Knee joint position sense of roller hockey players: a comparative study |
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| Authors: | João Venâncio Diogo Lopes Joaquim Lourenço Fernando Ribeiro |
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| Institution: | 1. Advanced Polytechnic and University Cooperative (CESPU), Institute of Research and Advanced Training in Health Sciences and Technologies, Gandra, Portugal;2. School of Health Sciences and Institute of Biomedicine – iBiMED, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal |
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| Abstract: | This study aimed to compare knee joint position sense of roller hockey players with an age-matched group of non-athletes. Forty-three male participants voluntarily participated in this cross-sectional study: 21 roller hockey players (mean age: 23.2 ± 4.2 years old, mean weight: 81.8 ± 9.8 kg, mean height: 180.5 ± 4.1 cm) and 22 age-matched non-athletes (mean age: 23.7 ± 3.9 years old, mean weight: 85.0 ± 6.2 kg, mean height: 181.5 ± 5.0 cm). Knee joint position sense of the dominant limb was evaluated using a technique of open-kinetic chain and active knee positioning. Joint position sense was reported using absolute, relative and variable angular errors. The main results indicated that the group of roller hockey players showed significantly lower absolute (2.4 ± 1.2º vs. 6.5 ± 3.2º, p ≤ 0.001) and relative (1.7 ± 2.1º vs. 5.8 ± 4.4º, p ≤ 0.001) angular errors in comparison with the non-athletes group. In conclusion, the results from this present study suggest that proprioceptive acuity, assessed by measuring joint position sense, is increased in roller hockey players. The enhanced proprioception of the roller hockey players could contribute to injury prevention and improved performance during sporting activities. |
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| Keywords: | Hardball hockey in line hockey proprioception rink hockey |
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