Effect of an intensified training period on well-being indices, recovery and psychological aspects in professional soccer players

Abstract The aim of the study was to determine the impact of air quality – analyzed on the basis of the model of integrating three types of air pollutants (ozone – O3, particulate matter - PM, nitrogen dioxide – NO2) – on the physical activity of soccer players. Study material consisted of 8927 individual match observations of 461 players competing in the German Bundesliga during the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 domestic seasons. The measured indices included players’ physical activities: total distance (TD) and high intensity effort (HIE). Statistical analysis showed that with increasing levels of air pollution, both TD (F = 13.900(3); p = 0.001) and HIE (F = 8.060(3); p = 0.001) decrease significantly. The worsening of just one parameter of air pollution results in a significant reduction in performance. This is important information as air pollution is currently a considerable problem for many countries. Improving air quality during training sessions and sports competitions will result in better well-being and sporting performance of athletes, and will also help protect athletes from negative health effects caused by air pollution.

Download Full-text

Effect of a mindfulness programme training to prevent the sport injury and improve the performance of semi-professional soccer players

Australasian Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/1039856219859288 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 27 (6) ◽

pp. 589-595

Author(s):

Majid Mozafari Zadeh ◽

Bita Ajilchi ◽

Zahra Salman ◽

Steve Kisely

Keyword(s):

Pilot Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Well Being ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Injury Rates ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Post Test ◽

Improved Performance ◽

The Individual ◽

Randomised Controlled

Objective: Mindfulness improves psychological outcomes. We examined whether greater mindfulness scores were associated with reduced injury rates in soccer players, as well as improved performance at both the individual and team level. Method: This was a parallel-group, pre- and post-test, randomised controlled pilot trial. Forty-five male amateur soccer players from Tehran, Iran, were randomly assigned into experimental (n=23) and control groups (n=22). Outcomes were scores on the mindfulness sport inventory, as well as injury rates and recovery as assessed by a physiotherapist using standardised criteria. Expert observers assessed the effect on individual and team performance. Data were analysed using mixed analysis of variance and, where indicated, its non-parametric alternative, the Friedman test. Results: Significantly greater mindfulness scores in the intervention group were associated with both reduced injury and improved performance. Conclusion: Mindfulness training shows promise in preventing injury and improving performance. The intervention could be applied to other sports and be helpful in clinical settings given the importance of exercise in promoting psychological well-being.

Download Full-text

Tart Cherry Juice: No Effect on Muscle Function Loss or Muscle Soreness in Professional Soccer Players After a Match

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.2019-0221 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 249-254 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Will Abbott ◽

Callum Brashill ◽

Adam Brett ◽

Tom Clifford

Keyword(s):

Muscle Soreness ◽

Well Being ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Group Differences ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Strength Index ◽

Countermovement Jump ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Cherry Juice ◽

Baseline Values

Purpose: To investigate the effects of tart cherry juice (TCJ) on recovery from a soccer match in professional players. Methods: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design, 10 male professional soccer players from the reserve team of an English Premier League Club (age 19 [1] y, height 1.8 [0.6] m, body mass 77.3 [6.4] kg) consumed 2 × 30-mL servings of TCJ or an isocaloric cherry-flavored control drink (CON) before and after a 90-minute match and 12 and 36 hours after the match. Muscle function (countermovement jump height and reactive strength index), subjective well-being, and subjective muscle soreness were measured before and 12, 36, and 60 hours after each match. Results: Countermovement jump height was similarly reduced in the days after the match after TCJ and CON supplementation, with the greatest loss occurring at 12-hour postmatch (−5.9% [3.1%] vs −5.4% [2.9%], of baseline values, respectively; P = .966; ). Decrements in reactive strength index were also greatest at 12-hour postmatch (TCJ −9.4% [8.4%] vs CON −13.9% [4.8%], of baseline values), but no group differences were observed at any time point (P = .097; ). Muscle soreness increased 12- to 60-hour postmatch in both groups, peaking at 12-hour postmatch (TCJ 122 [27] mm vs CON 119 [22] mm), but no group differences were observed (P = .808; ). No interaction effects were observed for subjective well-being (P = .874; ). Conclusions: TCJ did not hasten recovery after a soccer match in professional players. These findings bring into question the use of TCJ as a recovery aid in professional soccer players.

Download Full-text

Pre-season Fitness Level and Injury Rate in Professional Soccer – A Prospective Study

Sports Medicine International Open ◽

10.1055/a-0631-9346 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 02 (03) ◽

pp. E84-E90 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Eyal Eliakim ◽

Ofer Doron ◽

Yoav Meckel ◽

Dan Nemet ◽

Alon Eliakim

Keyword(s):

Test Performance ◽

Vertical Jump ◽

Injury Rate ◽

Lower Limbs ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Training Period ◽

Vo2 Max ◽

Fitness Level ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Competitive Season

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to assess prospectively the effect of pre-season fitness on injury rate during the competitive season among professional soccer players. Thirty-one players participated in the study during two consecutive competitive seasons (2015–16 and 2016–17; a squad of 22 players in each season). During the 6-week pre-season training period (8 training sessions and a friendly match every week, 14–18 training hours/week) there was a significant improvement in VO2 max, a significant increase in ideal and total sprint time and no change in vertical jump, flexibility and repeated sprint-test performance decrement. During the two consecutive seasons, 28 injuries were recorded. Ten injuries were classified as mild (missing 3–7 days of practice/match), 8 as moderate (missing 8–28 days) and 10 as severe (missing >28 days). The rate of match injuries was higher (9.4 per 1000 match hours) compared to practice injuries (4.7 per 1000 training hours). Most injuries were overuse injuries (72%) of the lower limbs (71%). Most of match injuries occurred during the last 15 min of each half. There were no differences in fitness characteristics in the beginning of pre-season training between injured and non-injured players. However, improvements in VO2 max during the pre-season training period were significantly lower among injured players (0.9±5.5%) compared to non-injured players (10.4±6.5%, p<0.05). Our results emphasize the importance of pre-season training in professional soccer players not only for improvement in fitness but also for injury prevention during the following competitive season.

Download Full-text

Air Pollutants Reduce the Physical Activity of Professional Soccer Players

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182412928 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (24) ◽

pp. 12928

Author(s):

Michał Zacharko ◽

Robert Cichowicz ◽

Marcin Andrzejewski ◽

Paweł Chmura ◽

Edward Kowalczuk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

Air Pollutants ◽

Well Being ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Considerable Problem ◽

The Impact ◽

Sporting Performance

The aim of the study was to determine the impact of air quality—analyzed on the basis of the model of integrating three types of air pollutants (ozone, O3; particulate matter, PM; nitrogen dioxide, NO2)—on the physical activity of soccer players. Study material consisted of 8927 individual match observations of 461 players competing in the German Bundesliga during the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 domestic seasons. The measured indices included players’ physical activities: total distance (TD) and high-intensity effort (HIE). Statistical analysis showed that with increasing levels of air pollution, both TD (F = 13.900(3); p = 0.001) and HIE (F = 8.060(3); p = 0.001) decrease significantly. The worsening of just one parameter of air pollution results in a significant reduction in performance. This is important information as air pollution is currently a considerable problem for many countries. Improving air quality during training sessions and sports competitions will result in better well-being and sporting performance of athletes and will also help protect athletes from negative health effects caused by air pollution.

Download Full-text

OPHTHALMOLOGIC EVALUATION IN PROFESSIONAL MALE SOCCER PLAYERS IN BRAZIL

Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte ◽

10.1590/1517-869220192504206613 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 295-298

Author(s):

Aline Sutili Toledo ◽

Gustavo Gonçalves Arliani ◽

Paulo Henrique Schmidt Lara ◽

Rodrigo Kallas Zogaib ◽

Moisés Cohen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Contact Lenses ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Ocular Surgery ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Sensitivity Evaluation ◽

And Performance

ABSTRACT Introduction: Soccer is the most popular sport in Brazil and worldwide, but there is insufficient data on the eye health of soccer players, and eye conditions may affect the well-being and performance of these athletes. Objective: To perform an ocular evaluation of a representative sample of professional soccer players from Brazil. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted over four consecutive years (2009-2012) at a single professional soccer club in Brazil. The ophthalmology evaluation was performed by the same ophthalmologist in each sample. Prior to the ophthalmology evaluation, all participants filled out a questionnaire to provide the following demographic data: age, position, use of contact lenses or ophthalmic drugs, symptoms, previous ocular surgery, and date of the last ophthalmology evaluation. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP) and color vision were tested during the ophthalmologic examination, and ophthalmoscopy and biomicroscopy exams were performed. Results: One hundred and twenty bilateral ophthalmology evaluations were performed in 84 professional soccer players between 2009 and 2012. Pinguecula and pterygium were the most common conditions found in the athletes’ biomicroscopy exams, corresponding to 63% (38/60) and 17% (10/60) of abnormalities, respectively. In the contrast sensitivity evaluation, only one athlete was color blind. No significant associations were found between the position of the athlete and the results of the biomicroscopy and ophthalmoscopy exams. Conclusion: Despite the high prevalence of abnormalities found in the ophthalmology evaluation, most refractive abnormalities did not require correction, and the biomicroscopy abnormalities were mostly benign. Level III; Study of non-consecutive patients.

Download Full-text