Modulators of change-of-direction economy after repeated sprints in elite soccer players
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
Volume
16
Issue
11
Publisher
Human Kinetics
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
42833
Abstract
Purpose:
To investigate the acute effect of repeated-sprint activity (RSA) on change-of-direction economy (assessed using shuttle running economy [SRE]) in soccer players and explore neuromuscular and cardiorespiratory characteristics that may modulate this effect.
Methods:
Eleven young elite male soccer players (18.5 [1.4] y old) were tested on 2 different days during a 2-week period in their preseason. On day 1, lower-body stiffness, power and force were assessed via countermovement jumps, followed by an incremental treadmill test to exhaustion to measure maximal aerobic capacity. On day 2, 2 SRE tests were performed before and after a repeated-sprint protocol with heart rate, minute ventilation, and blood lactate measured.
Results:
Pooled group analysis indicated no significant changes for SRE following RSA due to variability in individual responses, with a potentiation or impairment effect of up to 4.5% evident across soccer players. The SRE responses to RSA were significantly and largely correlated to players’ lower-body stiffness (r = .670; P = .024), and moderately (but not significantly) correlated to players’ force production (r = −.455; P = .237) and blood lactate after RSA (r = .327; P = .326).
Conclusions:
In summary, SRE response to RSA in elite male soccer players appears to be highly individual. Higher lower-body stiffness appears as a relevant physical contributor to preserve or improve SRE following RSA.
DOI
10.1123/ijspp.2020-0740
Access Rights
subscription content
Comments
Dolci, F., Kilding, A. E., Spiteri, T., Chivers, P., Piggott, B., Maiorana, A., & Hart, N. H. (2021). Modulators of Change-of-Direction Economy After Repeated Sprints in Elite Soccer Players. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 16(11), 1649-1655.
https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2020-0740