A test to evaluate the physical impact on technical performance in soccer.

ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to develop and examine a test for evaluation of the physical and technical capacity of soccer players. Fourteen youth elite (YE) and seven sub-elite (SE) players performed a physical and technical test (PT-test) consisting of 10 long kicks interspersed with intense intermittent exercise. In addition, a control test (CON-test) without intense exercise was performed. In both cases, the test result was evaluated by the precision of the 10 kicks. The players also performed the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 2 (Yo-Yo IR2). For the SE-players, blood samples were obtained and heart rate was measured before, during, and after the PT-test. A muscle biopsy was collected before and after the PT-test. Coefficient of variation for the PT-and CON-test was 11.7% and 16.0%, respectively. The YE-players performed better (P , 0.05) than the SE-players in both the PT-test (16.3 6 0.8 (6SE) vs. 13.2 6 1.3 points) and CON-test (24.4 6 0.7 vs. 20.5 6 1.6 points) with no difference in the relative PT-test result (PT-test/CON-test: 0.63 6 0.03 vs. 0.64 6 0.03). Summed performance of the first 5 repetitions was higher (P , 0.05) than for the last 5 repetitions (8.4 6 0.6 vs. 6.9 6 0.5; n = 20). The YE-players performed better (P , 0.05) than the SE-players during Yo-Yo IR2 (1023 6 SE vs. 893 6 SE m). The mean heart rate during the PT-test was 173 6 4 b.p.m. (90 6 2% of HRmax). Blood lactate, glucose, and ammonia reached 5.6 6 0.7, 6.2 6 0.6 mmol L 21 , and 76 6 11umol L 21 at the end of the test, respectively. After the test muscle CP, glycogen and lactate was 52.9 6 6.6, 354 6 39, and 25.3 6 5.9 mmol kg 21 d.w., respectively. In summary, the PT-test can be used to evaluate a soccer player's technical skills under conditions similar to intense periods of a soccer game

Factors influencing perception of effort (session rating of perceived exertion) during elite soccer training

Purpose: The aim of the current study was to identify the external-training-load markers that are most influential on session rating of perceived exertion (RPE) of training load (RPE-TL) during elite soccer training. Methods: Twenty-two elite players competing in the English Premier League were monitored. Training-load data (RPE and 10-Hz GPS integrated with a 100-Hz accelerometer) were collected during 1892 individual training sessions over an entire in-season competitive period. Expert knowledge and a collinearity r &lt; .5 were used initially to select the external training variables for the final analysis. A multivariate-adjusted within-subjects model was employed to quantify the correlations of RPE and RPE-TL (RPE × duration) with various measures of external training intensity and training load. Results: Total high-speed-running (HSR; &gt;14.4 km/h) distance and number of impacts and accelerations &gt;3 m/s2 remained in the final multivariate model (P &lt; .001). The adjusted correlations with RPE were r = .14, r = .09, and r = .25 for HSR, impacts, and accelerations, respectively. For RPE-TL, the correlations were r = .11, r = .45, and r = .37, respectively. Conclusions: The external-load measures that were found to be moderately predictive of RPE-TL in soccer training were HSR distance and the number of impacts and accelerations. These findings provide new evidence to support the use of RPE-TL as a global measure of training load in elite soccer. Furthermore, understanding the influence of characteristics affecting RPE-TL may help coaches and practitioners enhance training prescription and athlete monitoring.</p

Multi-segmental movements as a function of experience in karate

Karate is a martial art that partly depends on subjective scoring of complex movements. Principal component analysis (PCA)-based methods can identify the fundamental synergies (principal movements) of motor system, providing a quantitative global analysis of technique. In this study, we aimed at describing the fundamental multi-joint synergies of a karate performance, under the hypothesis that the latter are skilldependent; estimate karatekaâ\u80\u99s experience level, expressed as years of practice. A motion capture system recorded traditional karate techniques of 10 professional and amateur karateka. At any time point, the 3D-coordinates of body markers produced posture vectors that were normalised, concatenated from all karateka and submitted to a first PCA. Five principal movements described both gross movement synergies and individual differences. A second PCA followed by linear regression estimated the years of practice using principal movements (eigenpostures and weighting curves) and centre of mass kinematics (error: 3.71 years; R2 = 0.91, P â\u89ªÂ 0.001). Principal movements and eigenpostures varied among different karateka and as functions of experience. This approach provides a framework to develop visual tools for the analysis of motor synergies in karate, allowing to detect the multi-joint motor patterns that should be restored after an injury, or to be specifically trained to increase performance

Effects of different core exercises on respiratory parameters and abdominal strength

[Purpose] This study determined the effects a new modality of core stabilization exercises based on diaphragmatic breathing on pulmonary function, abdominal fitness, and movement efficiency. [Subjects] Thirtytwo physically active, healthy males were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 16) and a control group (n = 16). [Methods] The experimental group combined diaphragmatic breathing exercises with global stretching postures, and the control group performed common abdominal exercises (e.g., crunch, plank, sit-up), both for 15 minutes twice weekly for 6 weeks. Pulmonary function (measured by forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and peak expiratory flow) and abdominal fitness (measured with the American College of Sports Medicine curl-up [cadence] test and the Functional Movement Screen\u2122) were evaluated before and after the intervention. [Results] Significant changes in curl-up (cadence) test scores, Functional Movement Screen scores, and all pulmonary parameters were recorded in the experimental group at the posttraining assessment, whereas in the control group, no significant differences over baseline were observed in any parameters. [Conclusion] Compared with traditional abdominal exercises, core stabilization exercises based on breathing and global stretching postures are more effective in improving pulmonary function and abdominal fitness