Lower flexibility and range of motion in prepubertal soccer players: a pilot study

Even if sport practice is essential for children’s health, in the last years, an increased number of studies recorded injuries from the age of 12 years. In the multifactorial nature of injuries, a reduction in flexibility and/or range of motion is hypothesized to play a role. Thus, the aim of this study is to analyze the flexibility and range of motion of soccer players in the prepubertal age.

In this pilot transversal study, we investigated through various mobility tests (ankle wall test, sit and reach test, and active straight leg raise test) a population of 78 prepubertal soccer players (male, 12 ÷ 14 years old, BMI 18.472 ± 2.18 kg/m²).

The results showed a significant reduction in their flexibility and range of motion compared to the reference values reported in clinical guidelines, and this decrement increased with the years of soccer history and age.

The lower flexibility and range of motion confirmed the importance of planning an adequate training to prevent their limitation with repercussions on body growth.