Content uploaded by Krešimir Šoš
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Krešimir Šoš on Dec 07, 2018
Content may be subject to copyright.
Content uploaded by Filip Bolčević
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Filip Bolčević on Jun 04, 2017
Content may be subject to copyright.
8th International Scientific Conference on Kinesiology, 2017, Opatija, Croatia
180
Biomechanics and Motor Control
EXERCISES BASED ON NEUROPLASTICITY PRINCIPLES
INCREASE MOBILITY IN ELITE SENIOR FOOTBALL PLAYERS
Krešimir Šoš1, Filip Bolčević2, Vladimir Medved3
1GNK Dinamo, Croatia
2Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
To achieve adequate range of movement in joints is an important determinant of training status in football. It enables a
biomechanically correct performance of certain movement structures and contributes to the prevention of sports injuries.
The Feldenkrais method offers the possibility of learning and optimization of movement, which, consequently, through
inhibition of redundant muscular activity may enable an increase in the range of movement (ROM). Previous studies have
shown contradictory results on the inuence of Feldenkrais method on increase of ROM. The goal of this research has
been to compare and quantify the inuence of work according to Feldenkrais method and classic stretching exercises on
ROM in top-level football players. Subjects were randomly placed into 3 groups: Group I practiced Feldenkrais method
and had an average initial value of Reach 1=0.57±11.4 cm, and of nal Reach 2=6.1±10 cm; Group II practiced stretching
exercises and achieved an average initial value of Reach 1=5.1±3.1 cm, while the nal Reach was 2=6.9±3.3 cm; and the
Control group (Group III) had an average initial value of Reach 1=3.9±4.3 cm, and the nal value of Reach 2=5.1±4 cm.
Key words: Feldenkrais method, football, neurophysiology, 3D kinematics, stretching
Introduction
Football is a complex sports game including a large number of different movements, which by its integration makes
what is called a football skill (Andrzejewski et al., 2013). Among other characteristics, skill is described as a quality of
movement. It can be judged from the perspective of biomechanical performance of a certain element, and also through
interrelationship of stability and mobility of particular body segments of importance for this element. Freedom of movement
is the prerequisite for efcient transfer of forces through the skeleton, which may represent a basis for good biomechanical
performance. Mobility, i.e. the range of movement, often identies with exibility, both in diagnostics and in the training
procedures (Knudson, 2007). Therefore, an established praxis for increasing the range of movement in football players
often is a training of passive and active stretching. This kind of approach, however, does not usually produce long-term
results. The explanation for this phenomenon might be that the cause for shortened muscle may be in the nervous system
action, i.e in motor programs. The information coming from the neural system is the one that activates or inhibits a muscle.
The phenomenon found most often in bad organization of movement is redundancy of muscular activity and development
of motorics through inhibition. Feldenkrais method by its approach to learning through awakening, direction of attention,
and slow performance offers a basis for corresponding changes. (Feldenkrais, 1990).
Chinn at al. (1994) researched the effects of one Feldenkrais intervention on 23 examinees divided into two groups.
The experiment was quantied by the level of perceived exertion and by the hook-lying functional reach task, noted pre
and post-treatment. The group that practiced Feldenkrais signicantly improved in the perceived exertion but not in the
reach task, while the group that practiced sham Feldenkrais treatment did not improve in both tasks. James et al. (1998)
researched 48 students, divided into 3 groups: Feldenkrais, relaxation, and control group. The Active knee extension
test was performed prior to the rst session, prior to the forth and after the nal session of intervention. There were
no signicant differences between groups in the hamstring length. Hopper et al. (1999) investigated the inuence of
Feldenkrais method on 79 healthy examinees allocated into two groups: Feldenkrais and control group. Flexibility was
estimated by the Sit&Reach test, perceived exertion by Borg’s scale and hamstring length by the Active knee extension test.
After one lesson examinees were tested again. The Feldenkrais group signicantly improved exibility and no signicant
differences were found in the perceived exertion or hamstring length. Dunn and Rogers (2000) investigated the effect of
the Feldenkrais method on only one side, and then compared two sides of the body. The study included 12 examinees (age
18-28 yrs) who made the Sit&Reach test before and after intervention. 10 of them reported better sensation on one side,
for 8 the second test was indeed better on that side. Stephens et al. (2006) researched 33 examinees who were assigned
randomly into two groups: Feldenkrais and control group. The experimental group practiced for 3 weeks. The hamstring
length was measured by using the Active knee extension test, before and after the intervention. The experimental group
showed signicantly better results compared to the control group.
‒ 20th Anniversary ‒
181
Biomechanics and Motor Control
Functionally and neurophysiologically speaking, mobility can be linked to balance i.e. reliable support. A timely
inclusion of agonists and exclusion of antagonists in motion - reciprocal inhibition is also important (Knudson, 2013;
Hall, 2016). The muscle activity can be activated at will, as well as unintentionally due to variously acquired habits.
By releasing excess effort, with ease and greater clarity, the ideal position of stability can be reached. (Feldenkrais,
1987). When using this method the choice and precise execution of exercises is crucial. This can also be the reason not
much research has been done in this area, and when it was done, results were often conicting. Hence, it was decided
research of the effects on the inuence of mobility of kinesthetic training of the Feldenkrais method (1.) compared to the
classical stretching method (2.) in a controlled group (3.) would be conducted.
Methods
Research was carried out in May of 2016 at Football club Dinamo Sports Center. The sample comprised of 21
examinees, professional football players of the highest Croatian national rank, age 20.95 ± 4.48 yrs, height 183.00 ±
6.93 cm and of the body mass of 77.93 ± 7.63 kg. All examinees initially partook in the Stand & Reach test (S&R) with
a delay of 2 seconds, which was necessary in order to disconnect the inuence of the myotatic reex (stretch reex) and
thus enable the examiner to read the number on the scale (Reach 1) (Hall, 2016; Knudson, 2007). Examinees were then
randomly divided into 3 groups with 7 examinees in each group. Group I used the Feldenkrais method (FM) which
comprised of 8 variations of the exercise “The Pelvic Walk”. Each exercise was performed about 20 times, in a research
rather than a repetitive manner, but in search of an easier option of movement. Group II conducted standard stretching
exercises (12 in 2 series, holding for 30 seconds). Group III was the control group, meaning the examinees did not partake
in any protocol. After 15 minutes of the commencement of a certain protocol, all 3 groups repeated the S&R test and
results were measured (Reach 2). The performance of the tests (the initial and nal one) were taped with a GoPro 4 Hero
camera mounted sideways under an angle of 90 degrees in relation to the examinee, with a sampling frequency of 60 Hz.
The video was processed by the Ariel Performance Analysis System (APAS) a program for kinematic analysis. Angles
between 4 points of the Modied Dempster model were observed (Dempster, 1955), tip of the toe (TOE), ankle (ANK),
knee (KNEE), hip (TROH) and shoulder (ACR). During the implementation of the S&R test examinees were standing
on a zebris platform (ZEBRIS) by which the ratio of the pressure between the front and back of the foot was monitored.
Parameters were synchronized and processed in the same time unit. The gathered results were registered and processed
by software package Statistica 12, licencened by the Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb. By using the Shapiro-
Wilk test normal distribution was checked. On the reach results in the initial testing (Reach 1) statistical method ANOVA
was used with the goal to check the non-existence of statistical relevance of differences between 3 groups of examinees
before the experiment was carried out. The homogeneity of the distribution of the results for the rst and second testing
(Reach 1 and Reach 2) was checked by the Levene’s test. The existence and importance of differences between the initial
and nal tests including groups was tested by ANOVA for repeat testing, after which the Post Hoc Tukey HSD was used
to analyze within groups where signicant differences in the Reach test results between the rst and second testing
were detected. A signicant difference was only found in Group I, the t-test was then used for dependent samples on the
kinematic and kinetic variables to determine the space differences in performances.
Results
The normality of the distribution of results reached on the initial reach measurement (Reach 1) was checked and
veried by the Shapiro-Wilk test value of W=0.92, for p>0.05. Hence, it was decided the parametric method would be
used in the further analysis of results. The use of statistical method ANOVA checked and veried the non-existence of
statistical relevance of differences between 3 randomly chosen groups of examinees, value of F=0.75 with the possibility
of error p<0.05. The Levene test determined homogeneity of the distribution of test results Reach 1 and Reach 2, value
of F(Reach 1)=6.6, F(Reach 2)=11.2, and everything for p<0.05. ANOVA method indicated a signicant difference in
results for repeat testing of the time point component between the initial and nal testing, value of F=19.4 for p<0.05. In
the combination of time and group component, a signicant statistical difference between the 2 tests was determined,
value of F=4.4 for p<0.05. Guided by previous results, the Post Hoc Tukey HSD test was used for the time and group
component where the existence of a signicant difference was detected between the rst and second testing but only for
Group I, value of F=0.0014 for p <0.05. Considering the positive changes in Group I, the t-test for dependent samples
was used to analyze whether there was a difference in the kinematic and kinetic variable that describes the method of
performing the test. Although it was determined the greatest difference of the average value was in the angles of the hip
and shoulders, only the angle of the shoulders was statistically signicantly higher in the nal measurement. The average
value of the initial results were 108±15 degrees of the nal measurement which was 113±13 degrees, t=-3.03 for p<0.05.
The average value and the trend of the initial and nal results for all 3 groups can be seen in Graph 1. Group I had the
average initial value of Reach 1=0.57±11.4 cm, and in the nal value of Reach 2=6.1±10 cm. Group II had the initial
average value of Reach 1=5.1±3.1 cm, while the nal value of Reach 2=6.9±3.3 cm. Group III had the average initial value
of Reach 1=3.9±4.3 cm, and the nal value of Reach 2=5.1±4 cm.
8th International Scientific Conference on Kinesiology, 2017, Opatija, Croatia
182
Biomechanics and Motor Control
Discussion and conclusions
All 3 groups on an average had better results in the nal measurement, however, only the results of Group I (FM)
were statistically signicant and therefore the most important. The result might be due to the fact that Group I had very
low values in the initial measurement, with two very poor results. The positive changes in the results of Group I were
shown through a signicant increase in the angle of the shoulder joint, although there were differences in the angles
of the other joints. The assumption is that the examinees developed different strategies for a better reach in the nal
testing. Group II (stretching) on an average also made a positive shift but not statistically signicant. Group III was
also average, but not signicantly, it was better in the second measurement, which was coincidently at its lowest. The
interpretation can be linked to learning and adjusting to the test. Focus on the test can often be aimed at exibility of
the muscles of the hamstrings and the lower part of the spine. However, it should be pointed out that it is to do with
the entire kinetic chain – from the points of support, distribution of weight and mobility of the pelvis against the knee
joint up to the adaptation of the spine for arm extensions. In conclusion the Feldenkrais method of exercise enhances
function with movement development, enables better biomechanics of movement meaning it gives better support to the
skeletal musculature as well as a more efcient synergy of muscle activities (Picture 1). Owing to the biomechanically
better executed movement, excess muscle activity disappears, while mobility and motoric control of movement increases
(Feldenkrais, 1987). Feldenkrais method offers variability for a greater number of movement options for ankles, hips,
spine and shoulders. Further research should explore the effects of prolonged use of this protocol on a larger sample and
on more diverse types of examinees. Feldenkrais method doesn’t affect everyone equally hence the kinesthetic aspect of
performing exercises should be introduced into the training process with the goal of achieving real function of movement
which indirectly inuences stability and mobility and as a result prevents injuries.
Graph 1: Average values of S&R tests (Reach 1 and Reach 2) in two different time points for each of three groups.
Picture 1: Example of one player, before and after application of Feldenkrais method.
‒ 20th Anniversary ‒
183
Biomechanics and Motor Control
References
1. Andrzejewski, M., Chmura, J., Pluta, B., Strzelczyk, R. and Kasprzak, A. (2013). Analysis of sprinting activities of professional
soccer players. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 27(8), 2134-2140.
2. Chinn J, Trujillo D, Kegerreis S, Worrell T. (1994). Effect of a Feldenkrais Intervention on Symptomatic Subjects Performing a
Functional Reach. Isokinetics and Exercise Science. 4(4): 131-136.
3. Dempster, WT (1955). Space Requirements of the Seated Operator. WADC Technical Report 55-159, Wright-Patterson Air Force
Base, Ohio
4. Dunn, P.A., & Rogers, D.K. (2000). Feldenkrais sensory imagery and forward reach. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 91, 755-757.
5. Feldenkrais, M. (1990). Awareness through Movement. Harper Collins, San Francisco.
6. Hall, J. E. (2016). Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology. Elsevier. Philadelphia.
7. Hopper C, Kolt GS, McConville JC. The effects of Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement on hamstring length, f lexibility
and perceived exertion. J Bodywork Movement Therapies 3(4): 238-247, 1999.
8.
James, M., Kolt, G., McConville, J., Bate, P. (1998). The effects of a Feldenkrais program and relaxation procedures on hamstring
length. Aust J Physiother. 1998;44(1):49-54.
9.
Knudson, D. (2007). Fundamentals of Biomechanics. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, 233 Spring Street, New York, USA.
10. Stephens J. Davidson J. Derosa J. Kriz M. Saltzman N. Lengthening the hamstring muscles without stretching using “awareness
through movement”. [Journal Article. Randomized Controlled Trial] Physical Therapy. 86(12):1641-50, 2006 Dec.
11.
Šoš, K. (2010). Feldenkrais method in training of speed, agility, explosivity and flexibility. Conditioning training for sports 2010;
U: Jukić, I., Šalaj, S., Milanović, L., Gregov, C., Trošt-Bobić, T. UKTH and the Faculty of Kinesiology, Zagreb.
