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Curzi D, Amatori S, Silvestri F, Marcelli L, Campanella M, Perroni F, Gallotta MC, Favoriti A, Baldari C, Guidetti L. Professional football training and recovery: A longitudinal study on the effects of weekly conditioning session and workload variables. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0310036. [PMID: 39255308 PMCID: PMC11386442 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0310036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The main purpose of this longitudinal study was to investigate football players' recovery status, through hormonal response, in relation to accumulated workload at two comparable time points of the first (T1) and second half (T2) of the competitive season. Moreover, this study investigated athletes' hormonal response to a typical weekly conditioning session (5 days before match: MD-5), at T1 and T2, to detect changes in players' recovery capability over time. Salivary cortisol (sC) and testosterone (sT) of 24 professional players (27.8 ± 4.1 years of age) were collected before, after, and 24 hours following MD-5 in two comparable microcycles of T1 and T2. GPS training data (total and high-intensity distance) of the 7 and 28 days before sampling were used to obtain athletes' acute and chronic workloads. Results showed a pre-training significant decrease of sT and an increase of sC (p<0.05) in T2, compared to T1. Moreover, athletes showed high sC and low sT levels before, after and 24 hours following MD-5 in T2. Workload analysis revealed significant correlations of chronic load with sC (r = 0.45, p = 0.056) and T/C ratio (r = -0.59; p = 0.007). These results suggested that, in professional football, chronic workload has a greater impact on players' recovery time than acute workload over the sport season. Moreover, athletes' hormonal response to the weekly conditioning session at T2 revealed an altered anabolic/catabolic balance, highlighting the key role of continuous internal and external workload monitoring during the season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Curzi
- Department of Humanities, Movement and Education Sciences, University "Niccolò Cusano", Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Amatori
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, eCampus University, Novedrate, Italy
| | - Fioretta Silvestri
- Department of Humanities, Movement and Education Sciences, University "Niccolò Cusano", Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Marcelli
- Department of Humanities, Movement and Education Sciences, University "Niccolò Cusano", Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Campanella
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, eCampus University, Novedrate, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Perroni
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Gallotta
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "Vittorio Erspamer", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Carlo Baldari
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, eCampus University, Novedrate, Italy
| | - Laura Guidetti
- Department of Humanities, Movement and Education Sciences, University "Niccolò Cusano", Rome, Italy
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Staiano W, Díaz-García J, García-Calvo T, Ring C. Brain endurance training improves soccer-specific technical skills and cognitive performance in fatigued professional soccer players. J Sci Med Sport 2024:S1440-2440(24)00488-2. [PMID: 39227203 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2024.08.203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Brain Endurance Training (BET) - the addition of mentally fatiguing cognitive tasks to standard physical training - could improve performance in soccer. We tested whether BET, with cognitive tasks intermixed with physical training activities, improved players' cognitive and soccer-specific technical performance compared to physical training alone when fresh and fatigued. DESIGN The study employed a pre/training/midtest/training/posttest design. METHODS 31 professional male soccer players were randomly assigned to BET or control groups and completed 18 physical training sessions over 6 weeks. In between the physical training activities, the BET group completed demanding cognitive tasks, whereas the control group rested. Players completed the Loughborough soccer passing (LSPT) and shooting test (LSST) before and after completing a 30-min Stroop task. A brief psychomotor vigilance test (PVT-B), a visual analog rating of mental fatigue (MF-VAS), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured during testing and training. RESULTS During testing, the 30-min Stroop task elicited a state of MF, confirmed by higher subjective ratings (P < .01). Compared to pre-testing, at mid- and post-testing, the BET group improved passing (all P < .01), shooting (all P < .01), and PVT-B performance (all P < .01) when tested after (fatigued) but not before (fresh) the Stroop task, whereas the control group did not change performance either way. During training the BET group reported higher MF (P < .01) and exhibited slower PVT-B responses (P < .01) compared to control. CONCLUSIONS Intermixed BET was more effective than physical training alone at improving cognitive and soccer-specific technical performance of professional soccer players when fatigued.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter Staiano
- Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Valencia, Spain; Department of Psychology, Biological and Cognitive Psychology, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark. https://twitter.com/WalterStaiano
| | - Jesús Díaz-García
- Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, Spain. https://twitter.com/DiazGarciaJesus
| | - Tomás García-Calvo
- Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, Spain. https://twitter.com/tgarciacalvo
| | - Christopher Ring
- School of Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK.
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Moen F, Pettersen SA, Mosleth EF. The effect of electro-magnetic-energy-regulation therapy on subjective sleep among elite players in Norwegian women's football. Front Sports Act Living 2024; 6:1343841. [PMID: 39149571 PMCID: PMC11324490 DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2024.1343841] [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: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024] Open
Abstract
The current study investigated if Bio-Electro-Magnetic-Energy-Regulation (BEMER) therapy is affecting subjective sleep among a sample of 21 elite female football players in a Norwegian top series club. Subjective sleep was measured each day over a period of 273 consecutive days by using a smartphone application, PM Reporter Pro, which scheduled push messages to remind the participants to report sleep every morning. The study was conducted as a quasi-experimental design, with a control period before the introduction of BEMER therapy that lasted for 3 months, followed by an intervention period where BEMER therapy was used that lasted for 5 months. The collected data from the players in the control period served as their control compared to the data collected from the players in the intervention period. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) with False Discovery Rate adjusted p-values show that subjective sleep duration and subjective sleep quality are significantly reduced on game nights, both in the control period and in the experiment period. The results also show that subjective sleep duration and subjective sleep quality significantly increase in the experiment period compared to the control period. The findings indicate that BEMER therapy might serve as a tool to improve sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frode Moen
- Department of Education and Lifelong Learning, Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- The Norwegian Olympic Sport Center, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Svein Arne Pettersen
- School of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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Rubio-Morales A, Díaz-García J, Harper LD, García-Calvo T. The influence of the perceived requirements of the next match and motivation on the mental fatigue of soccer players. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2024; 34:e14580. [PMID: 38339789 DOI: 10.1111/sms.14580] [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: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The high cognitive and/or emotional demands of competition can lead to a state of mental fatigue which has shown to be detrimental to soccer performance. However, there is a need to further understand the true mental demands of soccer players. The aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of motivation and the perceived requirements of the next match on mental fatigue perceived by soccer players over the passing of a season. The combined effect of both variables on the perception of mental fatigue, as well as the influence of the time of the season on perceived mental fatigue, were also analyzed. Twenty-six semi-professional Spanish male players (M = 26.31 ± 5.18 years) participated in the present study, conducted during the 2020-2021 season. Perceived mental fatigue and motivation were measured at each training session. The perceived requirements of the next match were also measured in each of the competitive weeks. Linear mixed models were run with R Studio to examine the influence of motivation and the perceived difficulty of the next match on perceived mental fatigue, the combined effect of both variables on perceived mental fatigue, and the influence of the passing of the season on perceived mental fatigue. The results showed a negative and significant influence of motivation on perceived mental fatigue (p < 0.001) and a positive and significant influence of the perceived requirements of the next match on perceived mental fatigue (p < 0.001). Regarding the combined effect, there was a positive and significant effect (p < 0.01) of the perceived difficulty of the next match on the relation between motivation and perceived mental fatigue. A negative influence of season passage on perceived mental fatigue levels was found (p < 0.001). We recommended coaches to consider using the most motivating training tasks when higher next-match requirements are perceived and to be careful with avoidance strategies for mental fatigue, especially at the beginning of the season.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Rubio-Morales
- Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | - J Díaz-García
- Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | - L D Harper
- Department of Life Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
- Institute of Sport, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
- Musculoskeletal Science and Sports Medicine, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | - T García-Calvo
- Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
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Russell S, Johnston RD, Stanimirovic R, Halson SL. Global practitioner assessment and management of mental fatigue and mental recovery in high-performance sport: A need for evidence-based best-practice guidelines. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2024; 34:e14491. [PMID: 37728880 DOI: 10.1111/sms.14491] [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: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mental fatigue and mental recovery have gained scientific attention in relation to sporting performance, yet best practice assessment and management methods are lacking. A greater understanding of current knowledge and practices in high-performance sport are necessary. OBJECTIVE To understand the contemporary knowledge, beliefs, monitoring processes, management strategies, perceived responsibility, sources of evidence, and challenges, when assessing the mental fatigue and mental recovery of athletes in high-performance sport. METHODS A mixed-methods survey approach obtained information from 156 multi-disciplinary high-performance sport practitioners. Descriptive outputs were reported and potential differences between key concepts were detected using Wilcoxon-signed rank analysis. Thematic analysis interpreted open-text responses. RESULTS Only 11.5% and 5.1% of respondents indicated they were "very" knowledgeable about mental fatigue and mental recovery, respectively. Knowledge (p < 0.001) and confidence in application (p = 0.001) were significantly greater for mental fatigue than mental recovery. Nearly all respondents perceived mental fatigue and mental recovery impacted training and competition performance, with a greater negative impact during competition (p < 0.001). A limited number of respondents reported deliberate assessment (31.1%) or management (51.2%) of mental fatigue and mental recovery. A combination of sources of evidence were used to inform practice, with common challenges to implementation including staff knowledge, athlete-buy in, time-availability, and a lack of evidence. Practitioners reported that assessing and managing mental fatigue and mental recovery was multi-disciplinary in nature. CONCLUSION Practitioners reported that mental fatigue and mental recovery did impact performance, yet this was not reflected in the implementation of evidence-based assessment and management practices in high-performance sport.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Russell
- Sports Performance, Recovery, Injury and New Technologies Research Centre (SPRINT), Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Performance Services, Australian Institute of Sport, Bruce, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- Sport Performance Innovation and Knowledge Excellence (SPIKE), Queensland Academy of Sport, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - R D Johnston
- Sports Performance, Recovery, Injury and New Technologies Research Centre (SPRINT), Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Carnegie Applied Rugby Research Centre (CARR), Institute for Sport, Physical Activity and Leisure, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK
| | - R Stanimirovic
- Performance Services, Australian Institute of Sport, Bruce, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - S L Halson
- Sports Performance, Recovery, Injury and New Technologies Research Centre (SPRINT), Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Moen F, Pettersen SA, Gjertsås K, Vatn M, Ravenhorst M, Kvålsvoll A, Liland KH, Mosleth EF. The effect of bio-electro-magnetic-energy-regulation therapy on sleep duration and sleep quality among elite players in Norwegian women's football. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1230281. [PMID: 37614490 PMCID: PMC10443099 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1230281] [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: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The current study investigated if physical loads peak on game days and if Bio-Electro-Magnetic-Energy-Regulation (BEMER) therapy is affecting sleep duration and sleep quality on nights related to game nights among elite players in Norwegian women's elite football. The sample included 21 female football players from an elite top series club with a mean age of ~24 years (± 2.8). Sleep was measured every day over a period of 273 consecutive days with a Somnofy sleep monitor based on ultra-wideband (IR-UWB) pulse radar and Doppler technology. The current study was conducted as a quasi-experiment, where each player was their own control based on a control period that lasted for 3 months, and an experimental period that lasted for 5 months. Accordantly, the time each player spent with BEMER therapy was used as a control variable. Multivariate analyses of variance using FFMANOVA and univariate ANOVA with False Discovery Rate adjusted p-values show that physical performance (total distance, distance per minute, sprint meters >22.5 kmh, accelerations and decelerations) significantly peak on game day compared with ordinary training days and days related to game days. The results also show that sleep quantity and quality are significantly reduced on game night, which indicate disturbed sleep caused by the peak in physical load. Most sleep variables significantly increased in the experiment period, where BEMER therapy was used, compared to the control period before the introduction of BEMER therapy. Further, the analyses show that players who spent BEMER therapy >440 h had the most positive effects on their sleep, and that these effects were significantly compared to the players who used BEMER therapy <440 h. The findings are discussed based on the function of sleep and the different sleep stages have on recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frode Moen
- Department of Education and Lifelong Learning, Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Svein Arne Pettersen
- School of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Kine Gjertsås
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Marte Vatn
- Department of Sociology and Political Science, Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Martijn Ravenhorst
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Kristian Hovde Liland
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Ellen F. Mosleth
- Nofima AS - The Norwegian Institute of Food, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research, Ås, Norway
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Russell S, Halson SL, Jenkins DG, Rynne SB, Roelands B, Kelly VG. Thinking About Elite Performance: The Experience and Impact of Mental Fatigue in Elite Sport Coaching. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2023:1-7. [PMID: 37311561 DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2023-0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Mental fatigue causes decreases in aspects of athletes' performance. Elite coaches commonly undertake cognitively demanding tasks and are seemingly at similar risk of subsequent performance impairment. However, elite sport coaches' experiences of mental fatigue, alongside other markers of psychobiological stress, have yet to be quantified. METHODS Three elite coaching and performance staff (2 women and 1 man) provided 100-mm visual analog scale ratings of mental fatigue, physical fatigue, readiness to perform, and salivary samples for later cortisol (sCort) and alpha-amylase (sAA) analysis. Data were obtained on the same morning each week across a 16-week preseason. Data were subset by individual coach for descriptive and repeated-measures correlational analyses. RESULTS Fluctuating mental fatigue was observed over the 16 weeks (min-max; coach 1 = 25-86 AU; coach 2 = 0-51 AU; and coach 3 = 15 - 76 AU). Elevated levels of mental fatigue were reported at multiple time points, with individual variability observed. sCort (in nanomoles per liter), sAA (in micromoles per liter), and sAA:sCort indicated that coaches experienced psychophysiological stress (min-max; coach 1 sCort = 8.42-17.31, sAA = 52.40-113.06, sAA:sCort = 3.20-12.80; coach 2 sCort = 4.20-9.70, sAA = 158.80-307.20, sAA:sCort = 21.10-61.70; and coach 3 sCort = 6.81-19.66, sAA = 86.55-495.85, sAA:sCort = 4.90-35.50). A significant inverse relationship between mental fatigue and readiness to perform (r = -.44 [-.64 to -.17], P = .002) was identified. CONCLUSIONS Elite sport coaches report elevated instances of mental fatigue during a preseason training period. Those involved in elite sports should act to understand the presence and potential subsequent impacts of staff mental fatigue and consider management or mitigation strategies. Optimization of the cognitive performance of coaches and performance staff presents as a potential source of competitive advantage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanna Russell
- Sports Performance, Recovery, Injury and New Technologies (SPRINT) Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, QLD,Australia
- Sport, Performance, Innovation and Knowledge Excellence, Queensland Academy of Sport, Brisbane, QLD,Australia
- School of Human Movement & Nutrition Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD,Australia
| | - Shona L Halson
- Sports Performance, Recovery, Injury and New Technologies (SPRINT) Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, QLD,Australia
| | - David G Jenkins
- School of Human Movement & Nutrition Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD,Australia
- School of Health and Sport Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, QLD,Australia
- Applied Sports Science Technology and Medicine Research Centre, Swansea University, Swansea,United Kingdom
| | - Steven B Rynne
- School of Human Movement & Nutrition Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD,Australia
| | - Bart Roelands
- Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Department of Human Physiology and Sports Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels,Belgium
- Brussels Human Robotics Research Center (Brubotics), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels,Belgium
| | - Vincent G Kelly
- School of Exercise & Nutrition Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD,Australia
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