Functional capacity and injury rates in upaep university soccer players at the beginning, during, and at the end of the first semester of the 2023 competition season

Abstract

The physical and functional performance of a soccer player is a fundamental part of their performance in the sport, representing a significant challenge for them, their coaches, and health professionals. This research focuses on exploring the functional capacity and injury rates in university soccer players. This is a descriptive case-control study involving 23 university students who were part of the representative football team. Evaluations were conducted at the beginning, during, and at the end of the first semester of the 2023 competition season. The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) was used to assess functional capacity, and a survey method was applied to collect data from each player. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS software, version 27, employing the chi-square (x²) test for categorical variables and the Kruskal-Wallis test to compare game seasons.

In the control group, 47.4% players presented some type of injury, and 100% of the cases did not complete the season. The football players did not demonstrate good functionality according to the FMS, although there was no significant difference (p=0.916), with a lower total score. Players with more minutes of play had a higher probability of injury (p=0.001), based on the comparison between the initial and final assessments. During the final evaluation, there was a higher report of injuries (p=0.054) in the case group compared to the control group. Based on these findings, the amount of playing time during each match was proposed as a potential risk factor for future injuries among soccer players. Additionally, the application of the Functional Movement Screen was suggested as a fundamental tool for training programming and dosage, with a lower score reflecting poor functional capacity as shown in the study.