Effects of proprioception training on some physical fitness parameters in elite and amateur soccer players

Objective: This study was planned to examine the effects of proprioceptive exercises on some physical fitness in elite and amateur soccer players. Methods: A total of 41 players including 20 elites and 21 amateurs were included in the study. After all football players had received demographic information; speed, aerobic endurance, agility, muscular endurance, balance performance were evaluated. Proprioceptive exercise program was applied to all footballers for 6 weeks, 3 days a week under the supervision of a physiotherapist. All footballers' evaluations were repeated after exercise program of 6 weeks. Results: The average age of all the participating athletes was 18.51 ± 3.47 (min: 14-max: 27) years, with 52.2% amateur and 48.8% elite athletes participated. When the test values of all soccer players were compared before and after the exercise program; aerobic endurance, agility and balance test values were statistically significant (p <0.05), there was no statistically significant difference between speed and muscular endurance test values (p>0.05). When the test results of elite and amateur soccer players before and after the in-group exercise program are examined, after the exercise program in the elite soccer players we found that the results of aerobic endurance, agility and balance test values statistically decreased (p<0.05), the results of muscular endurance speed and muscular endurance test values were not statistically (p>0.05); in amateur soccer players we found that the results of aerobic endurance, speed, static and dynamic balance test were statistically decreased (p<0.05) the results of muscular endurance, agility test values were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: Applied proprioceptive exercises were found to be effective in improving aerobic endurance, agility and balance performance of all soccer players. We believe that proprioceptive exercises integrated into the regular training of footballers will provide important contributions to performance improvement. Key words: Proprioceptive Exercises, Physical Fitness, Football, Performance