Speed Endurance Training, Muscle Damage and Performance in Soccer Players
Condition: Speed Endurance Training Protocol 1; Speed Endurance Training Protocol 2; Control
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      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.
    

Detailed description: 
      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.
    

Intervention name(s): Speed endurance training protocol A; Speed endurance training protocol B
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): 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); 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 MeSH terms: Methamphetamine
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Screening