The Relationship Between Leg Muscle Strength and the Risk of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury in Futsal Athletes

Abstract

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury is one of the most common and serious injuries experienced by futsal athletes, often resulting in prolonged rehabilitation periods and diminished athletic performance. Leg muscle strength is widely considered a critical biomechanical factor in determining lower extremity stability, which directly influences the risk of ACL injury. This study aimed to examine the relationship between leg muscle strength and the risk of ACL injury among futsal athletes at the Faculty of Sports and Health Sciences, Universitas Negeri Makassar. A cross-sectional design was employed involving 40 active futsal athletes selected through purposive sampling. Leg muscle strength was assessed using a leg dynamometer, while ACL injury risk was evaluated using the Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) protocol. Data analysis was conducted using Pearson's correlation test with a significance threshold of p < 0.05. The results revealed a significant negative correlation between leg muscle strength and ACL injury risk (r = -0.672, p = 0.000), indicating that athletes with greater leg muscle strength demonstrated lower ACL injury risk scores. These findings suggest that targeted leg muscle strength training programs should be integrated into futsal training regimes as a preventive measure against ACL injuries. This study contributes empirical evidence to the body of knowledge on sports injury prevention in the Indonesian futsal context