Dose-Response Relationship Between External Load Variables, Body Composition, and Fitness Variables in Professional Soccer Players

Conclusion This study analyzed the associations between accumulated external load variables and changes in body composition and fitness variables after a 10-week period of soccer training. Main findings regarding the pre- and post-assessments revealed almost certain large increases of VO2max (7.5%), moderate-to-large increases in hamstrings peak torque and likely moderate-to-large increases of agonist/antagonist ratios of isokinetic strength. Associations with load variables revealed that the accumulated duration of sessions was largely and inversely associated with % of changes in VO2max and hamstrings and quadriceps peak torque, possibly suggesting that it is not the amount but the quality/intensity of the training that determines the improvements. Accumulated total distances were largely and positively correlated with BM and QUADS/HAMS ratio changes, thus more distance may represent more possibility to improve in those variables. Accumulated sprinting distances were largely and positively associated with changes in BM, HRmax, and QUADS/HAMS ratios, suggesting that more sprinting may contribute to improving the variables. In conclusion, we suggest that higher values of accumulated sprinting distances may benefit QUADS/HAMS strength ratios and that accumulated accelerations may be associated closely with benefits in aerobic capacity as analyzed by VO2max. Author Contributions FC conceived the study. FC, PN, TR, and BK designed the study. FC collected data. FC analyzed and...
Source: Frontiers in Physiology - Category: Physiology Source Type: research