Latest research in football - week 26 - 2021

#1 Timing return-to-competition: a prospective registration of 45 different types of severe injuries in Germany's highest football league

Reference: Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2021 Mar 29.  doi: 10.1007/s00402-021-03854-8. Online ahead of print.

Authors: Werner Krutsch, Clemens Memmel, Volker Alt, Volker Krutsch, Tobias Tröß, Karen Aus der Fünten, Tim Meyer

Download link: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00402-021-03854-8.pdf

Summary: Many professional football players sustain at least one severe injury over the course of their career. Because detailed epidemiological data on different severe injuries in professional football have been missing so far, this study describes the frequency and return-to-competition (RTC) periods of different types of severe football injuries. This epidemiological investigation is a prospective standardised injury analysis based on national media longitudinal registration. Injuries were classified according to the consensus statement by Fuller et al. (2006). The analysis includes injuries sustained by players of the first German football league during the seasons 2014-2015 to 2017-2018. Overall, 660 severe injuries were registered during the four seasons (mean 165 per season; 9.2 per season per team; incidence in 1000 h: 0.77). The body region most frequently affected by severe injury was the knee (30.0%; 49.5 injuries per season/SD 13.2) followed by the thigh (26.4%; 43.5 injuries/SD 4.2) and the ankle (16.7%; 27.5 injuries/SD 5.0). The distribution of injuries over the course of a season showed a trend for ACL ruptures to mainly occur at the beginning of a season (45.8%), overuse syndromes such as achillodynia (40.9%) and irritation of the knee (44.4%) during the winter months and severe muscle and ankle injuries at the end of a season. ACL ruptures showed the longest RTC durations (median 222 days). This study presents detailed epidemiological data on severe injuries in professional football. The body region most frequently affected by severe injuries was the knee. Several types of severe injuries showed a seasonal injury pattern. The appropriate timing of RTC after an injury is one of the most important and complex decisions to be made. This study provides information on the typical time loss due to specific severe football injuries, which may serve as a guideline.

 

 

#2 The Poor "Wealth" of Brazilian Football: How Poverty May Shape Skill and Expertise of Players

Reference: Front Sports Act Living. 2021 Mar 11;3:635241.  doi: 10.3389/fspor.2021.635241. eCollection 2021.

Authors: Luiz Uehara, Mark Falcous, Chris Button, Keith Davids, Duarte Araújo, Adelgício Ribeiro de Paula, John Saunders

Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7991596/pdf/fspor-03-635241.pdf

Summary: Worldwide, 1.3 billion people live in Poverty, a socio-economic status that has been identified as a key determinant of a lack of sports participation. Still, numerous athletes around the world have grown up in underprivileged socio-economic conditions. This is the case in Brazil, a country with around 13.5 million impoverished citizens, yet, over decades, many of its best professional footballers have emerged from its favelas. In this article, we explore the role of the socio-cultural-economic constraints in shaping the development of skill and expertise of Brazilian professional football players. The methodological and epistemological assumptions of the "Contextualized Skill Acquisition Research" (CSAR) approach are used as an underpinning framework for organizing and analyzing data. Results suggested that, at the exosystemic level of Brazilian society, Poverty emerges as an influential constraint that can potentially enrich football development experiences of Brazilian players. Poverty, however, is not the direct causation of outstanding football skill development. Rather, from the perspective of ecological dynamics, Poverty creates specific contexts that can lead to the emergence of physical as well as socio-cultural environment constraints (e.g., Pelada, Malandragem) that can shape affordances (opportunities) for skill acquisition. These ideas suggest the need to ensure that environmental constraints can support people to amuse themselves cheaply, gain access to employment opportunities and maintain health and well-being through (unstructured and more structured) sport and physical activities in dense urban environments such as favelas, inner city areas, and banlieues. For this purpose, design of open play areas and even parkour installations can provide affordances landscapes for physical activity and sports participation in urban settings.

 

 

#3 Head impact forces in blind football are greater in competition than training and increased cervical strength may reduce impact magnitude

Reference: Int J Inj Contr Saf Promot. 2021 Mar 30;1-7.  doi: 10.1080/17457300.2021.1905667. 

Authors: Daniel Fitzpatrick, Peter Thompson, Courtney Kipps, Nick Webborn

Summary: Paralympic Blind Association Football has the highest rate of injury of any Paralympic sport and head injuries are common. This study aims to quantify head impact incidence and magnitude in Blind Football, and to examine contributing factors. This Observational study based on a Blind Football Team comprising seven male athletes 28.63 years (SD 9.74, range 16-46) over 6 months. Head mounted impact sensors were used to measure the frequency and location of impacts, as well as their linear acceleration and rotational velocity. Cervical isometric strength and proprioception was measured. There were 374 impacts recorded in 212.5 athlete hours. There was a higher rate of impacts in matches than training (Incidence Risk Ratio 2.58, 95% CI 2.01-3.30). Greater cervical strength was associated with reduced linear acceleration of impacts (R2 = 0.1912, p = .020). Blind Football players are exposed to a greater number of head impacts in matches than training. Neck muscle strength may influence magnitude of head impact forces in this sport but further study is required to further investigate.

 

 

#4 How does spectator presence affect football? Home advantage remains in European top-class football matches played without spectators during the COVID-19 pandemic

Reference: PLoS One. 2021 Mar 31;16(3):e0248590.  doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0248590. eCollection 2021.

Authors: Fabian Wunderlich, Matthias Weigelt, Robert Rein, Daniel Memmert

Download link: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0248590

Summary: The present paper investigates factors contributing to the home advantage, by using the exceptional opportunity to study professional football matches played in the absence of spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. More than 40,000 matches before and during the pandemic, including more than 1,000 professional matches without spectators across the main European football leagues, have been analyzed. Results support the notion of a crowd-induced referee bias as the increased sanctioning of away teams disappears in the absence of spectators with regard to fouls (p < .001), yellow cards (p < .001), and red cards (p < .05). Moreover, the match dominance of home teams decreases significantly as indicated by shots (p < .001) and shots on target (p < .01). In terms of the home advantage itself, surprisingly, only a non-significant decrease is found. While the present paper supports prior research with regard to a crowd-induced referee bias, spectators thus do not seem to be the main driving factor of the home advantage. Results from amateur football, being naturally played in absence of a crowd, provide further evidence that the home advantage is predominantly caused by factors not directly or indirectly attributable to a noteworthy number of spectators.

 

 

#5 The Self-Regulation of Learning - Self-Report Scale for Sport Practice: Validation of an Italian Version for Football

Reference: Front Psychol. 2021 Mar 15;12:604852.  doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.604852. eCollection 2021.

Authors: Eleonora Reverberi, Caterina Gozzoli, Chiara D'Angelo, Margherita Lanz, Angela Sorgente

Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8005618/pdf/fpsyg-12-604852.pdf

Summary: Self-regulation of learning (SRL) is a key psychological factor that supports young athletes aiming to reach the elite level by promoting their involvement in deliberate practice. We contributed to the validation of the Italian version of the Bartulovic et al. (2017) Self-Regulation of Learning - Self-Report Scale for Sport Practice by testing its factorial structure, reliability, and measurement invariance among elite and non-elite football players, involving 415 male professional, semi-professional, and amateur youth academy players (M age = 16.2, SD = 1.51). The original six-factor structure (planning, reflection, effort, self-efficacy, self-monitoring, and evaluation) did not fit the data well and a five-factor solution (where self-monitoring and evaluation items load on the same factor, named "self-supervision") was a better fit. This five-factor solution was measurement invariant across groups of elite and non-elite athletes. We found that elite athletes scored significantly higher than non-elite ones in each SRL subprocess. Implications for future validation studies and for the use of this tool are discussed.

 

 

#6 Using Submaximal Exercise Heart Rate for Monitoring Cardiorespiratory Fitness Changes in Professional Soccer Players: A Replication Study

Reference: Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2021 Mar 31;1-7.  doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2020-0554. Online ahead of print.

Authors: Stefan Altmann, Rainer Neumann, Sascha Härtel, Alexander Woll, Martin Buchheit

Summary: The purpose was to assess the value of monitoring changes in fitness in professional soccer players, using changes in heart rate at submaximal intensity (HR12km/h) over the velocity at a lactate concentration of 4 mmol/L (v4mmol/L). The authors reexamined (1) a range of threshold magnitudes, which may improve detecting substantial individual changes and (2) the agreement between changes in these 2 variables. On at least 2 occasions during different moments of the season, 97 professional soccer players from Germany (first, second, and fourth division) completed an incremental test to determine HR12km/h and v4mmol/L. Optimal thresholds for changes in HR12km/h and v4mmol/L were assessed, using various methods (eg, smallest worthwhile change + typical error [TE], successive reiterations approach). Agreement between both variable changes was examined for the whole sample (225 comparisons), 4 different subgroups (depending on the moment of the season), and in an individual over 6 years (n = 23 tests). Changes of 4.5% and 6.0% for HR12km/h and v4mmol/L, respectively, were rated as optimal to indicate substantial changes in fitness. Depending on the (sub)groups analyzed, these thresholds yielded 0% to 2% full mismatches, 22% to 38% partial agreements, and 60% to 78% full agreements in terms of fitness change interpretation between both variables. When lactate sampling during incremental tests is not possible, practitioners willing to monitor adult professional soccer players' (Germany; first, second, and fourth division) training status can confidently implement short, 3-minute submaximal runs, with 4.5% changes in HR12km/h being indicative of true substantial fitness changes, with 60% to 78% accuracy. Future studies should investigate the potential role of confounding factors of HR12km/h to improve changes in fitness prediction.

 

 

#7 Muscle activity of cutting manoeuvres and soccer inside passing suggests an increased groin injury risk during these movements

Reference: Sci Rep. 2021 Mar 31;11(1):7223.  doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-86666-5.

Authors: Thomas Dupré, Julian Tryba, Wolfgang Potthast

Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8012386/pdf/41598_2021_Article_86666.pdf

Summary: Cutting manoeuvres and inside passing are thought to increase the risk of sustaining groin injuries. But both movements have received little research attention in this regard. The purpose of this study was to investigate the muscle activity of adductor longus and gracilis as well as hip and knee joint kinematics during [Formula: see text]-cutting and inside passing. Thirteen male soccer players were investigated with 3D-motion capturing and surface electromyography of adductor longus and gracilis while performing the two movements. Hip and knee joint kinematics were calculated with AnyBody Modelling System. Muscle activity of both muscles was significantly higher during the cutting manoeuvre compared to inside passing. Kinematics showed that the highest activity occurred during phases of fast muscle lengthening and eccentric contraction of the adductors which is known to increase the groin injury risk. Of both movements, cutting showed the higher activity and is therefore more likely to cause groin injuries. However, passing might also increase the risk for groin injuries as it is one of the most performed actions in soccer, and therefore most likely causes groin injuries through overuse. Practitioners need to be aware of these risks and should prepare players accordingly through strength and flexibility training.

 

 

#8 Effect of a Shock Micro-Cycle on Biochemical Markers in University Soccer Players

Reference: Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Mar 30;18(7):3581.  doi: 10.3390/ijerph18073581.

Authors: Diana García-Cardona, Patricia Landázuri, Oscar Sánchez-Muñoz

Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8036591/pdf/ijerph-18-03581.pdf

Summary: This study aimed to examine various biochemical biomarkers changes during a shock micro-cycle in soccer players from a university team. The study had 22 players (age: 22 ± 3 years; body mass: 68.6 ± 7.1 kg; height: 1.73 ± 0.07 m). The study measured total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), cholesterol linked to high-density lipoproteins (HDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), arterial index (AI), creatine kinase (CK), glutamate-oxalacetate-transaminase (GOT), glutamate-pyruvate-transaminase (GPT), creatinine (Cr), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), cytokines IL6 and TNFα, total antioxidant capacity (Cap antiox tot), hemolysis percentage and glomerular filtration rate (GFR); measurements were conducted during a shock micro-cycle. The lipid profile variables had no statistical significance when compared on day 1 with day 14. Except for TNFα, the other biomarkers compared with day one had progressive increments until day seven, with a subsequent reduction on day 14; however, none of the biomarkers returned to baseline values despite this decrease. The data shown herein suggest the need to research these biomarkers in distinct types of mesocycles, exercise, intensity, load, and duration to diminish fatigue and improve athlete performance.

 

 

#9 Body Physique, Body Composition, Physical Performance, Technical and Tactical Skills, Psychological Development, and Club Characteristics of Young Male Portuguese Soccer Players: The INEX Study

Reference: Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Mar 30;18(7):3560.  doi: 10.3390/ijerph18073560. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18073560

Authors: Maryam Abarghoueinejad, Daniel Barreira, Cláudia Dias, Eduardo Guimarães, Adam D G Baxter-Jones, José Maia

Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8037166/pdf/ijerph-18-03560.pdf

Summary: Youth soccer performance is multifaceted, includes physical growth, biological maturation, and physical fitness, and is linked to the sporting environment to which the players are exposed. We aim to describe age-related associations in body physique, body composition, physical performance technical and tactical skills, psychological and club characteristics of male soccer players aged 12 to 14 years. A total of 157 male soccer players clustered into three age-cohorts (12, 13 and 14 years) were recruited from six soccer clubs. Anthropometric, body composition and body physique, biological maturation, physical performance, skill/game proficiency data, psychological characteristics, and clubs' characteristics were collected. Group means were compared using analysis of variance and covariance. Fourteen years old players were significantly taller, heavier, leaner, faster, stronger, and technically more skilled than their younger peers (p < 0.05). Differences in physical performance and technical skills (p < 0.05) were found between age groups when adjusting for confounders of soccer training and biological maturation. No significant differences (p > 0.05) between age groups were found in psychological domains. Our findings suggest that age, biological maturation, and training volume are key factors influencing young soccer players' performance and development. Further, clubs' conditions provide players with ample resources for their success in training and competition.

 

 

#10 Training Design, Performance Analysis, and Talent Identification-A Systematic Review about the Most Relevant Variables through the Principal Component Analysis in Soccer, Basketball, and Rugby

Reference: Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Mar 5;18(5):2642.  doi: 10.3390/ijerph18052642.

Authors: José Pino-Ortega, Daniel Rojas-Valverde, Carlos D Gómez-Carmona, Markel Rico-González

Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7967544/pdf/ijerph-18-02642.pdf

Summary: Since the accelerating development of technology applied to team sports and its subsequent high amount of information available, the need for data mining leads to the use of data reduction techniques such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA). This systematic review aims to identify determinant variables in soccer, basketball and rugby using exploratory factor analysis for, training design, performance analysis and talent identification. Three electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus) were systematically searched and 34 studies were finally included in the qualitative synthesis. Through PCA, data sets were reduced by 75.07%, and 3.9 ± 2.53 factors were retained that explained 80 ± 0.14% of the total variance. All team sports should be analyzed or trained based on the high level of aerobic capacity combined with adequate levels of power and strength to perform repeated high-intensity actions in a very short time, which differ between team sports. Accelerations and decelerations are mainly significant in soccer, jumps and landings are crucial in basketball, and impacts are primarily identified in rugby. Besides, from these team sports, primary information about different technical/tactical variables was extracted such as (a) soccer: occupied space, ball controls, passes, and shots; (b) basketball: throws, rebounds, and turnovers; or (c) rugby: possession game pace and team formation. Regarding talent identification, both anthropometrics and some physical capacity measures are relevant in soccer and basketball. Although overall, since these variables have been identified in different investigations, further studies should perform PCA on data sets that involve variables from different dimensions (technical, tactical, conditional).

 

 

#11 Control Deficits, Conditioning Factors, and Playing through Pain and Injury among Iranian Professional Soccer Players

Reference: Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Mar 25;18(7):3387.  doi: 10.3390/ijerph18073387.

Authors: Saeed Kabiri, Jaeyong Choi, Seyyedeh Masoomeh Shamila Shadmanfaat, Julak Lee

Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8036426/pdf/ijerph-18-03387.pdf

Summary: Playing through pain and injury is a common and accepted behavior in the athletic realm. The purpose of this research was to apply Tittle's control balance theory to explain why athletes engage in playing through pain and injury despite its risky nature. We hypothesized that playing through pain and injury is a form of submission described by Tittle and that it can be predicted by the concept of control deficit. To this end, we collected and used data from a sample of 410 professional soccer players from Guilan province, Iran, and tested several propositions derived from control balance theory. Hierarchical linear regression was used to analyze the data. The study findings demonstrate that players with more control deficits are more likely to play through pain and injury. This relationship is conditioned by self-control, opportunity, motivation, perceived benefits, and provocations. For example, the relationship between control deficit and playing through pain and injury is stronger for those with lower self-control. Our findings support the utility of control balance theory in explaining an act of submission (i.e., playing through pain and injury).

 

 

#12 Epidemiology of Injuries in First Division Spanish Women's Soccer Players

Reference: Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Mar 15;18(6):3009.  doi: 10.3390/ijerph18063009.

Authors: Rodrigo Martín-San Agustín, Francesc Medina-Mirapeix, Andrea Esteban-Catalán, Adrian Escriche-Escuder, Mariana Sánchez-Barbadora, Josep C Benítez-Martínez

Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8000692/pdf/ijerph-18-03009.pdf

Summary: The epidemiology of injuries in female soccer has been studied extensively in several national leagues. Even so, data on the first division Spanish league are limited. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology of the first division of the Spanish Women's Soccer League and to analyze data in relation to game position, circumstance, or the moment of injury. Fifteen teams and 123 players participated in the study. Players' characteristics and their injuries (location, type, diagnosis, circumstance, and moment) were collected. Injuries were described by their frequencies (number and percentage) and incidence rates (IR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Lower limb injuries accounted for 86.8% of total injuries. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus injuries occurred in totality in non-contact circumstance (0.35/1000 h; 95% CI, 0.18 to 0.62 and 0.23/1000 h; 95% CI, 0.10 to 0.45, respectively). Match injury IRs (19.02/1000 h; 95% CI, 14.89 to 23.97) were significantly higher than training (1.70/1000 h; 95% CI, 1.27 to 2.22). As a conclusion, structures such as the ACL or meniscus are most commonly injured in the non-contact circumstance in the first division of the Spanish Women's Soccer League. In addition, match situations involve a greater risk of injury than training, increasing the risk to the ankle and knee injuries as the season progresses.

 

 

#13 Effects of the Small-Sided Soccer Games on Blood Pressure in Untrained Hypertensive Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Reference: Healthcare (Basel). 2021 Mar 18;9(3):345.  doi: 10.3390/healthcare9030345.

Authors: Filipe Manuel Clemente, Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo, Hugo Sarmento

Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8003134/pdf/healthcare-09-00345.pdf

Summary: This systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effects of small-sided games (SSGs)-based programs on the systolic and diastolic blood pressure of untrained hypertensive adults. The data sources utilized were Web of Science, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and PubMed. The eligibility criteria were: (i) randomized controlled trials including a control group and an intervention group exclusively using soccer SSGs; (ii) intervention and control groups including an untrained hypertensive adult population; (iii) articles written in English; and (iv) only full-text and original articles. The database search initially identified 241 titles. From those, five articles were eligible for the systematic review and meta-analysis. The included randomized controlled studies involved five individual experimental groups and 88 participants, and 68 participants in the five control groups. The results showed a large and beneficial effect of SSG on systolic (ES = 1.69; 95% CI = 0.71 to 2.66; p = 0.001; I2 = 85.2%; Egger's test p = 0.101) and diastolic blood pressure (ES = 2.25; 95% CI = 1.44 to 3.06; p < 0.001; I2 = 74.8%; Egger's test p = 0.118) when compared to the control groups. The findings of the current systematic review and meta-analysis revealed consistent beneficial effects of recreational soccer SSGs on untrained men and women from the hypertensive population, although high levels of heterogeneity.

 

 

#14 Data Mining to Select Relevant Variables Influencing External and Internal Workload of Elite Blind 5-a-Side Soccer

Reference: Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Mar 18;18(6):3155.  doi: 10.3390/ijerph18063155.

Authors: José M Gamonales, Kiko León, Daniel Rojas-Valverde, Braulio Sánchez-Ureña, Jesús Muñoz-Jiménez

Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8003270/pdf/ijerph-18-03155.pdf

Summary: Data mining has turned essential when exploring a large amount of information in performance analysis in sports. This study aimed to select the most relevant variables influencing the external and internal load in top-elite 5-a-side soccer (Sa5) using a data mining model considering some contextual indicators as match result, body mass index (BMI), scoring rate and age.  A total of 50 top-elite visually impaired soccer players (age 30.86 ± 11.2 years, weight 77.64 ± 9.78 kg, height 178.48 ± 7.9 cm) were monitored using magnetic, angular and rate gyroscope (MARG) sensors during an international Sa5 congested fixture tournament.; Fifteen external and internal load variables were extracted from a total of 49 time-related and peak variables derived from the MARG sensors using a principal component analysis as the most used data mining technique. The principal component analysis (PCA) model explained 80% of total variance using seven principal components. In contrast, the first principal component of the match was defined by jumps, take off by 24.8% of the total variance. Blind players usually performed a higher number of accelerations per min when losing a match. Scoring players execute higher DistanceExplosive and Distance21-24 km/h. And the younger players presented higher HRAVG and AccMax. The influence of some contextual variables on external and internal load during top elite Sa5 official matches should be addressed by coaches, athletes, and medical staff. The PCA seems to be a useful statistical technique to select those relevant variables representing the team's external and internal load. Besides, as a data reduction method, PCA allows administrating individualized training loads considering those relevant variables defining team load behavior.

 

 

#15 Influence of Size and Maturity on Injury in Young Elite Soccer Players

Reference: Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Mar 18;18(6):3120.  doi: 10.3390/ijerph18063120.

Authors: Natascia Rinaldo, Emanuela Gualdi-Russo, Luciana Zaccagni

Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8003020/pdf/ijerph-18-03120.pdf

Summary: The involvement of pre-adolescents in soccer is becoming more and more frequent, and this growing participation generates some concerns about the potential factors for sports injuries. The purpose of this study was to investigate sports injuries in younger (U9-U11) and older (U12-U13) children playing soccer at an elite level, analyzing potential anthropometric and maturity risk factors. A total of 88 elite soccer players aged 9-13 years were investigated. Weight, stature, and sitting height were measured at the start and at the end of the competitive season, computing the relative growth velocities. Additional body composition parameters were taken during a second survey. Maturity offset was calculated using predictive equations based on anthropometric traits such as years from age at peak height velocity (YPHV). Injuries suffered during the competitive season were recorded. Maturity and some anthropometric characteristics were significantly different according to the presence or absence of injuries among the players. Multiple logistic regression revealed that YPHV, body mass index (BMI), and calf muscle area were the factors most significantly correlated with injuries. Players with increased BMI, with decreased calf muscle area, and who were closer to their peak height velocity, were at a higher risk of injury. Findings showed that a monitoring program of anthropometric characteristics taking into account the maturational stage needs to be developed to prevent injuries.

 

 

#16 A Meta-Analytical Comparison of the Effects of Small-Sided Games vs. Running-Based High-Intensity Interval Training on Soccer Players' Repeated-Sprint Ability

Reference: Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Mar 9;18(5):2781. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18052781.

Authors: Filipe Manuel Clemente, Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo, José Afonso, Hugo Sarmento, Thomas Rosemann, Beat Knechtle

Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7967484/pdf/ijerph-18-02781.pdf

Summary: This systematic review with a meta-analysis was conducted to compare the effects of small-sided games (SSGs)-based interventions with the effects of running-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT) interventions on soccer players' repeated sprint ability (RSA). The data sources utilized were Web of Science, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and PubMed. The study eligibility criteria were: (i) parallel studies (SSG-based programs vs. running-based HIIT) conducted in soccer players with no restrictions on age, sex, or competitive level; (ii) isolated intervention programs (i.e., only SSG vs. only running-based HIIT as individual forms) with no restrictions on duration; (iii) a pre-post outcome for RSA; (iv) original, full-text, peer-reviewed articles written in English. An electronic search yielded 513 articles, four of which were included in the present study. There was no significant difference between the effects of SSG-based and HIIT-based training interventions on RSA (effect size (ES) = 0.30; p = 0.181). The within-group analysis revealed no significant effect of SSG-based training interventions (ES = -0.23; p = 0.697) or HIIT-based training interventions (ES = 0.08; p = 0.899) on RSA. The meta-comparison revealed that neither SSGs nor HIIT-based interventions were effective in improving RSA in soccer players, and no differences were found between the two types of training. This suggests that complementary training may be performed to improve the effects of SSGs and HIIT. It also suggests that different forms of HIIT can be used because of the range of opportunities that such training affords.

 

 

#17 Characteristics of Selected Somatic and Motor Abilities of Youth Soccer Players with Diabetes Type 1 Treated with Insulin Pump Therapy

Reference: Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Mar 27;18(7):3493.  doi: 10.3390/ijerph18073493.

Authors: Magdalena Krzykała, Katarzyna Domaszewska, Małgorzata Woźniewicz-Dobrzyńska, Jakub Kryściak, Agata Konarska, Aleksandra Araszkiewicz, Dorota Zozulińska-Ziółkiewicz, Andrzej Gawrecki, Grzegorz Biegański, Jan M Konarski

Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8037518/pdf/ijerph-18-03493.pdf

Summary: Long-term insulin treatment can slow the growth process and decrease physical fitness level in children. In diabetic children, these two developments should be constantly monitored. The aim of the present study was to examine differences in somatic and physical fitness characteristics between soccer-training boys with type 1 diabetes and healthy boys of the same age (reference values based on Polish population norms for somatic and motor parameters). The participants were 94 boys (8-17 years), diagnosed with diabetes, who participated in soccer training on a regular basis and received routine medical care. The study involved (a) anthropometric and body composition measurements, (b) general motor ability assessments, and (c) comparison of those characteristics with the healthy Polish population. The diabetic boys were found to have lower levels of almost all somatic traits and motor abilities as compared with the healthy boys (p ≤ 0.05). Handgrip strength was a variable with the smallest difference between the two groups. The observed differences indicate the necessity to design an appropriate control and assessment system based on simple medical and fitness field tests for diabetic children and adolescents. It will allow optimizing advanced training as well as minimize health risks before, during, or after exercise.

 

 

#18 Muscle Oxygen Desaturation and Re-Saturation Capacity Limits in Repeated Sprint Ability Performance in Women Soccer Players: A New Physiological Interpretation

Reference: Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Mar 27;18(7):3484.  doi: 10.3390/ijerph18073484.

Authors: Aldo A Vasquez-Bonilla, Alba Camacho-Cardeñosa, Rafael Timón, Ismael Martínez-Guardado, Marta Camacho-Cardeñosa, Guillermo Olcina

Download link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8037739/pdf/ijerph-18-03484.pdf

Summary: Muscle oxygen consumption could provide information on oxidative metabolism in women soccer players. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze muscle oxygenation dynamics during repeated sprint ability (RSA): (8 sprint × 20 s recovery) by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). The sample was made up of 38 professional women soccer players. To measure the external load, the best time, worst time, average time, individual speed, sprint decrement, and power were assessed. In connection with the internal load, the desaturation (sprint) and re-saturation (recovery) rates, as well as the oxygen extraction (∇%SmO2) in the gastrocnemius muscle and maximum heart rate (%HRmax) were measured. A repeated measures statistic was applied based on the inter-individual response of each subject from the baseline versus the other sprints, with linear regression and nonlinear regression analyses between variables. There was an increase in the SmO2: desaturation rate after four sprints (Δ = 32%), in the re-saturation rate after six sprints (Δ = 89%), and in ∇%SmO2 after four sprints (Δ = 72.1%). There was a linear association between the rates of desaturation and re-saturation relationships and the worst time (r = 0.85), and a non-linear association between ∇%SmO2 and speed (r = 0.89) and between ∇%SmO2 and the sprint decrease (r = 0.93). The progressive increase in SmO2 during RSA is a performance limitation to maintain a high speed; it depends on the capacity of fatigue resistance. Therefore, monitoring the muscle oxygenation dynamics could be a useful tool to evaluate the performance in women soccer players.