Latest research in football - week 42 - 2016

#1 One-year follow-up of blood viscosity factors and hematocrit/viscosity ratio in elite soccer players
Reference: Clin Hemorheol Microcirc. 2016 Oct 15. [Epub ahead of print]
Authors: Jean-Frédéric B, Emmanuelle VM, Christine F, de Mauverger Eric R
Summary: We investigated to what extent a prediction of the 'ideal' hematocrit based on individual hemorheological profile with an equation of viscosity is relevant in trained athletes, and how the agreement between theoretical and actual values is modified by changes in training volume and performance. Elite soccer players (national level: 18-32 yr, weight 61-83 kg, body mass index 20.9-25.8 kg/m2) were seen twice at one year interval. Hemorheologic parameters were measured with the MT90 viscometer and the Myrenne aggregometer the theoretical bell-shaped curve of hematocrit/viscosity ratio as a function of hematocrit was reconstructed with Quemada's equation using actual plasma viscosity and red cell rigidity to predict hematocrit/viscosity at various hematocrit levels. RBC aggregation is correlated at baseline with fat mass (M1 = 0.552 p < 0.02) and changes in aggregation are related to changes in fat mass (M = 0.652, p < 0.05; M1 = 0.647, p < 0.05). Predicted and actual hematocrit are correlated (r = 0.644, p < 0.05) but exhibit discrepancies (mean difference -1% range [3.24 to 1.24]) and those discrepancies are inversely correlated to the level of predicted hematocrit (r = -0.912, p < 0.01), to systolic blood pressure (r = -0.626, p < 0.05), and to the overtraining score (r = -0.693, p < 0.05). After one year changes in hematocrit are a close reflect of the change in training volume (r = -0.877, p < 0.01) but are not correlated to fitness changes. Therefore in these athletes i) systemic hematocrit is close to its predicted 'ideal value", suggesting the accuracy of the prediction; ii) red cell aggregation is correlated to fat mass even in nonobese subjects; iii) hematocrit is lower than predicted by the model when markers of sympathetic tone (systolic blood pressure, overtraining score) are increased; iv) weekly training volume appears the main determinant of the reduction of hematocrit.


#2 Match analysis of an elite beach soccer team
Reference: J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2016 Oct 20. [Epub ahead of print]
Authors: Scarfone R, Ammendolia A
Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological demands and technical-tactical performances of field players in Italian elite beach soccer team. Three official matches of the Italian First Division beach soccer tournament were analyzed to evaluate the heart rate (HR) and time-motion analysis considering: standing, walking, jogging, running and sprinting, and technical-tactical aspects. Repeated-measures ANOVAs were used to determine the effects of time on the physiological measures and time motion analysis. The mean heart rate (HR) was 161±20 b·min-1corresponding to an overall mean of 84.3±10.5% of maximum heart rate (HRmax). Beach soccer players spent 52.5% of the time exercising at HR >85% of their HRmax. The time motion analysis results showed that for 50% of the match the players performed very low intensity activities. The notational analysis showed that during the 52.8% of the offensive actions 2 players were involved and the 42.6% of the offensive actions was performed by one pass. These findings demonstrate that the beach soccer is an intermittent high intensity sport with a significant involvement of anaerobic metabolism. The results of time motion analysis and notational analysis underscored that the sand does not support the movements of players overall high intensity running. Team work is difficult to implement due to irregular rebounds and it does not consent precise passes. Furthermore this study suggests that it is important to include an intermittent training with high intensity and short recovery to improve the athlete's performance.


#3 Future Achievements, Passion and Motivation in the Transition from Junior-to-Senior Sport in Spanish Young Elite Soccer Players
Reference: Span J Psychol. 2016 Oct 20;19:E69.
Authors: Chamorro JL, Torregrosa M, Sánchez Oliva D, García Calvo T, León B
Summary: Within the context of the transition from junior-to-senior sport, this study aims in first place to explore differences in young Spanish elite soccer players based on the importance given to getting different achievements in their future (including sport, studies and private life) and, in second place, to explore differences among those players in levels of passion, motivation and basic psychological need. 478 elite youth soccer filled out a questionnaire based on the presented theoretical models. A cluster analysis shows a sport oriented group (N = 98) only interested in becoming a professional, a life spheres balance group (N = 288) characterized by balancing the importance of achievements in the sport sphere, as well as in education and a private life and a group (N = 91) only interested in private life achievements. The life spheres balance group shows higher levels of harmonious passion (η2 = .06, F(2, 475) = 9.990, p < .001) than the players of the other groups. The life spheres balance group shows higher levels of autonomous motivation (η2 = .10, F(2, 475) = 13.597, p < .001), autonomy (η2 = .07, F(2, 475) = 6.592, p < .01) and relatedness satisfaction (η2 = .07, F(2, 475) = 5.603, p < .01) than the sport oriented group as well as lower levels of amotivation (η2 = .04, F(2, 475) = 6.665, p < .01) than the private life oriented group. This study suggests players who perceive equal future importance in their life spheres appear to be more resourceful than the other two groups regarding athletes' internal resources, such as passion and motivation, to cope with the transition to professional soccer.


#4 Increasing Performance of Professional Soccer Players and Elite Track and Field Athletes with Peak Performance Training and Biofeedback: A Pilot Study
Reference: Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2016 Oct 19. [Epub ahead of print]
Authors: Rijken NH, Soer R, de Maar E, Prins H, Teeuw WB, Peuscher J, Oosterveld FG
Summary: The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the effects of an intervention consisting of mental coaching combined with either electro encephalogram (EEG) alpha power feedback or heart rate variability (HRV) feedback on HRV, EEG outcomes and self-reported factors related to stress, performance, recovery and sleep quality in elite athletes. A prospective pilot study was performed with two distinct cohorts. Soccer players were provided with four sessions of mental coaching combined with daily HRV biofeedback (Group A); track and field athletes were provided with four sessions of mental coaching in combination with daily neurofeedback (Group B). Measurements were performed at baseline, post intervention and at 5 weeks follow-up. Objective measures: EEG and ECG. Subjective measures: Numeric Rating Scale for performance, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Rest and Stress Questionnaire and Sports Improvement-60. Group characteristics were too distinct to compare the interventions. Linear mixed models were used to analyze differences within groups over time. In Group A, significant changes over time were present in alpha power at 5 of 7 EEG locations (p < 0.01-0.03). LF/HF ratio significantly increased (p = 0.02) and the concentration (p = 0.02) and emotional scale (p = 0.03) of the SIM-60 increased significantly (p = 0.04). In Group B, the HRV low frequency power and recovery scale of the REST-Q significantly increased (p = 0.02 and <0.01 resp.). Other measures remained stable or improved non-significantly. A mental coaching program combined with either HRV or EEG alpha power feedback may increase HRV and alpha power and may lead to better performance-related outcomes and stress reduction. Further research is needed to elucidate the effects of either type of feedback and to compare effects with a control group.


#5 Soft-assembled Multilevel Dynamics of Tactical Behaviors in Soccer
Reference: Front Psychol. 2016 Oct 5;7:1513. eCollection 2016.
Authors: Ric A, Torrents C, Gonçalves B, Sampaio J, Hristovski R
Summary: This study aimed to identify the tactical patterns and the timescales of variables during a soccer match, allowing understanding the multilevel organization of tactical behaviors, and to determine the similarity of patterns performed by different groups of teammates during the first and second halves. Positional data from 20 professional male soccer players from the same team were collected using high frequency global positioning systems (5 Hz). Twenty-nine categories of tactical behaviors were determined from eight positioning-derived variables creating multivariate binary (Boolean) time-series matrices. Hierarchical principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify the multilevel structure of tactical behaviors. The sequential reduction of each set level of principal components revealed a sole principal component as the slowest collective variable, forming the global basin of attraction of tactical patterns during each half of the match. In addition, the mean dwell time of each positioning-derived variable helped to understand the multilevel organization of collective tactical behavior during a soccer match. This approach warrants further investigations to analyze the influence of task constraints on the emergence of tactical behavior. Furthermore, PCA can help coaches to design representative training tasks according to those tactical patterns captured during match competitions and to compare them depending on situational variables.


#6 The relationship between trunk endurance plan tests and athletic performance tests in adolescent soccer players
Reference: Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2016 Oct;11(5):718-724.
Authors: Imai A, Kaneoka K
Summary: Although it is believed that trunk function is important for athletic performance, few researchers have demonstrated a significant relationship between the trunk function and athletic performance. Recently, the prone plank and side plank tests have been used to assess trunk function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between trunk endurance plank tests and athletic performance tests, including whether there is a relationship between long distance running and trunk endurance plank tests in adolescent male soccer players. Fifty-five adolescent male soccer players performed prone and side plank tests and seven performance tests: the Cooper test, the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test, the step 50 agility test, a 30-m sprint test, a vertical countermovement jump, a standing five-step jump, and a rebound jump. The relationships between each individual plank test, the combined score of both plank tests, and performance tests were analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient. The combined score of plank tests was highly correlated with the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test (r = 0.710, p < 0.001), and was moderately correlated with the Cooper test (r = 0.567, p < 0.001). Poor correlation was observed between the prone plank test and step 50 agility test (r = -0.436, p = 0.001) and no significant correlations were observed between plank tests and jump performance tests. The results suggest that trunk endurance plank tests are positively correlated with the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test, the Cooper test, and the step 50 agility test.


#7 Effect of Injury Prevention Programs that Include the Nordic Hamstring Exercise on Hamstring Injury Rates in Soccer Players: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Reference: Sports Med. 2016 Oct 17. [Epub ahead of print]
Authors: Al Attar WS, Soomro N, Sinclair PJ, Pappas E, Sanders RH
Summary: Hamstring injuries are among the most common non-contact injuries in sports. The Nordic hamstring (NH) exercise has been shown to decrease risk by increasing eccentric hamstring strength. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the effectiveness of the injury prevention programs that included the NH exercise on reducing hamstring injury rates while factoring in athlete workload. Two researchers independently searched for eligible studies using the following databases: the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials via OvidSP, AMED (Allied and Complementary Medicine) via OvidSP, EMBASE, PubMed, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, CINAHL and AusSportMed, from inception to December 2015. The keyword domains used during the search were Nordic, hamstring, injury prevention programs, sports and variations of these keywords. The initial search resulted in 3242 articles which were filtered to five articles that met the inclusion criteria. The main inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials or interventional studies on use of an injury prevention program that included the NH exercise while the primary outcome was hamstring injury rate. Extracted data were subjected to meta-analysis using a random effects model. The pooled results based on total injuries per 1000 h of exposure showed that programs that included the NH exercise had a statistically significant reduction in hamstring injury risk ratio [IRR] of 0.490 (95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.291-0.827, p = 0.008). Teams using injury prevention programs that included the NH exercise reduced hamstring injury rates up to 51 % in the long term compared with the teams that did not use any injury prevention measures. This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrates that injury prevention programs that include NH exercises decrease the risk of hamstring injuries among soccer players.


#8 Maximal sprinting speed of elite soccer players during training and matches
Reference: J Strength Cond Res. 2016 Sep 23. [Epub ahead of print]
Authors: Djaoui L, Chamari K, Owen A, Dellal A
Summary: The aim of the present study was to compare 1) the maximal sprinting speed (MSS) attained by soccer players during matches (MSSmatch) according to their level of play (professional 1st French division vs. elite amateur 4th French division) and the playing positions; and 2) the MSS attained by professional soccer players during 14 different types of small-sided games (SSG, MSSSSG) and match-play. All players monitored through the study performed a 40-m sprint test to assess individual MSS (MSStest) and compare it to the training and match activity, with the calculation of the percentage of MSStest (%MSStest) reached. No differences were found according to the level of play, however positionally, wide players achieved a higher MSSmatch, %MSStest, and MSSSSG compared to central players (both defenders and midfielders) during matches and SSG. MSSmatch were higher than all MSSSSG, and MSSSSG were positively correlated with the area of the pitch (0.45, p<0.001), its length (0.53, p<0.001) and the number of players involved (0.38, p<0.001). The closer SSG was to match situation in term of rules, the higher the MSSSSG. Wide players reached higher MSS in match and SSG than central players, confirming the relevance of using SSG close to match situation to specifically prepare elite players to the maximal running speed demand of the match.


#9 How does lower leg alignment differ between soccer players, other athletes, and non-athletic controls?
Reference: Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2016 Oct 14. [Epub ahead of print]
Authors: Colyn W, Agricola R, Arnout N, Verhaar JA, Bellemans J
Summary: The influence of type and intensity of sports during growth on knee alignment was investigated. The second aim was to ascertain whether the distal femur or proximal tibia contribute most to knee alignment. Also, the influence of field position and leg dominancy on knee alignment in soccer players was audited. Standardized full-leg standing digital radiographs were obtained from 100 males and 100 females on which 8 different alignment parameters were measured. Participants were questioned on their sports activities during different stages of growth. Sports activities were graded according to the Tegner score. The mean (±SD) hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA) was significantly lower (p < 0.001) in high-activity male athletes (-2.8° ± 2.4°) than in low-activity male athletes (-0.9° ± 1.9°). No differences in HKA were observed between different activity levels in females. Males who practiced soccer between 10-12 years and 15-17 years had, in turn, a lower HKA than athletes practicing other high-activity sports in these age categories (mean difference ≥1.2°, p ≤ 0.046). The most contributing factor for the varus alignment in male soccer players was a lower medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA). High-activity sports participation during youth is associated with varus alignment at the end of growth in males. The most pronounced bowlegs were observed in male soccer players, and this was primarily determined by the proximal tibia. Adjustments in loads applied to the knees during skeletal growth in males might prevent the development of varus alignment and associated pathology, but further studies are required.