[Injuries and muscle tightness in soccer]

Soccer is one of the most popular sports worldwide. Due to its characteristic many injuries are expected. Muscular tightness is postulated as an intrinsic risk factor for the developement of a muscle injury. Muscle flexibility testing can identify soccer players at risk for musculoskeletal lesions. One-hundred-and-seventeen male amateur soccer players aged 4 to 29 were examined for former injuries and muscular flexibility by using Janda's "functional muscular diagnostic". Muscle injuries and ankle lesions predominated among the injuries. The "functional muscular diagnostic" is suitable for screening muscular flexibility in soccer players. You found comprehensive muscular tightness among the soccer players. The value of stretching for preventing exercise-related muscle injury is still unclear.