PHYSIOTHERAPY INTERVENTIONS FOR STRENGTH TRAINING: A STUDY ON BOXERS

Background: Boxing is a high-intensity combat sport that demands exceptional levels of strength, power, neuromuscular coordination, and injury resilience. Conventional boxing training programs often emphasize technical skill development and cardiovascular conditioning, while structured strength training and injury prevention strategies may be inconsistently applied. Physiotherapy-led strength training interventions provide a scientific and clinical framework to enhance performance while reducing injury risk. Purpose: To investigate the effects of a physiotherapy-supervised strength training program on muscular strength, functional performance, and injury incidence in amateur boxers. Methods: Twenty-four amateur male boxers (mean age 23.2 ± 3.4 years) were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n = 12) or a control group (n = 12). The intervention group completed a 12-week physiotherapy-guided strength training program in addition to routine boxing training, while the control group continued routine boxing training alone. Outcome measures included isometric knee extension strength, shoulder internal rotation strength, seated medicine ball throw distance, and injury incidence. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA with effect sizes reported as partial eta squared (η²). Results: Significant group × time interactions were observed for knee extension strength, F(1,22) = 14.87, p = .002, η² = .40; shoulder internal rotation strength, F(1,22) = 16.92, p = .001, η² = .43; and medicine ball throw distance, F(1,22) = 13.11, p = .003, η² = .37. Injury incidence was lower in the intervention group (15%) compared to the control group (40%), though this difference did not reach statistical significance (p = .08). Conclusion: Physiotherapy-supervised strength training significantly improves strength and functional performance in amateur boxers and demonstrates a trend toward reduced injury incidence. Integrating physiotherapy-led strength interventions into boxing conditioning programs may enhance performance and athlete longevity.