Asymmetry, lumbo-pelvic hip complex and injury in european soccer players

Abstract

Human movement, in its synergistic, functional, and stabilizing nature, necessitates a balance of muscle length and strength between the muscles surrounding a joint. This balance, known as muscle balance, ensures optimal joint function during movement. Using a bibliography that can be linked to indexed literature, this article has as its strength the correlative analysis between gestural repetitiveness in soccer, related to players' roles on the field on the playing field that result in dysfunctional postural frameworks with increased risk factors for lower extremity injuries. Soccer, characterized by rapid changes of direction, accelerations, decelerations, twisting motions, and cutting maneuvers often performed with a dominant limb can contribute to the development of asymmetries, lateralization, and postural/dysfunctional patterns. These patterns could increase the risk of injury to the musculoskeletal system, particularly during the return-to-sport process after an injury. In contact/collision sports like soccer, asymmetrical imbalances within the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex have been linked to dysfunctional states that affect lower limb alignment. This can have clinical implications, manifesting as knee pain, low back pain, groin injuries, or adductor injuries. Additionally, rotational deficits at the hip have been identified as predictors of ACL and femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) injuries. To address these issues, a screening process to identify muscle imbalances and assess movement quality should be integrated into both preseason and in-season training programs, with regular follow-ups. Compensatory training tailored to the specific roles players occupy on the field can be effective in reducing asymmetries and mitigating the risk factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders frequently seen in soccer.