APPLICATION OF BIOMECHANICS TO THE PREVENTION OF OVERLOAD INJURIES IN ELITE FOOTBALL PLAYERS

Dueñas, L.¹; Ferrandis, R.¹; Martinez, A.¹; Candel, J.²; Arnau, F.³; Villanueva, J.⁴.

¹Instituto de Biomecánica de Valencia. ²Medical Services of the Valencia C.F. ³Medical Services of the Villarreal C.F. ⁴Medical Services of the Zaragoza C.F. Spain.

Structural alterations of the foot and inadequate design of sports footwear, as well as overtraining, have been determined to be risk factors for overload injuries during sports practice. A biomechanical analysis protocol was designed to study both the foot and sports footwear statically and dynamically. This protocol was applied on 47 football players of the Spanish Premier League. Amongst the results we should point out that 53.3% of the players had cavus feet. 14.8% of the players deformed the boots. 44.7% of the players studied registered high pressures over the metatarsal heads, and 19.1% registered high ones at the first toe. 44.7% of the players showed an excessive supination pattern. The data obtained gave us information about the static and dynamic patterns of the elite football player. With the individual information the assessment of suitable footwear was carried out for each player. The correct application of this protocol could be used to assist in the diagnosis or prevention of overtraining and in the detection of foot and gait pathologies.