Age-related and training-induced changes in morphological characteristics of young elite male soccer players

The aim of this systematic review was to identify and synthesize the available information regarding longitudinal data addressing young soccer players’ motor performance changes. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement, literature searches were performed in three databases: PubMed, ISI Web of Science and SCOPUS. The following descriptors were used: football, soccer, youth, young, player, athlete, physical performance, motor performance, longitudinal. The inclusion criteria were original articles in English with longitudinal data of young males (aged 10–18 years), with the aim to investigate motor performance serial changes. The initial search returned 211 records, and the final sample comprised 32 papers. These papers covered the European continent, and used mixed and pure longitudinal design with variation in sample size and age range. The reviewed studies tended to use different tests to assess the motor performance and aimed to identify changes in motor performance in several ways. In general, they indicated motor performance improvements with age, with a marked influence of biological maturity, body composition, and training stimuli. This review highlights the need for coaches and stakeholders to consider players’ motor performance over time whilst considering biological maturation, biological characteristics, and training stimuli.

Download Full-text

A Systematic Review of Carotenoids in the Management of Diabetic Retinopathy

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13072441 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 2441

Author(s):

Drake W. Lem ◽

Dennis L. Gierhart ◽

Pinakin Gunvant Davey

Keyword(s):

Diabetic Retinopathy ◽

Vision Loss ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Microvascular Disease ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Cell Degeneration ◽

Neuroprotective Effects ◽

Age Related ◽

Induced Changes ◽

Dietary Carotenoid

Diabetic retinopathy, which was primarily regarded as a microvascular disease, is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. With obesity at epidemic proportions, diabetes-related ocular problems are exponentially increasing in the developed world. Oxidative stress due to hyperglycemic states and its associated inflammation is one of the pathological mechanisms which leads to depletion of endogenous antioxidants in retina in a diabetic patient. This contributes to a cascade of events that finally leads to retinal neurodegeneration and irreversible vision loss. The xanthophylls lutein and zeaxanthin are known to promote retinal health, improve visual function in retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration that has oxidative damage central in its etiopathogenesis. Thus, it can be hypothesized that dietary supplements with xanthophylls that are potent antioxidants may regenerate the compromised antioxidant capacity as a consequence of the diabetic state, therefore ultimately promoting retinal health and visual improvement. We performed a comprehensive literature review of the National Library of Medicine and Web of Science databases, resulting in 341 publications meeting search criteria, of which, 18 were found eligible for inclusion in this review. Lutein and zeaxanthin demonstrated significant protection against capillary cell degeneration and hyperglycemia-induced changes in retinal vasculature. Observational studies indicate that depletion of xanthophyll carotenoids in the macula may represent a novel feature of DR, specifically in patients with type 2 or poorly managed type 1 diabetes. Meanwhile, early interventional trials with dietary carotenoid supplementation show promise in improving their levels in serum and macular pigments concomitant with benefits in visual performance. These findings provide a strong molecular basis and a line of evidence that suggests carotenoid vitamin therapy may offer enhanced neuroprotective effects with therapeutic potential to function as an adjunct nutraceutical strategy for management of diabetic retinopathy.

Download Full-text

The association between training load indices and upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in elite soccer players

International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching ◽

10.1177/17479541211020479 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 174795412110204

Author(s):

Caoimhe Tiernan ◽

Thomas Comyns ◽

Mark Lyons ◽

Alan M Nevill ◽

Giles Warrington

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Tract ◽

Signs And Symptoms ◽

Training Load ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Upper Respiratory Tract ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Upper Respiratory ◽

Tract Infections ◽

Load Indices ◽

And Training

This study aimed to investigate the association between training load indices and Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI) across different lag periods in elite soccer players. Internal training load was collected from 15 elite soccer players over one full season (40 weeks). Acute, chronic, Acute:Chronic Workload Ratio (ACWR), Exponentially Weighted Moving Averages (EWMA) ACWR, 2, 3 and 4-week cumulative load, training strain and training monotony were calculated on a rolling weekly basis. Players completed a daily illness log, documenting any signs and symptoms, to help determine an URTI. Multilevel logistic regression was used to analyze the associations between training load indices and URTIs across different lag periods (1 to 7-days). The results found a significant association between 2-week cumulative load and an increased likelihood of a player contracting an URTI 3 days later (Odds Ratio, 95% Confidence Interval: OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 0.026-1.431). Additionally, a significant association was found between 3-week cumulative load and a players’ increased risk of contracting an URTI 4 days later (OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 0.013–1.006). These results indicate that accumulated periods of high training load (2- and 3-week) associated with an increased risk of a player contracting an URTI, which may lead to performance decrements, missed training sessions or even competitions.

Download Full-text

Footwear-induced changes in ankle biomechanics during unanticipated side-step cutting in female soccer players

Footwear Science ◽

10.1080/19424280.2017.1314343 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (sup1) ◽

pp. S68-S70 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kevin Ray Ford ◽

Anh-Dung Nguyen ◽

Audrey E. Westbrook ◽

Colleen R. Mulrey ◽

Jeffrey B. Taylor

Keyword(s):

Soccer Players ◽

Induced Changes ◽

Ankle Biomechanics

Download Full-text

Training habits in professional soccer players during COVID-19 confinement

Kinesiology ◽

10.26582/k.53.2.11 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 53 (2) ◽

pp. 288-295

Author(s):

Marcos Chena ◽

Luis Gutiérrez-García ◽

Juan Carlos Zapardiel ◽

Iván Asín-Izquierdo

Keyword(s):

Ad Hoc ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Reference Database ◽

Strength And Conditioning ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Competitive Activity ◽

Training Habits ◽

New Situation ◽

And Training

The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has led to an unprecedented situation, forcing governments to take urgent measures and confine the population. These measures have also affected sports. Soccer competitions and training sessions were interrupted worldwide, causing the need to adapt training sessions to the new situation. The objective of this study is to observe and analyse training habits carried out during the COVID-19 confinement by Spanish professional soccer players of both sexes. An o bservational study was based on an ad-hoc telematic questionnaire during the COVID-19 state of alarm in Spain. The results showed that strength and conditioning training was of great importance in the training habits developed during the COVID-19 confinement, fundamentally that of strength and endurance capacities. Specificity was low as conditional capabilities were affected by contextual limitations. The findings of this study yielded very useful information related to the training habits of professional soccer players of both sexes and offered an unpublished reference database that could be used to address training planning at specific periods of the year (transition, vacations, emergencies, ...), with the aim of resuming competitive activity in the best conditions.

Download Full-text

Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) Pathways in Age-Related Cardiovascular and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Biomedicines ◽

10.3390/biomedicines9111574 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 1574

Author(s):

Ciprian N. Silaghi ◽

Marius Farcaș ◽

Alexandra M. Crăciun

Keyword(s):

Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽

Wide Spectrum ◽

Metabolic Adaptation ◽

High Morbidity ◽

Protective Effects ◽

Sirtuin 3 ◽

Age Related ◽

Genetic Interventions ◽

Induced Changes

Age-associated cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases lead to high morbidity and mortality around the world. Sirtuins are vital enzymes for metabolic adaptation and provide protective effects against a wide spectrum of pathologies. Among sirtuins, mitochondrial sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) is an essential player in preserving the habitual metabolic profile. SIRT3 activity declines as a result of aging-induced changes in cellular metabolism, leading to increased susceptibility to endothelial dysfunction, hypertension, heart failure and neurodegenerative diseases. Stimulating SIRT3 activity via lifestyle, pharmacological or genetic interventions could protect against a plethora of pathologies and could improve health and lifespan. Thus, understanding how SIRT3 operates and how its protective effects could be amplified, will aid in treating age-associated diseases and ultimately, in enhancing the quality of life in elders.

Download Full-text

Internal, external and repeated-sprint demands in small-sided games: A comparison between bouts and age groups in elite youth soccer players

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0249906 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. e0249906

Author(s):

Richard Hauer ◽

Paul Störchle ◽

Bettina Karsten ◽

Harald Tschan ◽

Arnold Baca

Keyword(s):

Age Groups ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Internal Load ◽

Youth Soccer ◽

Training Tool ◽

Low Intensity ◽

Repeated Sprint ◽

Age Related ◽

Younger Age ◽

Image Position

This study investigated the activity profile during small-sided games (SSG) in elite youth soccer players. Internal load (IL) including heart rate (HR) and external load (EL) such as distance covered in different speed-zones (SZ) were collected from forty-eight players of three different teams (U15, U16, U18). The investigation included a total of eighteen 5vs.5 SSGs, each consisting of four 2-minute bouts on a 40x32m pitch during spring season. Total group results (n = 48) showed a reduction in total-distance (p = 0.001; ηp2 = 0.12), high-intensity-running (p = 0.009; ηp2 = 0.09), and low-intensity-running distance (p = 0.028; ηp2 = 0.07) between bouts. Similarly, a reduction in the number of both acceleration-low (p = 0.001; ηp2 = 0.12) and deceleration-high (p = 0.003; ηp2 = 0.11) values was observed. Additionally, time spent in HR-zones 3 and 4 (p≤0.007; ηp2 ≥ 0.10), increased, with a reduction in HR-zone 1 (p = 0.000, ηp2 = 0.25). Age group comparison showed less distance covered in SZ 1 (p≤0.000; ηp2 = 0.56) and greater deceleration-high values (p≤0.038; ηp2 = 0.32) in U15 players compared to other age groups. Further, U15 showed lower values in low-intensity-running compared to U18 (p = 0.038; ηp2 = 0.22). No age-related differences were found for IL and repeated sprint ability (RSA) values. The higher EL in younger age groups should be taken into account when implementing soccer specific SSGs. In addition, HRmean values between 80–85% of HRmax and RSA numbers, which are similar to match-play data, indicate SSGs as an effective training tool to prepare youth soccer athletes for the demands of competition.

Download Full-text

Stromal Changes In The Aged Lung Induce An Emergence From Melanoma Dormancy

10.21203/rs.3.rs-61165/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ashani Weeraratna ◽

Mitchell Fane ◽

Stephen Douglass ◽

Gretchen Alicea ◽

Marie Webster ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tumor Cells ◽

Residual Disease ◽

Melanoma Cells ◽

Dermal Fibroblasts ◽

Lung Fibroblasts ◽

Age Related ◽

Aged Skin ◽

Phenotype Switching ◽

Induced Changes ◽

Age Related Changes

Abstract Dormant tumor cells escape the primary site, do not grow out into macroscopic tumors in the distal site, but maintain enough plasticity to reactivate and form overt metastatic lesions, sometimes taking several decades. Despite its importance in metastasis and residual disease, few studies have been able to successfully model or characterize dormancy within melanoma. Here, we show that age-related changes in the lung microenvironment facilitate a permissive niche for efficient outgrowth of disseminated dormant tumor cells, in contrast to the aged skin, where age-related changes suppress melanoma growth but drive dissemination. A model of melanoma progression that addresses these microenvironmental complexities is the phenotype switching model, which argues that melanoma cells switch between a proliferative cell state and a slower-cycling, invasive state1–3. Dermal fibroblasts are key orchestrators of promoting phenotype switching in melanoma via changes in the secretion of soluble factors during aging4–8. Specifically, we have identified Wnt5A as a master regulator of activating metastatic dormancy, which enables efficient seeding and survival of melanoma cells in metastatic niches. Age-induced reprogramming of lung fibroblasts increases their secretion of the soluble Wnt antagonist sFRP1, which inhibits Wnt5A, enabling efficient metastatic outgrowth. Further, we have identified the tyrosine kinase receptors AXL and MER as promoting a dormancy-to-reactivation axis respectively. Overall, we find that age-induced changes in distal metastatic microenvironments promotes efficient reactivation of dormant melanoma cells in the lung.

Download Full-text