The Effect of Spinal Asymmetries on Physical Fitness Parameters in Young Elite Soccer Players

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of spinal asymmetries on specific physical fitness parameters in young elite soccer players. Fifty male soccer players, all members of the under 17 (U17) and 15 (U15) National teams of Cyprus, were initially evaluated for thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis and scoliosis asymmetries. Based on the spinal asymmetries’ initial evaluation, soccer players were categorized into the asymmetry group (AG) and normal group (NG) per spinal asymmetry. Hamstring and lower-back flexibility, countermovement jump (CMJ) and lower body isokinetic maximum force were evaluated between AG and NG. CMJ with arm swing was lower in kyphotic posture AG compared with the NG (AG: 41.70 ± 3.59 cm, NG: 44.40 ± 4.34 cm; p = 0.028). Single leg CMJ was lower in both legs in scoliotic posture AG compared with the NG (right: AG: 17.42 ± 1.86 cm, NG: 19.16 ± 2.42 cm, p = 0.008, left: AG: 17.54 ± 1.33 cm, NG: 19.97 ± 2.91 cm; p = 0.002). Sit-and-reach flexibility was lower in scoliotic posture AG (AG: 20.44 ± 5.76 cm, NG: 24.82 ± 6.83 cm; p = 0.024) and higher in lordotic posture AG (AG: 25.95 ± 6.59 cm, NG: 21.73 ± 6.45 cm; p = 0.04) both compared with the NG. No significant difference was found for quadriceps and hamstrings concentric peak torque between the AG and NG (p > 0.05). The current study revealed that kyphotic and scoliotic posture asymmetries deteriorate neuromuscular explosiveness performance and diminish lower limbs’ flexibility in young International-level soccer players.

Musculoskeletal Asymmetries in Young Soccer Players: 8 Weeks of an Applied Individual Corrective Exercise Intervention Program

“…Each CEP was coded with a number and assigned for a condition. Seventeen different programs were designed for thoracic kyphosis (1), lumbar lordosis (2), right thoracic scoliosis (3), left thoracic scoliosis (4), right lumbar scoliosis (5), left lumbar scoliosis (6), anterior pelvic tilt (7), posterior pelvic tilt (8), hamstring stretching (9), hip adductor muscle length-stretching (10), iliopsoas stretching (11), rectus femoris stretching (12), tensor fasciae latae stretching (13), hip external rotator stretching (14), hip internal rotator stretching (15), soleus stretching (16) and gastrocnemius stretching (17) (see Supplementary Materials). In addition, for convenience, the program code was referred to the participants by the researchers during the programs' demonstration.…”

“…Several studies have previously observed that body posture asymmetry may cause muscle imbalance, musculoskeletal injuries, motor control impairment [1][2][3][4][5][6] and a reduction in exercise performance in young soccer players [7]. Postural asymmetry-induced injuries might be due to early specialization and/or to premature participation in sports [8][9][10][11].…”

“…It was observed, for example, that the increased usage of the dominant leg in soccer may progressively negatively influence postural asymmetrical adaptations [15,16] and the asymmetry between the two legs due to the single-leg landing impact [17]. However, postural asymmetry-induced muscle imbalance, muscular injuries and motor control impairments [1][2][3][4][5][6], leading to a reduction in exercise performance [7], are potentially modifiable factors [16]. Zuk et al (2019) pointed out that corrective exercises can be regularly applied for stabilizing the lumbar-pelvis complex, particularly in an attempt to protect spinal overload, during daily soccer training in young female soccer players [16].…”

“…Although several studies have examined the relationship between body posture and injury development in young soccer players, no interventional studies incorporating individualized corrective-exercise programs (CEP) which target the correction of body asymmetries in young soccer players were located. Since postural asymmetries predispose young elite soccer players to injuries [2] and to a reduction in power performance and hamstring flexibility [7], specific corrective exercises that may be applied in an attempt to alleviate postural asymmetry incidences, and, therefore, to improve the overall musculoskeletal clinical and kinesiological health statuses of young athletes should be discovered. The current study, therefore, aimed to examine the effect of 8 weeks of individual CEP on postural and musculoskeletal asymmetries in young soccer players.…”

The Impact of Interaction between Body Posture and Movement Pattern Quality on Injuries in Amateur Athletes

“…The impact of hyperkyphosis on lowering the shoulder and indirectly on subacromial impingement syndrome in football players has also been identified [ 28 ]. Another study of athletes in the same sport showed that kyphotic and lordotic posture may negatively affect neuromuscular explosiveness performance, while lateral spine curvature reduces lower limb flexibility [ 29 ].…”