The impact of neuromuscular warm-up on the level of dynamic stability of lower limbs in female football players in the context of injury prevention

Abstract

Background: In female football, there’s a high incidence of injuries, with insufficient dynamic stability a significant risk for lower limb injuries. Consequently, diagnosing and compensating for dynamic stability in female footballers is crucial. Objective: The aim of the study was to verify the impact of neuromuscular warm-up on the level of dynamic stability as a method of preventing lower limb injuries in female football players. Methods: The research sample consisted of 36 players, who were divided into an experimental group (EG, n = 20) and a control group (CG, n = 16) based on their club affiliation. The average age of the EG was 17.45 ± 2.63 years, with a height of 168.31 ± 6.13 cm and a weight of 60.21 ± 8.87 kg. The CG consisted of players with an average age of 16.24 ± 1.09 years, a height of 163.84 ± 5.58 cm, and a weight of 55.91 ± 6.87 kg. The assessment of dynamic stability of the lower limbs was conducted using the Y Balance Test, which is considered a reliable test for assessing dynamic stability and identifying deficits in this area. The experimental factor of the research was neuromuscular warm-up, implemented during the warm-up phase of the players’ training sessions, with a frequency of 2-3 times per week for a duration of 12 weeks. Results: No statistically significant difference was found in the impact of neuromuscular warm-up in any tested direction or in the composite score of the female football players. Conclusion: We conclude that in our study, neuromuscular warm-up did not have an impact on the dynamic stability of female football players. More regular monitoring and higher frequency of neuromuscular warm-up may have beneficial effects on female football players.