Changes in muscle activity after performing the FIFA 11+ programme part 2 for 4 weeks

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Exercise Physiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• The Fédération Internationale de Football Association's 11+ programme (11+) is a widely used injury prevention program.
• Understanding the physiological effects of the 11+ programme on muscle activity is crucial for optimizing its effectiveness.
• Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PET-CT) offers a method to visualize metabolic activity in muscles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the changes in muscle activity following a 4-week training regimen of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association's 11+ programme (11+).
• To assess glucose uptake in specific muscles using (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET-CT before and after the 11+ training intervention.

Main Methods:

• Eleven male participants completed 4 weeks of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association's 11+ programme (11+), training 3 times per week.
• FDG PET-CT scans were performed before and after the 4-week intervention period to measure muscle glucose uptake.
• Standardized Uptake Values (SUV) were calculated for 30 defined muscle regions of interest.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in mean SUV was observed in the sartorius, semimembranosus, biceps femoris, abductor hallucis, and flexor hallucis brevis muscles post-training (P < 0.05).
• These findings indicate increased glucose metabolism and muscle activity in the hamstrings and hallux muscles after 4 weeks of 11+ training.
• The study demonstrated measurable changes in muscle metabolic activity attributable to the 11+ programme.

Conclusions:

• Routine execution of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association's 11+ programme (11+) for 4 weeks enhances glucose uptake in key hamstring and hallux muscles.
• This increase in muscle activity may contribute to reducing the incidence of sports-related injuries.
• FDG PET-CT is a valuable tool for evaluating the neuromuscular adaptations induced by structured exercise interventions like the 11+ programme.