PHYSICAL THERAPY AS A MEANS OF PREVENTING INJURIES IN PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS

Abstract

Physical therapy as a means of preventing injuries in professional football players Abstract Football as a professional sport is characterized by a high level of physical loads, which leads to a significant number of injuries among players. According to studies conducted in the United States between 2014 and 2019, the most common injuries in professional football players are hamstring strains, ankle sprains, and adductor strains. These injuries account for a significant proportion of the total, with a muscle strain frequency of 4.6 cases per 1000 hours of exposure, often associated with traumatic incidents. The overall prevalence of lower extremity injuries reaches 37.8%, with an emphasis on the ankle joint, where more than 306 thousand cases have been registered. In professional football, muscle and tendon injuries predominate, accounting for up to 31% of all injuries, with a predominance of non-contact mechanisms such as sudden movements, acceleration and deceleration. Physical therapy is a key means of prevention, allowing to reduce the risk through the implementation of programs that include strength training, proprioceptive exercises, multicomponent complexes and warm-ups. For example, the FIFA 11+ program demonstrates a 72% reduction in the overall risk of lower extremity injuries, a 29% reduction in time loss due to injuries, and a reduction in the frequency of knee ligament injuries. Studies conducted among adult male football players show that eccentric exercises, such as the Nordic hamstring curl, reduce the risk of hamstring strains by 35%, while adductor programs reduce groin problems by 41%. Proprioceptive training on an ankle disk reduces the frequency of sprains by improving sensorimotor control. Multicomponent programs that combine balance, core stability and functional strength reduce muscle injuries by 43% among elite players[4].Warmup routines, such as FIFA 11+, lasting 15–20 minutes, performed 2–6 times a week, increase the hamstring-to-quadriceps strength ratio, improve neuromuscular control and prepare the body for loads, reducing the frequency of match injuries by 12% and training injuries by 25%. An important aspect is the gradual implementation of exercises to avoid delayed muscle soreness, as well as a focus on the lower extremities, where injuries predominate. The studies emphasize the need for an individual approach, taking into account previous injuries that double the risk of recurrence, and external factors such as contact. In general, physical therapy not only prevents injuries but also contributes to improving athletic performance by reducing recovery time and increasing resistance to loads. Recommendations include integrating these programs into daily training for adult male football players, with an emphasis on compliance and coach supervision. Future research should expand databases and include more languages for a fuller assessment of effectiveness.