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García-Santamaría A, Abelairas-Gómez C, Carrera S, Padrón-Cabo A, Rey E. Effects of maturation on myotonometric parameters and their predictors of athletic performance in elite youth soccer players. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12287. [PMID: 38811805 PMCID: PMC11137063 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63224-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the variations in individual muscle stiffness across different maturation stages (i.e., peak height velocity [PHV]) in elite youth soccer players and to explore the associations between lower limb muscle stiffness and performance in sprinting (10, 20, and 40 m sprint), maneuverability (9-3-6-3-9 m sprint test), and jumping (countermovement jump [CMJ]). A total of 131 elite youth soccer players aged 12-18 years, volunteered to participate in the study and were divided into pre-PHV (n = 21), mid-PHV (n = 33), and post-PHV (n = 80). Muscle stiffness of the rectus femoris (RF) and biceps femoris (BF) muscles was assessed using a MyotonPRO. Results showed that players in the pre-PHV stage had lower stiffness in the BF and RF muscles compared to mid-PHV (p < 0.001; effect size [ES] = moderate to large) and post-PHV players (p < 0.001; ES = moderate to large). It was also observed that the mid-PHV group had lower stiffness levels in their RF muscle compared to the post-PHV group (p < 0.001; ES = small). Significant correlations were found between BF and RF stiffness and sprint (p < 0.001) and maneuverability (p < 0.001) performance. RF stiffness showed a significant positive correlation with CMJ (p < 0.05), suggesting that greater lower body stiffness is beneficial for athletic performance in youth soccer players. The findings highlighting the importance of considering training methods that increase muscular stiffness, particularly in relation to the RF muscle, to optimize athletic performance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cristian Abelairas-Gómez
- Faculty of Education Sciences, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Samuel Carrera
- Faculty of Education and Sport Sciences, University of Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
| | - Alexis Padrón-Cabo
- Faculty of Education and Sport Sciences, University of Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
| | - Ezequiel Rey
- Faculty of Education and Sport Sciences, University of Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain.
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Padrón-Cabo A, Corredoira FJ, Lorenzo-Martínez M, González-Víllora S, Rey E. Tensiomyographic Assessment of Contractile Properties in Elite Youth Soccer Players According to Maturity Status. J Hum Kinet 2023; 87:71-80. [PMID: 37229402 PMCID: PMC10203836 DOI: 10.5114/jhk/161571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Little is known about how muscle contractile properties are affected by biological maturation in elite youth soccer players. This study aimed to determine the effects of maturation on contractile properties of rectus femoris (RF) and biceps femoris (BF) muscles assessed by tensiomyography (TMG) and provide reference values for elite youth soccer players. One hundred twenty-one elite youth soccer players (14.98 ± 1.83 years; 167.38 ± 10.37 cm; 60.65 ± 11.69 kg) took part in the study. The predicted peak height velocity (PHV) was used in order to establish players' maturity status (Pre-PHV, n = 18; Mid-PHV, n = 37; Post-PHV = 66). Maximal radial displacement of the muscle belly, contraction time, delay time, and contraction velocity for RF and BF muscles were recorded. One-way ANOVA showed no significant differences between PHV groups for any tensiomyography variables in RF and BF muscles (p > 0.05). Our results established that maturity status did not show a significant effect in mechanical and contractile properties on RF and BF muscles evaluated by TMG in elite youth soccer players. These findings and reference values can be useful for strength and conditioning coaches of elite soccer academies in order to optimize the evaluation of neuromuscular profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Padrón-Cabo
- Department of Physical and Sports Education, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
| | | | | | - Sixto González-Víllora
- Department of Physical Education, Arts Education, and Music, Faculty of Education, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Ezequiel Rey
- Faculty of Education and Sport Sciences, University of Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
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Okudaira M, Hirono T, Takeda R, Nishikawa T, Ueda S, Mita Y, Holobar A, Yoshimura A, Watanabe K. Longitudinal development of muscle strength and relationship with motor unit activity and muscle morphological characteristics in youth athletes. Exp Brain Res 2023; 241:1009-1019. [PMID: 36905448 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-023-06590-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Neural and morphological adaptations determine gains of muscle strength. For youth athletes, the importance of morphological adaptation is typically highlighted based on the change in maturity status. However, the long-term development of neural components in youth athletes remains unclear. The present study investigated the longitudinal development of muscle strength, muscle thickness (MT), and motor unit firing activity of the knee extensor and their relationships in youth athletes. Seventy male youth soccer players (mean ± SD age = 16.3 ± 0.6 years) performed neuromuscular, maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC), and submaximal ramp contraction (at 30 and 50% MVC) tests with knee extensors, two times with a 10-month measurement interval. High-density surface electromyography was recorded from the vastus lateralis and decomposed to identify each individual motor unit activity. MT was evaluated by the sum of the vastus lateralis and vastus intermedius thicknesses. Finally, sixty-four participants were employed to compare MVC and MT, and 26 participants were employed to analyze motor unit activity. MVC and MT were increased from pre to post (p < 0.05, 6.9 and 1.7% for MVC and MT, respectively). Y-intercept of the regression line between median firing rate vs. recruitment threshold was also increased (p < 0.05, 13.3%). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the gains of both MT and Y-intercept were explanatory variables for the gain of strength. These findings suggest that the neural adaptation could also make the important contribution to the strength gain for the youth athletes over a 10-month training period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masamichi Okudaira
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, 101, Tokodachi, Kaizu, Toyota, 470-0393, Japan.
| | - Tetsuya Hirono
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, 101, Tokodachi, Kaizu, Toyota, 470-0393, Japan.,Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Toyota, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Takeda
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, 101, Tokodachi, Kaizu, Toyota, 470-0393, Japan
| | - Taichi Nishikawa
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, 101, Tokodachi, Kaizu, Toyota, 470-0393, Japan.,Graduate School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
| | - Saeko Ueda
- Graduate School of Life Studies, Sugiyama Jogakuen University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yukiko Mita
- Graduate School of Life Studies, Sugiyama Jogakuen University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Aleš Holobar
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Akane Yoshimura
- Faculty of Education and Integrated Arts and Sciences, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kohei Watanabe
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, 101, Tokodachi, Kaizu, Toyota, 470-0393, Japan
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Tumkur Anil Kumar N, Oliver JL, Lloyd RS, Pedley JS, Radnor JM. The Influence of Growth, Maturation and Resistance Training on Muscle-Tendon and Neuromuscular Adaptations: A Narrative Review. Sports (Basel) 2021; 9:59. [PMID: 34066778 PMCID: PMC8150311 DOI: 10.3390/sports9050059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the growth, maturation and resistance training-related changes in muscle-tendon and neuromuscular mechanisms in youth, and the subsequent effect on performance. Sprinting, jumping, kicking, and throwing are common movements in sport that have been shown to develop naturally with age, with improvements in performance being attributed to growth and maturity-related changes in neuromuscular mechanisms. These changes include moderate to very large increases in muscle physiological cross-sectional area (CSA), muscle volume and thickness, tendon CSA and stiffness, fascicle length, muscle activation, pre-activation, stretch reflex control accompanied by large reductions in electro-mechanical delay and co-contraction. Furthermore, a limited number of training studies examining neuromuscular changes following four to 20 weeks of resistance training have reported trivial to moderate differences in tendon stiffness, muscle CSA, muscle thickness, and motor unit activation accompanied by reductions in electromechanical delay (EMD) in pre-pubertal children. However, the interaction of maturity- and training-related neuromuscular adaptions remains unclear. An understanding of how different neuromuscular mechanisms adapt in response to growth, maturation and training is important in order to optimise training responsiveness in youth populations. Additionally, the impact that these muscle-tendon and neuromuscular changes have on force producing capabilities underpinning performance is unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nakul Tumkur Anil Kumar
- Youth Physical Development Centre, Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff CF23 6XD, UK; (J.L.O.); (R.S.L.); (J.S.P.); (J.M.R.)
| | - Jon L. Oliver
- Youth Physical Development Centre, Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff CF23 6XD, UK; (J.L.O.); (R.S.L.); (J.S.P.); (J.M.R.)
- Sport Performance Research Institute New Zealand, Auckland University of Technology, 1010 Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Rhodri S. Lloyd
- Youth Physical Development Centre, Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff CF23 6XD, UK; (J.L.O.); (R.S.L.); (J.S.P.); (J.M.R.)
- Sport Performance Research Institute New Zealand, Auckland University of Technology, 1010 Auckland, New Zealand
- Centre for Sport Science and Human Performance, Waikato Institute of Technology, 3200 Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Jason S. Pedley
- Youth Physical Development Centre, Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff CF23 6XD, UK; (J.L.O.); (R.S.L.); (J.S.P.); (J.M.R.)
| | - John M. Radnor
- Youth Physical Development Centre, Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff CF23 6XD, UK; (J.L.O.); (R.S.L.); (J.S.P.); (J.M.R.)
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Hamstring and Quadriceps Muscle Strength in Youth to Senior Elite Soccer: A Cross-Sectional Study Including 125 Players. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2021; 16:1538-1544. [PMID: 33887700 DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2020-0713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Increasing age, high quadriceps strength, and low hamstring muscle strength are associated with hamstring strain injury in soccer. The authors investigated the age-related variation in maximal hamstring and quadriceps strength in male elite soccer players from under-13 (U-13) to the senior level. METHODS A total of 125 elite soccer players were included from a Danish professional soccer club and associated youth academy (first tier; U-13, n = 19; U-14, n = 16; U-15, n = 19; U-17, n = 24; U-19, n = 17; and senior, n = 30). Maximal voluntary isometric force was assessed for the hamstrings at 15° knee joint angle and for the quadriceps at 60° knee joint angle (0° = full extension) using an external-fixated handheld dynamometer. Hamstring-to-quadriceps strength (H:Q) ratio and hamstring and quadriceps maximal voluntary isometric force levels were compared across age groups (U-13 to senior). RESULTS Senior players showed 18% to 26% lower H:Q ratio compared with all younger age groups (P ≤ .026). Specific H:Q ratios (mean [95% confidence interval]) were as follows: senior, 0.45 (0.42-0.48); U-19, 0.61 (0.55-0.66); U-17, 0.56 (0.51-0.60); U-15, 0.59 (0.54-0.64); U-14, 0.54 (0.50-0.59); and U-13, 0.57 (0.51-0.62). Hamstring strength increased from U-13 to U-19 with a significant drop from U-19 to the senior level (P = .048), whereas quadriceps strength increased gradually from U-13 to senior level. CONCLUSION Elite senior soccer players demonstrate lower H:Q ratio compared with youth players, which is driven by lower hamstring strength at the senior level compared with the U-19 level combined with a higher quadriceps strength. This discrepancy in hamstring and quadriceps strength capacity may place senior-level players at increased risk of hamstring muscle strain injuries.
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The Effectiveness of Biological Maturation and Lean Mass in Relation to Muscle Strength Performance in Elite Young Athletes. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12176696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to identify the interactional relationships between maturation (biological age (BA)) and lean mass on strength development in young athletes from different sports. Using a cross-sectional study design, a sample of 64 young athletes (rowers, swimmers, jiu-jitsu, volleyball, soccer and tennis players) of both sexes (13.6 ± 1.17 years) were recruited. Body composition was assessed using dual energy bone densitometry with X-ray source (DEXA). Strength of upper limbs (ULS), force hand grip (HG), vertical jump (VJ) and jump against movement (CMJ) were recorded. BA was estimated from anthropometrics. BA relationships were identified with upper limb strength in all athletes, and with the lower limb strength of tennis players, only (p < 0.05). An interaction effect between lean mass and BA was found (η2p = 0.753), as was a local effect within the regression models (ƒ2 ≥ 0.33). Athletes with a higher concentration of lean mass had superior upper and lower limb strength (p < 0.05). Lean mass showed a local effect (ƒ2) greater than that associated with BA. Although maturation is related to strength development, the strength of the relationship is mitigated by the accrual of lean mass. Specifically, the local effect of lean mass on muscle strength is broader than that of maturation, especially for lower limb strength.
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Commentary on the Article "Interpreting Aerobic Fitness in Youth: The Fallacy of Ratio Scaling"-Is Body Mass the Best Body Size Descriptor to Normalize Aerobic Fitness in the Pediatric Population? Pediatr Exerc Sci 2019; 31:386-387. [PMID: 31310999 DOI: 10.1123/pes.2019-0085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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