21 Mar FSI Football Science Update

Effect of support foot placement on football instep kick performance.

Ou YC, Lei MK, Cheng KB.

Sci Med Footb. 2022 Mar 17. doi: 10.1080/24733938.2022.2055781. Online ahead of print.

To investigate the kick performance under different support foot positions, 10 male footballers performed a maximum ball speed kick with different support positions, and an accuracy test with free support foot position. Significantly higher ball speed and accuracy were obtained when the support foot was next to or slightly in front of the ball centre without too much side-by-side separation (27-37 cm).

 

Return to sport post-knee arthroplasty : an umbrella review for consensus guidelines.

Lester D, Barber C, Sowers CB, Cyrus JW, Vap AR, Golladay GJ, Patel NK.

Bone Jt Open. 2022 Mar; 3(3):245-251. doi: 10.1302/2633-1462.33.BJO-2021-0187.R2.

This systematic review of meta-analyses found that 34% to 100% of patients who underwent Total Knee Arthroplasty TKA or Unicompartimental Knee Arthroplasty UKA were able to return to sports at 13 weeks and 12 weeks respectively, with UKA patients more likely to do so. Prior experience with the sport was the most significant prognostic indicator for return. These patients were likely to participate in low-impact sports, particularly walking, cycling, golf, and swimming. Moderate-impact sport participation, such as doubles tennis and skiing, may be considered on a case-by-case basis considering the patient’s prior experience. There is insufficient long-term data on the risks to return to high-impact sport such as football.

 

Center backs work hardest when playing in a back three: The influence of tactical formation on physical and technical match performance in professional soccer.

Forcher L, Forcher L, Jekauc D, Woll A, Gross T, Altmann S.

PLoS One. 2022 Mar 17; 17(3):e0265501. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265501. eCollection 2022.

This study of official match data of the Bundesliga season 2018/19, found that tactical formation affects match performance by positions. Center backs and full backs showed highest sprinting distances when playing in a formation with only three defenders in the back row (3-4-3, 3-5-2). All positions except forwards displayed fewer short passes, middle passes and ball-possessions in the formations 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1.

 

Variations in Internal and External Training Load Measures and Neuromuscular Performance of Professional Soccer Players During a Preseason Training Period.

Pereira LA, Freitas TT, Zanetti V, Loturco I.

2022 Feb 10; 81:149-162. doi: 10.2478/hukin-2022-0012. eCollection 2022 Jan.

In this study, 18 professional soccer players performed 17 training sessions and 1 friendly-match (FM) over the preseason. Players were divided into two groups, according to their VJ performance (i.e., “lower” and “higher” VJ). The higher VJ group exhibited decreased jump performance and higher internal and external TLs across the entire preseason (compared to the lower VJ group). It is suggested that professional soccer players with higher VJ performance are potentially more susceptible to concurrent training effects.

 

Ultrasound Shear Modulus and Thickness of Lateral Abdominal Muscles in Different Contractile States in Relation To Self- Reported Hip/Groin Problems in Youth Soccer Players.

Linek P, Booysen N, Stokes M.

J Hum Kinet. 2022 Feb 10; 81:97-108. doi: 10.2478/hukin-2022-0009. eCollection 2022 Jan.

In this study, shear modulus and thickness of the oblique external (OE), internal (OI) and transversus abdominis (TrA) muscles in 25 young soccer players were assessed at rest and during isometric contraction using ultrasound shear wave elastography. HAGOS subscales were used to assess self-reported hip/groin problems. The lateral abdominal muscles were thinner and more elastic (less stiff) in more symptomatic athletes.

 

Seasonal Training Load Monitoring Among Elite Level Soccer Players: Perceived Exertion and Creatine Kinase Variations Between Microcycles.

Mendes B, Clemente FM, Calvete F, Carriço S, Owen A.

J Hum Kinet. 2022 Feb 10; 81:85-95. doi: 10.2478/hukin-2022-0008. eCollection 2022 Jan.

This study in 35 male professional elite soccer players along the training micro cycles of an entire season found significant differences between months in Hooper Index, RPE and CK with the first quarter of the season seeming to induce a greater physical demand. A significantly higher internal training load and fatigue perception in microcycles with only one official match was found. The greater load occurred 3 to 4 days before the game.

 

Small-Sided Soccer Games with Larger Relative Areas Result in Higher Physical and Physiological Responses: a Systematic and Meta-Analytical Review.

Praça GM, Chagas MH, Bredt SDGT, de Andrade AGP.

J Hum Kinet. 2022 Feb 10; 81:163-176. doi: 10.2478/hukin-2022-0013. eCollection 2022 Jan.

This systematic review found positive effects of larger relative areas per player in small sided games on their total distance, distance covered at high speed, and mean heart rate. In other words, larger relative areas were found to induce higher physical and physiological responses in players.

 

Time to change direction in training load monitoring in elite football? The application of MEMS accelerometers for the evaluation of movement requirements.

Green M, Ward P, Bickley M, Gillett M, O’Boyle A, Drust B.

Sci Med Footb. 2022 Mar 15:1-10. doi: 10.1080/24733938.2022.2053337. Online ahead of print.

This study in 99 English Premier League outfield football players’ for four years and four months found that the parameter PlayerLoadTM per meter (PL.m-1)) but not Player Load, varied according to different training modalities such as running, possession and dribbling, being smaller than in matches for Team Shape, Attacking, and Games , and larger for Possession, Defending and Skills Games compared to Matches. The findings suggest that PL.m-1 but not PL may be effective at describing differences in movement requirements in football and offers value in a monitoring strategy in football.