Abstract
Background
There has been a great development in numbers of female soccer players both internationally and in Denmark. The development has an impact on professionalism and an increase in physical demands, and the potential risk of injuries might expand equivalently. The most frequent injuries in female soccer relate to knee, ankle, and muscle injuries in the lower extremities. There is at lack of studies regarding prevention programs on muscle injuries in female soccer. Performance Boost is a prevention program for Anterior Cruciate Ligament-injuries recommended for elite female soccer players. The aim of this study is to explore the impact of performance boost on the muscle strength of female elite soccer players.
Methods
The study is a pre to post intervention study on a Danish female elite soccer team. Before and after 8 weeks of intervention with Performance Boost, the participants were tested in muscle strength (eccentric adduction, isometric external rotation, rate of force development, isometric hamstring and isometric adduction), sprint and countermovement jump (CMJ).
Results
A statistically significant increase in muscle strength was found in eccentric adduction of 3.5 ±0.4 to 3.9 ±0.4 Nm/Kg (p=0.008). Rate of torque development (RTD) 0-100ms. increased from 9.1 ±4.2 to 11.0 ±5.3 Nm/kg (p=0.05) and 200ms. from 6.4 ±2.2 to 7.7 ±2.9 Nm/kg (p=0.008). Isometric adduction increased from 2.1 ±0.4 to 2.4 ±0.4 Nm/Kg (p=0.003). The study] found an increase in CMJ from 44.2cm. ±5.7 to 46.6cm ±4.7 (p=0.02). A strong statistically significant correlation was found between CMJ and RTD100 adduction of r=0.95 (p=0.001) and CMJ and RTD200 adduction of r=0.93 (p=0.003).
Conclusion
8 weeks of Performance Boost has a positive impact on muscle strength in hip adductors and CMJ. Since the study didn’t have a control group, it can’t be concluded that the increase in strength and CMJ is due to Performance Boost.