BMI = 16.03 ± 2.18, sport experience = 2.39 ± .42), and Stop-X group (n = 15, age = 11.40 ± .74, weight = 37.00 ± 4.10, height = 141.47 ± 4.63, BMI = 17.27 ± 2.22, sport experience = 2.27 ± .46). The leg landing test (ICC = 0.87), knee proprioception (ICC = 0.801), and stork balance (ICC = 0.76) were utilized for both pre- and post-implementation of the training protocol. After identifying the variables, the participants in the training cohort underwent an eight-week intervention consisting of the Stop X and FIFA 11 + Kids programs. The training programs included three sessions per week, each lasting between 20 and 25 minutes, while the control group followed their usual warm-up routine. A Mixed Repeated Measurement analysis was conducted using SPSS 26 software at a significance level of 0.05 to assess the differences between pre-test and post-test results.
Results
The study's results indicate a significant difference among the three groups in the Mixed Repeated Measurement test (p = 0.01). The Stop-X group showed significant differences compared to the control group (p = 0.01) and the FIFA11 + Kids group (p = 0.04) in terms of AKJPS. Moreover, the knee valgus in both the Stop-X (p = 0.03) and FIFA11 + Kids (p = 0.007) groups significantly differed from the control group. Additionally, there was a significant difference in stork balance before and after the intervention between the intervention groups and the control group.
Conclusion
The study findings suggest that Stop-X exercises are more effective than FIFA 11 + exercises in improving dynamic knee valgus and balance among young football players with knee valgus abnormalities.