Running Symmetry in Professional Football: Are We Measuring What Matters?

Year 2025, Volume: 30 Issue: 1, 1 - 9, 25.03.2025

Selçuk Tarakcı , Oktay Akyüz , Taner Karaman

https://doi.org/10.53434/gbesbd.1512611

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between running symmetry measured by GPS devices and the risk of injury and performance metrics among professional soccer players. A total of 18 professional football players from a club competing in the Turkish Super League participated in the research. Throughout the 2022-2023 season, running symmetry data of the players were recorded using a GPS system. Football players’ running symmetry and performance metrics can be affected by training history, physical adaptation and cultural training differences. Whether there are differences in such parameters between local and foreign football players who have trained in different leagues and with different methodologies has also been included in the study. The study aims to evaluate not only whether running symmetry is a biomechanical parameter but also its effect on performance variables related to injury risk. Also, metrics such as total distance, high intensity running distance, high metabolic power distance, player load, accelerations and decelerations were also recorded throughout the season. Analysis of the data revealed significant differences in running symmetry among players. Statistical differences were found between defender and attacker and midfielder players in terms of player load values. Moreover, a positive correlation was observed between running symmetry and certain performance metrics, suggesting a potential link between running symmetry and sports performance. Consequently, running symmetry measured via GPS technology may serve as a valuable indicator for performance and injury risk among professional soccer players.

Keywords

Running symmetry, GPS, Performance, Injury, Football

Ethical Statement

This study was ethically approved by the decision of the Istanbul Esenyurt University Ethics Committee dated 11.07.2023 and numbered 2023/06-12.

Supporting Institution

No financial support was received from institutions and/or institutions during the preparation and writing of this study.

Profesyonel Futbolda Koşu Simetrisi Gerçekten İşe Yarıyor mu? Gerçekten Ne Düşündüğümüzü Ölçüyor muyuz?

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı, GPS cihazlarıyla ölçülen koşu simetrisi ile profesyonel futbolcuların sakatlık riski ve performans metrikleri arasındaki ilişkiyi değerlendirmektir. Türkiye Süper Liginde mücadele eden kulüpten 18 profesyonel futbolcu (184.0±7.3 cm, 81.0±8.5 kg, 5.3±1.6%, 27.2±6.3 yaş) araştırmaya katılmıştır. 2022-2023 sezonu boyunca GPS sistemi yardımıyla futbolcuların koşu simetrisi verileri kaydedilmiştir. Ayrıca toplam mesafe, yüksek şiddetli koşu mesafesi, yüksek metabolik güç mesafesi, oyuncu yükü ve ivmelenme ve yavaşlama gibi performans metrikleri de tüm sezon boyunca kaydedilmiştir. Yapılan analiz sonuçları, oyuncular arasında koşu simetrisinde belirgin farklılıklar olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Savunma oyuncularıyla player load değerleri açısından hücum ve orta saha oyuncuları arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark olduğu bulunmuştur. Ayrıca, koşu simetrisi ile belirli performans metrikleri arasında pozitif bir korelasyon gözlemlenmiştir. Bu durum koşu simetrisi ile spor performansı arasında potansiyel bir bağlantı olduğunu göstermektedir. Sonuç olarak, GPS teknolojisiyle ölçülen koşu simetrisinin, profesyonel futbolcularda performans ve sakatlık riski için değerli bir gösterge olarak hizmet edebileceğini öne sürmektedir. Koşu desenlerindeki simetriyi anlama ve ele alma, Türkiye Süper Ligi ve ötesindeki oyuncular için hedeflenmiş antrenman programları ve sakatlık önleme stratejileri geliştirmede antrenörler ve spor bilimcilerin yardımcı olabilir.

Keywords

koşu simetrisi, GPS, performans, futbol, sakatlık

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışma, İstanbul Esenyurt Üniversitesi Etik Kurulu'nun 11.07.2023 tarihli ve 2023/06-12 numaralı kararı ile etik olarak onaylanmıştır.

Supporting Institution

Bu çalışmanın hazırlanması ve yazılması sırasında kurum ve/veya kuruluşlardan mali destek alınmamıştır.

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