EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE FACTORS ON REACTIVE AGILITY IN PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS

Purpose: The primary aim of this study is to examine the effects of physical and cognitive factors on reactive agility in football players; the secondary aim is to compare reactive agility parameters in football players with low and high risk of lower extremity injury in football. Methods: Thirty professional football players were included. All participants underwent physical and cognitive assessments. Reactive Agility Test (RAT), tablet-based right/left discrimination, Vertical Jump Test, T Agility Test (T-Test), Y Balance Test (YBT), 20 m sprint test and hamstring eccentric strength were evaluated. Tuck Jump assesment (TJ) was used for injury risk analysis. Results: In our study, there was a negative correlation between RCT movement time parameter and Y-Balance test composite, posteromedial and posterolateral reach scores and right/left discrimination accuracy; there was a positive correlation with the T-Test (p<0.05). In addition, there was a negative correlation between the RAT response time parameter and the right/left discrimination test time, and a positive moderate correlation with the T-Test result (p<0.05). In the comparisons between the athletes with low and high risk of injury, there was no difference between the groups in the parameters of RAT movement, reaction and decision-making time (p>0.05). Conclusion: Reactive agility in football players is associated with physical parameters such as dynamic balance and agility, and cognitive factors such as right/left discrimination. We suggest that sports physiotherapists working with football players should evaluate the reactive agility performance and consider the physical and cognitive factors associated with reactive agility during the rehabilitation.