Effect of Myofascial Release Combined With the FIFA 11+ Program on Hamstring Flexibility and Injury Risk in Football Players
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 招募中
- 入组人数
- 28
- 试验地点
- 1
- 主要终点
- Manual Muscle Testing for strength
研究概览
简要总结
Football is a physically demanding sport that involves frequent jumping, cutting, and sudden changes in direction, making players vulnerable to various musculoskeletal injuries especially around the knee(1, 2). If not properly addressed, such mechanical demands can place excessive stress on key structures like the Hamstring, ACL and MCL, increasing the risk of injury during high-impact movement(1). Hamstring strains are one of the most common injuries among football players, with significant impact on their performance and career longevity(1). These injuries are especially prevalent due to the high-intensity nature of football, involving rapid sprinting, cutting, and changes of direction. Studies have shown that hamstring strains account for a substantial proportion of all injuries in football, ranging from 12% to 20% of total injuries in professional and amateur levels. Given the high rate of recurrence and the long recovery times associated with hamstring injuries, there has been growing interest in injury prevention programs aimed at reducing the risk of these injuries. Many of these injuries stem from deficits in dynamic balance, inadequate landing strategies, and reduced strength in the lower limbs(3). When such deficits persist, they increase biomechanical load on the knee joint, raising the likelihood of ligament injuries during explosive actions(4). By addressing these movement impairments, programs like FIFA 11+ aim to improve neuromuscular coordination and reduce injury rates among football players
详细描述
Although the FIFA 11+ program has been widely studied, there is limited evidence on its effectiveness in addressing hamstring injury-related factors combined with myofascial release among academy-level male football players in Pakistan. Most existing research focuses on professional athletes from developed countries and often lacks detailed assessments of neuromuscular and biomechanical components. Additionally, few studies have employed a randomized control design. This study will address these gaps by evaluating the FIFA 11+ program using validated assessment tools within a local youth football population.
This study will be significant, as it focuses on an underrepresented group, academy-level male football players in Pakistan, where data on injury prevention remains scarce. By examining the effects of the FIFA 11+ program on hamstring-related biomechanical and neuromuscular outcomes, the study will provide insights beyond basic injury incidence. The results will help inform effective, evidence-based warm-up strategies adapted to the local football environment.
Hamstring injuries are a frequent concern in football, often impairing player performance and longevity. A survey of male footballers from Peshawar clubs found a 53.3% prevalence of lower limb injuries, highlighting high injury risk at the grassroots level in Pakistan.
While FIFA 11+ has demonstrated strong preventive outcomes, its direct impact on flexibility is limited. Myofascial release offers an evidence-based method for improving hamstring extensibility, which could reduce strain risk. By combining MFR with FIFA 11+, this study addresses two major modifiable risk factors, flexibility deficits and poor neuromuscular control, thereby potentially reducing injuries more effectively than either approach alone.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Randomized
- 干预模型
- Parallel
- 主要目的
- Treatment
- 盲法
- None
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 16 Years 至 30 Years（Child, Adult）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 是
入选标准
- •Male football players aged 16-30 years.
- •Able to comply with a 6-week FIFA 11+ program.
- •Provide informed consent.
排除标准
- •Acute or chronic hamstring injury.
- •Recent major surgery of the lower limb or ongoing rehab plan.
- •Inability to safely perform exercises included in the FIFA 11+ program.
- •Non-compliance with baseline assessments or the training schedule.
- •Current musculoskeletal injuries affecting lower limb function.
- •Unable to achieve ≥65% limb symmetry index (LSI) in any hop test.
- •Undergoing physiotherapy or post-rehabilitation care.
研究组 & 干预措施
Control group
the control group will continue their standard warm-up routines without incorporating the FIFA 11+ exercises. Frequency: 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks (same as the intervention group).
Consistency: Participants will continue their usual warm-up routine without modifications.
干预措施: Routine warm up session (Other)
intervention group
The intervention group will participate in the FIFA 11+ injury prevention program, which includes a structured series of exercises designed to improve strength, balance, and neuromuscular control. The program will be conducted three times per week for Six weeks as part of their regular training schedule. Myofascial Release: Manual therapist will perform standardized MFR techniques on hamstring fascia prior to FIFA 11+ sessions, lasting 10-15 minutes.
干预措施: FIFA 11+ COMBINE WITH MYOFACICAL RELEASE TECHNIQUE (Other)
结局指标
主要结局
Manual Muscle Testing for strength
时间窗: Six weeks
to assess the muscles' strength on a scale of 5
Passive Straight Leg Raise with Goniometer
时间窗: Six weeks
to assess hamstring flexibility
Injury Surveillance Form
时间窗: six weeks
An injury surveillance form is a standardized data-collection tool used by medical professionals, public health agencies, and safety officers to systematically track the incidence, causes, and impacts of injuries.
Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) for strength
时间窗: Six weeks
to assess the muscles' strength on a scale of 5
Passive Straight Leg Raise (SLR) with Goniometer
时间窗: Six weeks
to assess hamstring flexibility
Single-Leg Hop Test for Distance
时间窗: Six weeks
(To assess functional outcome)
次要结局
未报告次要终点