Correlation between Hoff test performance, body composition and aerobic and anaerobic fitness in professional soccer players

Aerobic Profile During High-intensity Performance in Professional Saudi Athletes

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The aerobic power, expressed relative to body mass, of different Saudi elite players is one of the most important area of interest and with great values because of its restrictively that reported in the previously literatures, the present study was conducted to investigate the aerobic characteristics of Saudi elite, Saudi triathlon and soccer players and to compare between measures of aerobic power between both players using graded treadmill protocol to assess maximal cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max), within a groups of high trained youth Saudi elite players.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty two professional Saudi athletes, 11 Saudi triathlon athletes, 11 Saudi soccer players were selected. Their Mean±SD for age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), body fat mass (%), body fat free mass percentage, cardiovascular parameter, including, absolute and relative peak oxygen consumption "VO2max" and maximal heart rate "HR max". Data were analyzed using independent sample t-test and SPSS software.

RESULTS

Descriptive statistics for anthropometric characteristics were performed to compare between the means, independent sample. T-test showed mean value of absolute "VO2max" (3605.18±515.74), for triathlon athletes, while football players absolute VO2max, (3645.63±897.60) with non-significant different between the groups. Overall mean of peak training values was (3625.40 mL min-1), relative VO2max was appears to be (53.46±7.242) mL-1 min-1 kg-1, for triathlon athletes, while football athletes relative VO2max has a mean value and ±SD of (52.35±6.342) mL-1 min-1 kg-1 with non-significant different between the groups. HR max was (157.90±8.167) beats min-1 for triathlon athletes, while football players HR max, was (139.18±6.646) beats min-1 with non-significant difference between the groups.

CONCLUSION

This clinical approaches that use Cardio Pulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) in performance testing revealed that aerobic power, expressed relative to body mass, of Saudi soccer players was in the near range of values normally reported in the literatures for soccer players and triathletes during exercise training as well. Degrees of aerobic achievements during both exercise testing seems to be with non-significant different between Saudi soccer player and Saudi triathlon.

Cardio respiratory response: Validation of new modifications of Bruce protocol for exercise testing and training in elite Saudi triathlon and soccer players

The Bruce protocol is the traditional method used to assess maximal fitness level, although it may have limitations, such as its short duration and large work rate increases, with very high levels of exertion that consist of speed/incline combinations. Modifications have been added to elicit similar maximal fitness achievements. The authors of this experimental trial have proposed a new treadmill protocol that allows optimal test duration in conjunction with peak oxygen consumption 'VO2max', and with appropriate patient comfort and safety during both exercise testing and training.

Subjects

Twenty-two elite Saudi players, comprising eleven Saudi triathlon athletes, and eleven Saudi elite soccer players, BMI, body fat mass percentage, body fat free mass percentage. cardiovascular parameter; including, absolute and relative "VO2max" as well as maximal heart rate "HR max", were assessed during a graded treadmill running modified protocol, using a Quark Cardio Pulmonary Exercise Testing Unit (CPET).

Results

Descriptive statistics were used to obtain the anthropometric characteristics, including comparisons between the means, independent sample T-test and a regression analysis, to test the association of the protocol duration and the corresponding, dependent variables.

Conclusions clinical relevance

It is often difficult to achieve a high cardiorespiratory response, VO2max, without an association to high values of HR max, and peak perceived exertion. This may lead to cardiovascular risk. Our new modifications can provide a practical, valid alternative protocol to be used comfortably both during exercise testing and training, rather than performance testing only, to achieve high VO2max with minimal cardiovascular stress.

Sodium bicarbonate supplementation improved MAOD but is not correlated with 200- and 400-m running performances: a double-blind, crossover, and placebo-controlled study

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of acute supplementation of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) on maximal accumulated oxygen deficit (MAOD) determined by a single supramaximal effort (MAODALT) in running and the correlation with 200- and 400-m running performances. Fifteen healthy men (age, 23 ± 4 years; maximal oxygen uptake, 50.6 ± 6.1 mL·kg−1·min−1) underwent a maximal incremental exercise test and 2 supramaximal efforts at 110% of the intensity associated with maximal oxygen uptake, which was carried out after ingesting either 0.3 g·kg−1 body weight NaHCO3 or a placebo (dextrose) and completing 200- and 400-m performance tests. The study design was double-blind, crossover, and placebo-controlled. Significant differences were found between the NaHCO3 and placebo conditions for MAODALT (p = 0.01) and the qualitative inference for substantial changes showed a very likely positive effect (98%). The lactic anaerobic contribution in the NaHCO3 ingestion condition was significantly higher (p < 0.01) and showed a very likely positive effect (99% chance), similar to that verified for peak blood lactate concentration (p < 0.01). No difference was found for time until exhaustion (p = 0.19) or alactic anaerobic contribution (p = 0.81). No significant correlations were observed between MAODALT and 200- and 400-m running performance tests. Therefore, we can conclude that both MAODALT and the anaerobic lactic metabolism are modified after acute NaHCO3 ingestion, but it is not correlated with running performance.