Evaluating the effectiveness of aquatic therapy approach on kick velocity, vertical jump test, agility, speed and, core strength in football players

Background
Football is ball-based sport. Aquatic therapy has the benefit of buoyancy and hydrostatic pressure. It has gained recognition for its therapeutic benefits, particularly in strength and conditioning training. This study aims to investigate the effects of the aquatic therapy approach on kick velocity, vertical jump test, agility, speed, power, and core strength in football players.

Material and methods
A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 120 male professional football players assigned to experiment and control groups. Informed consent was obtained from all participants, and various outcome measures, including kick velocity, vertical jump test, 5 m sprint test, T-test, and plank test, were recorded. After pre-assessment, Group A underwent 45 minutes of aquatic therapy training, while Group B underwent 60 minutes of conventional land training 3 times a week for 4 weeks.

Results
There was statistical improvement seen within groups in all outcome measures; however, significant improvement was seen in the aquatic therapy group in kick velocity, vertical jump test, and core strength when both groups.

Conclusions
The findings of this study are significant, as they provide strong evidence to support the integration of aquatic therapy into football training. This offers a safer and more effective method for enhancing performance, potentially revolutionizing how we approach sports training and rehabilitation.