The correlation between lower extremity anthropometrics and jumping performance in football players

Purpose Jumping performance is an important action in football that can be affected by the anthropometric and biomechanical characteristics of players. This study aimed to investigate the effects of anthropometric and biomechanical parameters on the jumping performance of football players and young sedentary healthy men. Methods Eighteen healthy male football players (aged 20.28 +/- 2.40 years) and 18 healthy male participants (aged 22.22 +/- 2.90 years) underwent a jump performance test protocol on a force platform following anthropometric and biomechanical measurements. All tests (jump performance) and measurements (foot length, foot width, toe length, arch height, heel width, leg length, lower leg length, subtalar angle, hallux valgus angle, navicular drop) were collected in a single session. The performance outcomes of the jump height and jump velocity parameters were calculated. Results A significant negative correlation was found between lower leg length and countermovement jump height and velocity in the football group (p < 0,05). Compared with the control group, the football group presented a significantly greater subtalar angle (p < 0,05). Significant negative correlations were detected between the arch height of the left foot and the countermovement jump performance in the control group (p < 0,05). Football players performed better than control players did in the squat and drop jump tests (p < 0,05). Conclusion Based on the findings of the study which in turn can be used by coaches to generate appropriate training regimes to focus on developing explosive power for the players with longer lower leg lengths, we expect our study to raise awareness about foot evaluation in athletes and provide evidence on the relationship between jump performance and anthropometric values in football players.