Physiological Responses of General vs. Specific Aerobic Endurance Exercises in Soccer

What Parameters Influence the Effect of Cold-Water Immersion on Muscle Soreness? An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to determine the efficacy of cold-water immersion (CWI) on the management of muscle soreness to identify the impact of immersion time, water temperature, CWI protocol, and type of exercise on this outcome.

DESIGN

Intervention systematic review and meta-analysis.

SETTING

MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Central, and SPORTDiscus databases were searched from their earliest record to July 30, 2020. Only randomized controlled trials that assessed muscle soreness comparing CWI and control were included. Studies were pooled in different subgroups regarding the used protocol: water temperature (severe or moderate cold), immersion time (short, medium, or longer time), CWI protocol (intermittent or continuous application), and type of exercise (endurance or resistance exercise). Data were pooled in a meta-analysis and described as weighted mean difference (95% confidence interval, P < 0.05).

PARTICIPANTS

Athletes and nonathletes.

INTERVENTIONS

Cold-water immersion and control condition.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Muscle soreness.

RESULTS

Forty-four studies were included. For immediate effects, CWI was superior to control regardless of water temperature and protocol, and for short and medium immersion times and endurance exercises. For delayed effects, CWI was superior to control in all subgroups except longer immersions time.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that CWI is better than control for the management of muscle soreness and water temperature and CWI protocol do not influence this result, but only short and medium immersions times presented positive effects. Aiming immediate effects, the best results suggest CWI application only after endurance exercises, while delayed effect CWI was superior both after endurance and resistance exercises.

The effect of the MTHFR C677T mutation on athletic performance and the homocysteine level of soccer players and sedentary individuals

This study investigated athletic performance and homocysteine (Hcy) levels in relation to the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T mutation and explored the relationship between this mutation and other cardiac risk factors in soccer players and sedentary individuals. The study groups consisted of randomly selected soccer players (n=48) from the Turkish Super and Major League and sedentary male students (n=48) aged 18-27. Anthropometric variables, aerobic and anaerobic thresholds were measured, furthermore, biochemical assays were performed. The level of HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglyceride, Hcy, folate, vitamin B12, hemogram and MTHFR C677T was investigated. The results showed that there was a statistical difference between the two groups in terms of body mass, body fat, the BMI, the aerobic threshold heart rate (ATHR), aerobic threshold velocity (ATVL) and anaerobic threshold velocity (ANTVL). The soccer players were found to have lower levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, and higher levels of folate than the sedentary participants. The analysis of the alleles of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism showed that the participants that carried TT genotypes had a lower level of vitamin B12 and folate, and a higher level of Hcy than the participants carrying CC and CT genotypes. In conclusion, the baseline homocysteine and cardiovascular fitness levels of healthy young males with the TT genotypes of the MTHFR C677T genotype were found to strongly correlate with their levels of Hcy.

The Hoff circuit test is more specific than an incremental treadmill test to assess endurance with the ball in youth soccer players

The assessment of aerobic endurance is important for training prescription in soccer, and is usually measured by straight running without the ball on a track or treadmill. Due to the ball control and technical demands during a specific soccer test, the running speeds are likely to be lower compared to a continuous incremental test. The aim of the present study was to compare the heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and speeds corresponding to 2.0 mmol∙L^-1, 3.5 mmol∙L^-1, lactate threshold (Dmax method) and peak lactate determined in the laboratory and in the Hoff circuit soccer-specific test. Sixteen soccer players (16±1 years) underwent two incremental tests (laboratory and Hoff circuit tests). The speeds were significantly higher in the treadmill test than on the Hoff circuit (2.0 mmol∙L^-1: 9.5±1.2 and 8.1±1.0 km∙h^-1; 3.5 mmol∙L^-1: 12.0±1.2 and 10.2±1.1 km∙h^-1; Dmax: 11.4±1.4 and 9.3±0.4 km∙h^-1; peak lactate: 14.9±1.6 and 10.9±0.8 km∙h^-1). The HR corresponding to 3.5 mmol∙L-1 was significantly higher on the Hoff circuit compared to the laboratory test (187.5±18.0 and 178.2±17.6 bpm, respectively; P <0.001), while the RPE at the last incremental stage was lower on the Hoff circuit (P < 0.01). The speeds during the Hoff specific soccer test and the HR corresponding to 2.0 mmol∙L^-1, 3.5 mmol∙L^-1 and Dmax/threshold were different compared with the laboratory test. The present study shows that it is possible to assess submaximal endurance related variables specifically in soccer players.