Effect of a Simulated Match on Lower Limb Neuromuscular Performance in Youth Footballers—A Two Year Longitudinal Study

Michal Lehnert, Mark De Ste Croix, Amr Zaatar, Patrycja Lipinska and Petr Stastny
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Michal Lehnert: Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacky University Olomouc, 771 11 Olomouc, Czech Republic
Mark De Ste Croix: School of Sport and Exercise, University of Gloucestershire, Gloucester GL50 2RH, UK
Amr Zaatar: Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacky University Olomouc, 771 11 Olomouc, Czech Republic
Patrycja Lipinska: Institute of Physical Education, Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, 85-064 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Petr Stastny: Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, 162 52 Prague, Czech Republic

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 22, 1-17

Abstract: The aim of this study was to explore the effects of simulated soccer match play on neuromuscular performance in adolescent players longitudinally over a two-year period. Eleven players completed all measurements in both years of the study (1st year: age 16.0 ± 0.4 y; stature 178.8 ± 6.4 cm; mass 67.5 ± 7.8 kg; maturity-offset 2.24 ± 0.71 y). There was a significant reduction in hamstring strength after simulated match by the soccer-specific aerobic field test (SAFT 90 ), with four out of eight parameters compromised in U16s (4.7–7.8% decrease) and six in the U17s (3.1–15.4%). In the U17s all of the concentric quadriceps strength parameters were decreased (3.7–8.6%) as well as the vastus lateralis and semitendinosus firing frequency (26.9–35.4%). In both ages leg stiffness decreased (9.2–10.2%) and reactive strength increased pre to post simulated match (U16 8.0%; U17 2.5%). A comparison of changes between age groups did not show any differences. This study demonstrates a decrease in neuromuscular performance post simulated match play in both ages but observed changes were not age dependent.

Keywords: simulated match-play; leg stiffness; reactive strength; EMG; isokinetic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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