Biomechanical characteristics and training interventions of inverted running movements in teenage soccer players

Inverted running, which has a backward and lateral component has recently been especially used for improving agility, proprioception, and injury prevention in young soccer players. This paper investigates the biomechanical and energetic profile of inverted running and assesses the impact of a 6-week intervention program using 62 participants of aged 10–13 months. Anthropometric data improvements include a 27% decrease in the ground reaction forces (GRFs) during the landing, 18% improvement in the agility score and 32% improvement in balance metrics. Increased muscle stimulation was measured in the muscles of the hamstrings and glutes and a 25% and 22% levels respectively proving that the muscle groups reduced their susceptibility to the anterior knee injuries. The intervention program included exercises of increasing complexity such as backward bounding, lateral hops, and soccer specific drills and participants were able to perform 70% an average of implemented training sessions. Post-intervention testing revealed significant improvements in proprioception and dynamic stability compared to the control group (p < 0.05). These findings underscore the value of incorporating atypical movement patterns, such as inverted running, into soccer training regimens to promote comprehensive physical development and reduce injury risk in young athletes.