Investigation of the effect of physical and cognitive factors on reactive agility in football players

There is an increased focus in reactive agility for the prevention and rehabilitation of injuries in football. The primary aim of this study was to examine the effects of physical and cognitive factors on reactive agility. The secondary aim was to compare reactive agility parameters in football players with or without injury risk. Thirty football players between the ages of 18-35 were included in the study. Physical and cognitive assessments were applied to all participants. Reactive Agility Test (RAT) by using visual stimulus and photocell sensors was used for the evaluation of reactive agility. Additionally, tablet-based right/left discrimination, Vertical Jump Test, T Agility Test (T-Test), Y Balance Test (Y-Balance), 20 m Sprint Test and Hamstring Eccentric Strength Test were performed. Injury risk assessment was performed by using Tuck Jump Test. Pearson correlation and Student-t Test was used for statistical analysis. The findings of this study showed that there were negative correlation between RAT-movement time and Y-Balance composite, posteromedial and posterolateral reach scores, and right/left discrimination accuracy; whereas, RAT-movement time showed a significant positive correlation with T-Test (p<0.05). Furthermore, we found negative correlation between RAT-response time and right/left discrimination test-time; while, a positive and moderate correlation was observed between RAT-response time and the T-Test (p<0.05). Also, when the groups of athletes with or without injury risk compared, there was no difference found in RAT parameters (p>0.05). As a result, it was observed that reactive agility in football players was associated with physical parameters such as dynamic balance and agility, as well as cognitive factors such as right/left discrimination. For this reason, it can be recommended that the sports physiotherapists who work with football players to assess the reactive agility performance with more focus on the associated physical and cognitive factors during sports rehabilitation.