Speed Endurance Training, Muscle Damage and Performance in Soccer Players

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

10 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2018-05-08

Study Completion Date

2018-09-01

Brief Summary

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Soccer is an intermittent sport in which the aerobic and anaerobic capacity of the players are both very important. Elite football players perform an average of 150-250 short and intense movements during a match, demonstrating the significant contribution of the anaerobic energy system. Speed endurance training consists a tool to enhance the performance of aerobic and anaerobic system. This training includes actions such as sprinting, changes of direction, accelerations, decelerations, jumps and shooting, characterized by a strong eccentric component. Eccentric actions are associated with exercise induced muscle damage (EIMD). Nevertheless, to date, EIMD responses following a session of speed endurance training have not yet been investigated. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to examine the EIMD responses and changes on performance and neuromuscular fatigue indices after two different speed endurance training protocols.

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Detailed Description

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Football is a team sport in which mean and maximum heart rate ranges from 85 to 98% of the maximum heart rate during a competitive match. Elite football players perform an average of 150-250 short and intense movements during a match while blood lactate values range from 2 to 14 mmol/L demonstrating that the anaerobic energy system contributes significantly during the game. Acceleration and deceleration ability as well as ability to perform repeated sprints and changes of direction greatly determine performance in soccer.

Soccer players' ability to perform repetitive high intensity sprints over a long period of time can be improved by speed endurance training. Speed endurance training consists of repetitive intense exercise bouts at a higher intensity than maximum aerobic speed (MAS) lasting from 10 to 40 seconds and has been proven to be an important tool for improving performance in trained soccer players. Improved performance is attributed to the muscle's increased regulatory capacity regarding intense exercise, enhanced recovery of the energy stores, increased activity and number of muscle enzymes and accelerated by-products removal, thereby contributing to the maintenance of homeostasis and delay of fatigue occurrence during intense exercise.

Speed endurance training includes repeated high intensity actions such as sprinting, changes of direction, accelerations, decelerations, jumps and shooting. However, these movements have a strong eccentric component which has been associated with exercise induced muscle damage (EIMD) and inflammation. EIMD increases plasma creatine kinase (CK) levels and the delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS) and reduces power production capacity. CK increases after a soccer match, peaks at 48 hours and returns to rest values 5-7 days after the match. DOMS increases immediately after a soccer match, peaks at 24-72 hours and is normalized \~5 days post match. The reduction in power production capacity is observed immediately after the match and remains reduced for \~72 hours with the largest decrease observed at 48 hours post-match. Nevertheless, to date, EIMD responses following a session of speed endurance training have not yet been investigated. Therefore, the aim of the proposed study is to examine the EIMD responses and changes on performance and neuromuscular fatigue indices after two speed endurance training protocols.

A preliminary power analysis (effect size \>0.55, probability error of 0.05, power of 0.90) revealed that a total sample of 8-10 soccer players required to detect statistically meaningful differences after a speed endurance training protocol.

A randomized, three-trial (speed endurance protocol A vs. speed endurance protocol B vs. control), cross-over, repeated measures design will be implemented. The study will be performed one week after the end of the in-season to minimize the detraining effect. Prior to the first trial participants will have their body mass, height, body composition and performance measured and will be familiarized with all the testing procedures. Each experimental trial (speed endurance training protocol A and B) will include a speed endurance training session on Monday. The second trial (between training trials) will serve as control, where only performance measurements and blood sampling will be performed. Performance assessment and blood sampling will be performed immediately after each speed endurance training session and daily for three days post training session. Each training session will be performed on natural grass surface under the same environmental conditions (i.e. temperature and humidity). A 5-day recovery period will be used between trials. During the training sessions, participants will consume only water ad libitum. Field activity during training sessions will be recorded using high time-resolution Global Positioning System (GPS) instrumentation and heart rate monitoring. Before each training session, a standard breakfast and meal will be consumed by all players as previously described.

Speed endurance training protocols Speed endurance training protocol A will consist of 1 set of 8 repetitions interspersed by 2,5 minutes of recovery with a work to rest ratio of 1:5 (25-30 seconds all out work) whereas speed endurance training protocol B will consist of 1 set of 8 repetitions interspersed by 4 minutes of recovery with a work to rest ratio of 1:8 (25-30 seconds all out work). Both training protocols will include the same exercise (drill), consisting of multiple linear sprints, changes of direction, ball contacts, passes, and shooting. Prior to the training sessions, a 15-min standard warm-up (free running, active stretching, ball contacts and sprints) will be performed.

Conditions

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Speed Endurance Training Protocol 1 Speed Endurance Training Protocol 2 Control

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Primary Study Purpose

SCREENING

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Speed endurance training protocol A

Performance of two different speed endurance training protocols:

Speed endurance training protocol A will consist of 1 set of 8 repetitions interspersed by 2,5 minutes of recovery with a work to rest ratio of 1:5 (25-30 seconds all out work).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Speed endurance training protocol A

Intervention Type OTHER

1 set of 8 repetitions interspersed by 2,5 minutes of recovery with a work to rest ratio of 1:5 (25-30 seconds all out work)

Speed endurance training protocol B

Speed endurance training protocol B will consist of 1 set of 8 repetitions interspersed by 4 minutes of recovery with a work to rest ratio of 1:8 (25-30 seconds all out work)

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Speed endurance training protocol B

Intervention Type OTHER

1 set of 8 repetitions interspersed by 4 minutes of recovery with a work to rest ratio of 1:8 (25-30 seconds all out work)

Control condition

No training protocol will be performed, the participants will perform only the measurements for performance and muscle damage and neuromuscular fatigue

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Speed endurance training protocol A

1 set of 8 repetitions interspersed by 2,5 minutes of recovery with a work to rest ratio of 1:5 (25-30 seconds all out work)

Intervention Type OTHER

Speed endurance training protocol B

1 set of 8 repetitions interspersed by 4 minutes of recovery with a work to rest ratio of 1:8 (25-30 seconds all out work)

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Absence of any musculoskeletal injury for at least 6 months prior to the study
* No use of any drugs or ergogenic supplements for at least 6 months prior to the study
* Absence of regular soccer training for the last 3 years

Exclusion Criteria

* Any recent incidence of musculoskeletal injury
* Use of any drugs or ergogenic supplements for the last 6 months
* Regular soccer training for the last 3 years

Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

25 Years

Eligible Sex

MALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes