The magnitude of change of inter-limbs asymmetry and force-velocity profile during a football season: can it be used as an injury prediction?
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| Year of publication | 2025 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
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| Description | Football is a high-intensity sport that exposes players to significant physical demands, often leading to injuries that affect both performance and career duration. Identification of injury risk factors is essential for injury prevention, particularly through the assessment of inter-limb asymmetry (ILA) or force-velocity profiles (FVP). The aim of this study is to monitor the magnitude of changes in ILA and FVP over a two-year cycle of a football season and to investigate their relationship with injury incidence. The study will involve elite male football players. A longitudinal approach will be used with periodic assessment of asymmetry and FVP using ballistic tests (e.g., broad jump, single leg broad jump, change of direction test and sprinting over 40 meters using 1080 Sprint). The overall focus is to determine whether seasonal variations in these parameters correlate with injury incidence, which could be a potential screening tool to predict injuries. Given the financial and performance implications of football injuries, this research could contribute to optimizing training strategies and reducing injury risk through targeted interventions. |