Variation of knee joint-position sense of soccer players during one season: An exploratory study: Variation of knee joint-position sense of soccer players during one season

• Author(s): Azevedo, Joana ; Rodrigues, Sandra ; Moreira-Silva, Isabel ; Cardoso, Ricardo ; Seixas, Adérito
• Date: 2025
• Origin: Athena Health & Research Journal
• Subject(s): Joint-Position Sense; Proprioception; Soccer; Muscle Fatigue; Knee
• Document Type: Journal article
• Language: English

Description

Introduction: The distribution of injuries during a competitive season in soccer is not consensual. It is suggested that muscle fatigue may be an underlying factor of increased risk of injury when load is high during the season since an impairment in the muscle mechanoreceptors’ function has been reported, affecting the necessary proprioceptive acuity to maintain the joint stability. Objective: To assess the variation of knee joint-position sense of soccer players during one season. Methods: Twenty-three semi-professional soccer players (12 males and 11 females) participated in the study. Knee joint-position sense was assessed through the absolute, relative and variable angular errors of both limbs over three different moments (early-season; mid-season; and late-season). The selected target angles were 20  and 45  (for the knee extension test), and 45  and 100  (for the knee flexion test), following a non-weight bearing condition and an active repositioning method. Results: Absolut, relative and variable angular errors of the soccer players did not change significantly over the three moments of assessment (p>0.05). Conclusion: The knee joint-position sense of the assessed soccer players did not vary during the season and also no injuries were observed, suggesting that they were able to maintain the integrity of joint and muscle mechanoreceptors, enabling an appropriate reaction to internal and external joint disturbances.