Efficacy of three post match recovery methods in young professional soccer players

Purpose. The study aims to detect regions at risk for (pre-)osteoarthritis in the tibiofemoral joint of young professional soccer players by evaluating cartilage composition by T2 mapping in a 3 T magnetic resonance imaging setting. Methods. In this longitudinal study, 20 professional adolescent soccer players were included. Tibiofemoral cartilage was assessed by quantitative T2 mapping and T2 values were evaluated by regions of interest analysis. Statistical evaluation, using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, was performed to compare global T2 values and subregional T2 values between a baseline and a follow-up investigation 4.3 years later. Based on the average of playing time (15 years) we divided the cohort in 2 groups and differences were evaluated. Results. When comparing baseline and follow-up, our findings showed statistically significant increases of the global medial tibial and femoral T2 values. The most noticeable results of the subregional T2 analysis were statistically significant increases in the medial posterior zones (deep femoral 36.1 vs. 39.5, P = 0.001; superficial femoral 57.0 vs. 62.4, P = 0.034; deep tibial 28.3 vs. 34.1, P = 0.009; superficial tibial 43.2 vs. 55.3, P = 0.002). Conclusion. The elevation of T2 values in the medial, especially medial posterior, compartment of the knee joint indicates that these regions are at risk for early cartilage degeneration already at the time of adolescence. The findings can help individualize and optimize training concepts and to be aware of the chronic stress on these vulnerable areas. Prevention programs should be established in young players to avoid further cartilage damage.

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Physical Fitness Performance of Young Professional Soccer Players Does not Change During Several Training Seasons in a Spanish Elite Reserve Team

The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research ◽

10.1519/jsc.0000000000002913 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 32 (12) ◽

pp. e60

Keyword(s):

Physical Fitness ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Young Professional ◽

Professional Soccer

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Effects of chronic betaine supplementation on performance in professional young soccer players during a competitive season: a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition ◽

10.1186/s12970-021-00464-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hadi Nobari ◽

Jason M Cholewa ◽

Alfonso Castillo-Rodríguez ◽

Mehdi Kargarfard ◽

Jorge Pérez-Gómez

Keyword(s):

Peak Power ◽

Muscular Strength ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Repeated Sprint Ability ◽

Young Professional ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Repeated Sprint ◽

Competitive Season ◽

Betaine Supplementation ◽

Sprint Ability

Abstract Objective Various nutritional strategies are adopted for athletes to maintain and to improve performance during the competition season. Betaine may enhance performance during a competitive season by increasing the testosterone to cortisol ratio and reducing systemic inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of betaine supplementation on the bio-motor abilities in young professional soccer players. Methods Twenty-nine young professional soccer players (age, 15.5±0.3 years) were matched by position and randomly assigned to one of two groups for 14 weeks: betaine (BG, 2 g/day; n=14) or placebo (PG n=15). Diet was standardized by a nutritionist, and measures of muscular power (countermovement jump: CMJ), change of direction: modified 5-0-5), acceleration (10 m sprint), sprint performance (30 m sprint time: SpT), muscular strength (leg press and bench press one repetition maximum: 1-RM), repeated sprint ability (running-based anaerobic sprint test: RAST), and aerobic capacity (30-15 intermittent fitness test) were assessed in the pre (P1), mid (P2) and post (P3) season over the course of 5 days. All subjects participated in one soccer match and five training sessions per week. Results Significant (p < 0.05) group x time interactions were found for maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), anaerobic peak power, and muscular strength favoring BG at P2 and P3 compared to P1. There were meaningful (p < 0.05) group x time interactions for CMJ, SpT, and peak power during the RAST that favored the BG. Conclusions 14-week of betaine supplementation increased predicted 1-RM, VO2max, and repeated sprint ability performance in youth professional soccer players. Betaine supplementation seems to be a useful nutritional strategy to improve and to maintain performance during a competitive soccer season.

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Bilateral and Unilateral Asymmetries of Isokinetic Strength and Flexibility in Male Young Professional Soccer Players

Journal of Human Kinetics ◽

10.2478/hukin-2013-0005 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 45-53 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

Abdolhamid Daneshjoo ◽

Nader Rahnama ◽

Abdul Halim Mokhtar ◽

Ashril Yusof

Keyword(s):

Hip Joint ◽

Dynamic Control ◽

Young Male ◽

Movement Pattern ◽

Quadriceps Strength ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Speed Ratio ◽

Joint Flexibility ◽

Young Professional ◽

Professional Soccer

This study investigated bilateral and unilateral asymmetries of strength and flexibility in male young professional soccer players. Thirty-six soccer players (age: 18.9 ± 1.4 years) participated in this study. A Biodex Isokinetic Dynamometer was used to assess the hamstring and quadriceps strength at selected speeds of 60°/s, 180°/s and 300°/s. Hip joint flexibility was measured using a goniometer. No difference was observed in conventional strength ratio, dynamic control ratio and fast/slow speed ratio between the dominant and non-dominant legs (p>0.05). All but one of the players (97.2%) had musculoskeletal abnormality (bilateral imbalance > 10%) in one or more specific muscle groups. The dominant leg had greater hip joint flexibility compared with the non-dominant leg (108.8 ± 10.7° versus 104.6 ± 9.8°, respectively). The findings support the hypothesis that physical performance and movement pattern experienced during soccer playing may negatively change the balance of strength in both legs (bilateral strength balance), but not on the same leg of the young male professional soccer players. The results can be helpful for trainers and coaches to decide whether the players need to improve their balance and strength which in turn may prevent injury. It is suggested that in professional soccer training, quadriceps and hamstrings muscle strength, as well as hip joint flexibility should not be overlooked.

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Does A Short Period of Lower Limb Strength Training Improve Performance in Field-Based Tests of Running and Agility in Young Professional Soccer Players?

The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research ◽

10.1519/jsc.0b013e31816601e5 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 404-411 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Hugues Jullien ◽

Cécile Bisch ◽

Nasser Largouët ◽

Christophe Manouvrier ◽

Christopher J Carling ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Strength Training ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Improve Performance ◽

Young Professional ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Lower Limb Strength ◽

Short Period

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Post-activation Potentiation: Effects of Different Conditioning Intensities on Measures of Physical Fitness in Male Young Professional Soccer Players

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01167 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Cristina Petisco ◽

Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo ◽

Daniel Hernández ◽

Oliver Gonzalo-Skok ◽

Fabio Y. Nakamura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Fitness ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Young Professional ◽

Professional Soccer

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Monitoring perceived respiratory and muscular exertions and physical fitness in young professional soccer players during a 32-week period

Kinesiology ◽

10.26582/k.49.2.12 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 49 (2) ◽

pp. 153-160 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Asier Los Arcos ◽

Javier Yanci

Keyword(s):

Aerobic Fitness ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Body Height ◽

Training Session ◽

Sprint Performance ◽

Training Load ◽

Practice Volume ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Young Professional ◽

Professional Soccer

The aim of this study was to examine the association of perceived respiratory and muscular exertions and associated training load (TL) for monitoring changes in several aerobic fitness and neuromuscular performance parameters during 32 weeks of soccer training in young professional players. Twenty male soccer players (age=20.6±1.8 years, body height=1.80±.06 m, body mass=73.6±6.7 kg) belonging to the same reserve team of a Spanish La Liga Club participated in this study. Countermovement jump (CMJ), CMJ with arm swing, linear sprint running (over 5 m and 15 m) and an aerobic fitness running test were performed at the start of the pre-season (Test 1) and 32 weeks later (Test 2). During these eight months, after each training session and match, players rated their perceived exertion (sRPE) separately for respiratory (sRPEres) and leg musculature (sRPEmus) effort. Training load was calculated by multiplying the sRPE value by the duration of each training session or match. Accumulated training and match volume (i.e., time) and associated respiratory and muscular training loads were negatively correlated with the changes in aerobic fitness performance after 32 weeks of training (r=-.53/-.62). In addition, accumulated perceived respiratory load was negatively correlated with the changes in 15 m sprint performance (r=-.51/-.53). A high practice volume (time) and associated respiratory and leg muscular TL can impair the long-term improvement of aerobic fitness and sprint performance in professional soccer players.

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