Correlation Between Gluteal Muscle Strength, Agility, and Power in Recreational Male Football Players : A Pilot Study

Abstract

Football is a sport that demands speed, agility, power, and quick directional changes, all of which rely on strong lower limb mechanics and muscular support. The gluteus maximus and medius are especially important as they provide hip stability and generate force for sprinting, jumping, and kicking. Weakness in these muscles can reduce movement efficiency and increase injury risk. While their importance has been highlighted in elite players, their role in recreational footballers is less well understood. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between gluteal muscle strength, agility, and lower limb power in male recreational football players. Twenty-five players aged 18–25 years were recruited using purposive sampling. Gluteus maximus and medius strength was assessed with a hand-held dynamometer, agility was tested with the T-test, and power was measured using the single-leg horizontal jump, with all procedures conducted under standardized conditions. The findings revealed strong associations between gluteal strength and performance. Greater gluteus maximus strength correlated with faster agility times (r = –0.844 right, –0.774 left; p < 0.001) and higher power output (r = 0.844 right, 0.796 left; p < 0.001). Similarly, stronger gluteus medius muscles were linked to improved agility (r = –0.793 right, –0.856 left; p < 0.001) and power (r = 0.734 right, 0.793 left; p < 0.001). A strong negative correlation was also observed between agility time and power (r = –0.857; p < 0.001), indicating that players with more explosive power performed better in agility tasks. In conclusion, stronger gluteal muscles were associated with better agility and power in recreational footballers, underlining the importance of incorporating gluteal strengthening into training and rehabilitation programs to optimize performance and reduce injury risk.