Lower limb strength asymmetry and Functional Movement Screen values in professional soccer players

Aim: The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) protocol consists of 7 tests. At higher values mean higher quality of execution. The lower limb functional asymmetry (FA) is monitored to control the athlete’s injury risk. This study aims to examine the correlation between the FMS score and strength asymmetry in professional soccer players (PSP). Methods: n=31 PSP (age:22.2±4.6; weight:74.3±10,1kg; height:176.1±8.7cm), n=4 were excluded for joint or muscle injuryin the last 18 months. The FMS protocol identifies athletes at risk of injury when the total score is≤14. The Hop Test (HT), Side Hop Test (SH) and Crossover Hop Test (CH) are considered a valid assessment of the single lower limb FA. Results: It revealed a significant inverse correlation between FMS score and HT (r = -0.56, p<0.01), between FMS score and SH asymmetry percentage (r =-0.74,p<0.01) and the CH asymmetry percentage (r=-0.60,p<0.01). Significant correlation were found between HT asymmetry and SH asymmetry (r= -0.54, p<0.01), CH asymmetry (r=-0.59, p<0.01);significant correlation were found between SH asymmetry and CH asymmetry (r= -0.76, p<0.001). Conclusion: Low scores in the FMS test are correlated with high levels lower limb strength asymmetry in the soccer player; it can be assumed that movement accuracy influences jump performance. In the soccer players, the lower limb strength asymmetries are observed on the jumps performed in different planes and in different tasks.