Abstract

Introduction: the identification of risk factors for injuries is an important aspect of semi-professional athletes. There is a lack of studies that assess the muscular and biomechanical function that identifies the functionality of the lower limb in sports with the highest prevalence of injury. Objective: to compare functional and biomechanical characteristics of the lower limb in semi-professional athletes, handball and football players. Material and method: 51 semi-professional athletes (A group), handball (BM group) and football (FT qroup) players were included. Hip and knee muscle strength, extensibility of hip flexors, abductors and extensors muscles, and kinematic variables were measured in the dominant and non-dominant lower limb. Results: BM group showed greater strength in all muscle groups statistically significantly (p < 0.05). BM group showed greater muscle extensibility in the hamstrings and abductors compared to the FT group (p < 0.05). No differences were found in the kinematic variables (p > 0.05) except in the angle of the non-dominant lower limb, where the BM group showed less movement compared to the FT group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: BM group showed the highest values of muscular strength extensibility of the hamstrings and abductors and the lowest values of the transverse angle of the pelvis. FT group showed the lowest values of muscular strength, muscular extensibility and the abductors and hamstrings muscles and the lower stability of the Q angle.