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Comparison between three different endurance tests in professional soccer players
Matthias W Hoppe1, Christian Baumgart, Billy Sperlich
1Research Center for Performance Diagnostics and Training Advice, University of Wuppertal, Germany. m.hoppe@uni-wuppertal.de
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
|February 21, 2012
Summary
Professional soccer players
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Exercise Physiology
- Soccer Performance Analysis
Background:
- Maximum oxygen uptake (V̇O2max), running economy (RE), and lactate thresholds (vLT, v4) are key aerobic performance indicators.
- Assessing intermittent endurance capacity is crucial for soccer players, but its relationship with traditional aerobic markers needs clarification.
- Time to exhaustion (Tlim) can be measured in both continuous and intermittent tests, but their comparability is not fully established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To correlate interval shuttle run test (ISRT) performance with V̇O2max, RE, vLT, and v4 in professional soccer players.
- To investigate the relationship between time to exhaustion (Tlim) in continuous and intermittent endurance tests.
- To identify key predictors of intermittent endurance capacity in professional soccer players.
Main Methods:
- Eleven professional male soccer players underwent ISRT, a continuous Incremental Test (lactate measurements), and a continuous Ramp Test (gas exchange analysis).
- Measurements included V̇O2max, RE, vLT, v4, and Tlim from both continuous and intermittent tests.
- Statistical analysis involved correlation coefficients (r) to assess relationships between variables.
Main Results:
- Significant positive correlations were found between ISRT performance and V̇O2max (r = 0.70, p < 0.05).
- A strong correlation was observed between Tlim in continuous and intermittent endurance tests (r = 0.89, p < 0.01).
- No other significant correlations were found between ISRT performance and RE, vLT, or v4, nor between V̇O2max, RE, vLT, and v4 individually with intermittent endurance capacity.
Conclusions:
- Maximum oxygen uptake (V̇O2max) is the primary determinant of intermittent endurance capacity in professional soccer players.
- Time to exhaustion (Tlim) in continuous and intermittent tests are related, suggesting they measure a similar underlying endurance factor.
- Soccer-specific training should focus on enhancing V̇O2max through interventions incorporating agility components to improve intermittent endurance.
