The Effect of Transition Period on Performance Parameters in Elite Female Soccer Players

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a 4-week off-season period (transition period) on the anthropometric and performance parameters in elite female soccer players who participated in the UEFA women’s Champions league. Eighteen female players (age 23.6±4.3 years) underwent testing at the end of the competitive period and right after the transition period. An incremental cardiopulmonary testing, body composition assessment and isokinetic testing at 60 °/sec were performed on both occasions. The cardiopulmonary exercise testing revealed that VO2max (p=0.001) and time on the treadmill (p=0.000) were significantly reduced after the transition period that included a 2 times/week exercise regimen. Furthermore, the quadriceps torque production at 60 °/s was significantly reduced for both the right (p=0.013) and left quadriceps (p=0.004) following the transition period. Finally, body weight (p=0.001) and body fat (p=0.000) significantly increased after 4 weeks of significantly reduced training volume. It is concluded that the transition period negatively affected the anthropometric and performance parameters of the female players. These data maybe informative for coaches and trainers as they demonstrate that despite the efforts to keep the players physically active the performance parameters decreased significantly

The Effect of Full Turnout Gear and Weighted Vest on Firefighter’s Responses During an Ability Test

Background: The purpose of the current study was to compare the effect of the different gear worn on the firefighters’ internal load. The study examined the HR kinetics, blood lactate, and subjective responses on a firefighting simulated ability test. Methods and findings: A total of 90 firefighters were randomly divided into three groups (Group-1 weight vest, Group-2 protective ensemble in full turnout gear, Group-3 protective ensemble in full turnout gear, and self-contained breathing apparatus). One-way Multivariate Analysis of Variance was used to assess the physiological and subjective responses among the three gear groups. Upon finishing the AT, firefighters reported an average RPE of 15 ± 2, where 15 represents " heavy" on the Borg scale. The average lactate was 12.98 mmol/l ± 2.36 mmol/l. The average HR during the tasks was (183 ± 9) bpm, which was calculated to be 99.08% ± 4.71% of the age estimated HR max (184 ± 5) bpm. Result: The results demonstrated that there was a significant multivariate effect of firefighters’ HR over time, (F(7,41)=617.26, p<0.01). Furthermore, repeated measures contrast analysis demonstrated that the HR before the beginning of task 1 was significantly higher (p<0.01) than the resting HR and significantly lower (p<0.01) than the heart rates reported after each task. There was no significant multivariate interaction effect between time and gear group (F(14,82)=1.22, p=0.27). Conclusion: It is evident that firefighting can be as strenuous with a weight vest as with full turnout gear and breathing apparatus. Therefore, a vest with the same weight as the complete protective outfit could be used effectively to simulate gear during simulated fire fighting under ambient conditions

Age-Related Differences in Physical Fitness and Performance on an "Ability Test" Among Firefighters

The study's primary objective was to examine the differences in body composition, abdominal strength, absolute and relative power, handgrip strength, one repetition maximum for squat and bench press, and the maximum count of push-up and sit-up repetitions executed within a minute across different age cohorts of firefighters. Furthermore, this study aimed to evaluate the age-related differences in firefighters' completion times on six firefighting tasks. Eighty-four male volunteer firefighters (age 33.79±6.97 years) were grouped into three age categories: 20-30 years, 31- 40 years, and 41-50 years, and underwent the aforementioned evaluations. One-way analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed that age exerts a statistically significant influence (p<0.001) on body fat percentage, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio. Furthermore, age significantly affected the overall time of the ability test (p<0.001) and the duration required to accomplish each individual task (p<0.001). Additionally, age significantly affected abdominal strength, relative power (as measured by the step test), and the maximum count of push-up and sit-up repetitions performed within a minute. These outcomes support earlier research indicating an age-associated decrement in physical fitness parameters among firefighters. It is recommended that firefighters prioritize maintaining strength and endurance of the abdominal muscles, upper-body muscular endurance and a healthy body weight. The emphasis on specific muscular groups is essential for improving task performance within this profession

Comparison of Ventilatory and Blood Lactate Thresholds in Elite Soccer Players

Despite a long research history, the lactate threshold continues to be a widely controversial field. Notwithstanding the controversies and influence of multiple determinants, the estimation of lactate threshold in sports has been considered one of the essential parameters in the prescription of training intensity, load monitoring, and perfor- mance prediction. The study aimed to compare the anaerobic ventilatory and lactate thresholds as determined by different methods in elite soccer players. The study consisted of twenty-five division 1 elite soccer players. The players were separated into two groups based on their run times on the treadmill. Group 1 (age 24.38±7.33 years, height 180.33±7.03 cm, weight 75.53±7.68 kg) consisted of players who completed more than 17 minutes on the treadmill, while group 2 (age 25.11±6.07 years, height 182.11±10.03 cm, weight 79.72±7.54 kg) consisted of those who completed less than 17 minutes. The players completed an incremental maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing from which ventilatory thresholds were determined. Furthermore, measurements of blood samples were obtained every 3 minutes after completing each stage of the test, with a total of 141 measurements completed. Multivariate tests indicated no significant differences in the speeds calculated with ventilatory and lactate thresh- old methods. These findings suggest that the anaerobic ventilatory threshold (VT2) can be used as an alternative to the invasive lactate threshold measurements. Therefore, identifying a threshold point without utilizing an inva- sive procedure enhances the potential application of the VT2 or respiratory compensation point

The Effectiveness of an Isokinetic Training Protocol on Muscular Imbalances in Professional Soccer Players Following an ACL Reconstruction

It has been indicated that strength imbalances following an ACL reconstruction are essential indicators of incomplete rehabilitation programs and increased risk for re-injury. This study evaluated the effectiveness of an isokinetic training protocol on muscular imbalances in soccer players who underwent ACL surgery. Twenty-four elite male soccer players who were found to have strength imbalances six months post-surgery were recruited and randomly assigned to either the control or the experimental group. The isokinetic knee strength was assessed before and after the 5-week intervention program. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a significant main effect of training intervention on torque production for the quadriceps [F(1,22)= 34.95, p<0.001, =0.61] and the hamstring [F(1,22)= 11.49, p<0.05, =0.34] of the operated leg. Furthermore, there was a significant interaction between the exercise condition and torque production for the quadriceps [F(1,22)= 23.46, p<0.001, =0.52] and the hamstring of the operated leg [F(1,22)=6.27, p<0.05, =0.22]. Planned comparisons revealed that the experimental group produced significantly greater quadriceps [t(11)= -5.42, p<0.01, d=1.22] and hamstring [t(11)=-3.09, p<0.01, d=0.45] torque post-training compared to the pre-training intervention. Additionally, there was a main effect of training intervention on the deficits of the quadriceps [F(1,22)=67.95, p<0.01, =0.76] and a significant interaction between the exercise intervention and quadriceps deficits for the two groups [F(1,22)= 32.48, p<0.001, =0.59]. Our results indicate that the isokinetic training program efficiently restored the muscular imbalances post-surgery, and therefore physical therapists and rehabilitation experts should consider incorporating this program into their therapy protocols

Assessment of Lower Body and Abdominal Strength in Professional Soccer Players

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate abdominal strength in professional soccer players and compare the findings to their lower body strength. An observational design was used to examine abdominal and lower body strength using two functional performance tests (a lower body isokinetic test and an isometric abdominal test, respectively). One hundred and thirty-two professional male soccer players from Cyprus’s first and second divisions participated in this study. Testing included three and twenty-five maximal concentric flexion and extension repetitions at angle speeds of 60°/s (degrees/second) and 300°/s, respectively. On a separate occasion, participants completed two trials on an isometric device (ABTEST Gen. 3 system) for evaluation of abdominal strength. At both isokinetic speeds of 300°/s and 60°/s, abdominal strength had low to moderate significant correlations (p &lt; .05) with quadriceps and hamstring strength. Coefficients of determination (R2) demonstrated that the variability in isokinetic variables accounted for only 14-16% of the variability of abdominal strength. Abdominal strength appears to be high in professional soccer players, but is not dependent on the sports level and/or a playing position. The results of this study demonstrate that abdominal strength and knee joint strength need to be evaluated separately

Relationship of Pre-Season Strength Asymmetries, Flexibility, and Aerobic Capacity with In-Season Lower Body Injuries in Soccer Players

The present study aimed to assess the differences in pre-season knee strength asymmetries, flexibility, and aerobic capacity of soccer players that sustained lower-body injuries during the in-season period compared to those that did not have a lower-body injury. A secondary purpose was to compare the aforementioned parameters between the players that sustained a knee ligament injury and hamstring strain. One hundred and thirty-three division 1 soccer players participated in the study. Fitness testing was conducted at the end of the pre-season period, and the players were followed for a total of 20 games. The anthropometric, lower body strength, flexibility and aerobic capacity parameters were compared between the players that sustained hamstring strains and knee ligament injuries and those that did not sustain any injuries. Results indicated that injured players were significantly older and less flexible than non-injured players (p<0.05). Additionally, injured players appeared significantly weaker on the right and left quadriceps and hamstring muscles (p<0.05). Furthermore, injured players had significantly greater asymmetries for the hamstrings muscle (p<0.05) and significantly lower VO2max values and running time than the non-injured players (p<0.05). Lastly, a significant difference between the players that sustained a hamstring injury compared to those who sustained a knee injury was indicated in right hamstring strength, right side ratio, and hamstring asymmetries (p<0.05). Our findings suggest that off- and pre-season interventions should be tailored toward increasing aerobic fitness and lower body strength and flexibility while minimizing strength asymmetries and imbalances to reduce in-season injury risk

Age-Related Differences in the Anthropometric and Physical Fitness Characteristics of Young Soccer Players: A Cross-Sectional Study

Considering that most professional academies seek to optimize the early detection and physical development of their younger players, the purpose of this study was to examine the anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics in a large cross-sectional sample of youth soccer players in Eastern Europe, starting from a very young age during their in-season period. Three hundred and thirteen soccer players (n = 313), grouped into eight age categories, participated in the study. On the basis of chronological age, the group categories were: 7 (n = 26), 8 (n = 41), 9 (n = 46), 10 (n = 48), 11 (n = 42), 12 (n = 47), 13 (n = 43), and 14 years old (n = 20). The players underwent an anthropometric evaluation, flexibility, handgrip strength, vertical jump performance, speed, and agility assessments. A one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) indicated significant differences in the anthropometric and physical fitness variables based on chronological age (F = 13.40, p < 0.05, Wilk’s Λ = 0.08, partial η2 = 0.30). Concurrently, there were significant growth and physical fitness differences even in players born in the same chronological year. It is believed that the results have important practical implications, especially for those involved in youth soccer. Based on our results, coaches should contemplate speed and agility development in training sessions starting from a much younger age, as sprinting while changing directions has been considered an essential prerequisite in socce

The Effects of Abdominal Strength on Firefighting Ability

The purpose of this project was to identify the relationships between various fitness parameters such as: upper body muscular endurance, upper and lower body strength, flexibility, anaerobic power, abdominal strength, body composition and the performance on an “Ability Test” (AT) that includes a set of six simulated firefighting tasks. Ninety firefighters participated in this study (age 33.54 ± 6.95 years). Firefighting ability was determined based on the time of completion of the AT. Abdominal strength was determined on an isometric device (AbMed). Abdominal strength was significantly inversely correlated (r = -.54, p \u3c .01) with the overall performance on the AT test indicating that higher the abdominal strength was associated with shorter time of completion of the AT. Abdominal strength was also related with high performance (shorter times) on all six individual simulated firefighting tasks. In addition, the results of the multiple regression demonstrated that abdominal strength had a significant effect on the overall time to complete the AT. Abdominal strength contributed significantly [t(53) = -2.94, p \u3c .01] to the predictive power of firefighter’s time to complete the set of firefighting tasks as described in the AT test. The most common test to evaluated core fitness among firefighters was based on the performance on the sit-up test which measures muscular endurance rather than muscular strength. The results of this study demonstrated that abdominal strength might be a better contributor to firefighting ability than abdominal muscular endurance, as determined by the sit-up test. The results presented in this study are unique since the method used to assess abdominal strength was not previously implemented on firefighters

External Load Seasonal Variations and Positional Differences in Elite Soccer Players

The present study explored the external load in professional soccer players throughout the extent of a full competitive season using GPS tracking technology. Twenty-seven male players were categorized based on their playing position: (1) central defenders (n=5), (2) full-backs (n=4), (3) midfielders (n=9), (4) wingers (n=3), and (5) forwards (n=6). Their physical performance was analyzed and interpreted as the overall external load over the extent of 36 competition recordings and 169 recordings of training sessions from up to 5 days prior to match day (i.e., MD-5, MD-4, MD-3, MD-2 and MD-1). The data were collected only from outfield players (excluding goalkeepers) who participated in >90min of total duration in official games and were analyzed with the use of a 10-Hz GPS tracking device (WIMUPRO, RealTrack Systems Almeria, Spain). The results indicated match days minus three and four as the sessions with the highest intensities and physical demands, with no significant differences between the two days. Significant differences in high-speed running and sprint distance were observed between central defenders and full-backs during matches and training sessions. These results would benefit practitioners in designing the annual plan of professional soccer teams and allow for proper monitoring of the external load based on the players’ playing position