Effects of sports specific proprioceptive training on balance and dribbling in football players

Abstract

Background: Proprioception, the sense of one&#39;s body position and movement, It plays a crucial role in athletic performance, particularly in sports that require complex coordination and balance, such as football. Sports-specific proprioceptive training may enhance athlete&#39;s neuromuscular control, leading to improved balance and dribbling skills. Although, many studies have showed the impact of proprioceptive training on balance in various populations, the sports-specific effects on football player&#39;s balance and dribbling skills remain underexplored. Methodology: Thirty male and female football players, aged 15 years for experimental group was selected randomly for a proprioceptive training based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The players received sport-specific proprioceptive exercises on both firm and foam surfaces for the period of eight-weeks, with three 30-min sessions per week continuing their general physical training. Pre- and post-tests included balance assessment using BESS [Balance Error Scoring System], and dribbling performance using short dribbling tests. Result: The results are reported as Short Dribbling Test showed a significant improvement, with scores decreasing from 16.59 ± 1.22 at pre-test to 14.42 ± 1.33 at post-test (mean difference 2.17, t = 14.142, p < 0.001). However, the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) scores showed no significant change, with pre-test scores of 11.17 ± 3.21 and post-test scores of 11.00 ± 4.62 (mean difference 0.17, t = 0.381, p = 0.706). Conclusion: The study concluded that sports specific proprioceptive training shows significant improvement in dribbling but there is no significant improvement in balance over a period of 8 weeks in football players.