Effects of proprioception training on knee joint position sense in male soccer athletes

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of proprioception training program on knee joint position sense in male soccer athletes. Reproduction of knee joint angle by a passive (by the examiner) - active (by the subjects) positioning was employed to measure joint position sense. Thirty male athletes (N=30) were participated in this study from Sports Science faculty at Mutah University whom registered in soccer course for Fall semester 2013/2014. The researcher used the non-dominant as an experimental limb and underwent proprioceptive training program and dominant as a control limb. The researcher used paired-sample and independent-samples-t- Test to analyse the absolute angles score of present study.

Results indicated that there was a significant difference of reproduction of the knee joint angle before and after intervention training for the non-dominant limb and a significant difference between dominant and non-dominant limb after intervention training program, (p ≤ 0.05).

It was suggested that using a proprioception training program may have a direct impact in decreasing knee joint injuries in male soccer athletes.

Key words: proprioception, joint position sense, reproduce joint angle, male soccer athletes, training program.