Abstract / Summary
Purpose: This study aimed to examine lower-limb strength and power using a pneumatic leg press test in elite male football players prior to their reintegration into team training following a thigh muscle strain injury and to compare their performance with that of injury-free controls. Methods: Normative values for maximal strength (F max ) and power (P peak ) from 70 injury-free players were compared with those from 20 players at the end of the on-field rehabilitation stage following muscle strain injuries of the hamstrings, quadriceps or hip adductors. Results: Injured players exhibited symmetrical F max (1590 ± 264 N vs. 1569 ± 259 N) and P peak (1226 ± 195 W vs. 1239 ± 173 W) values between involved and uninvolved limbs. P peak values in the injured group were also comparable to those observed in the left (1319 ± 201 W) and right limbs (1310 ± 184 W) of injury-free players. In contrast, both limbs of injured players demonstrated significantly lower F max values than the left (1932 ± 373 N) and right limbs (1939 ± 352 N) of the injury-free group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: These findings suggest that interlimb symmetry should not be interpreted in isolation but considered alongside pre-injury or normative reference values to support more informed return-to-sport decisions when using the pneumatic leg press test.