Cardiocirculatory Stress in Professional Football (Soccer) Coaches
Tim Meyer1, Vera Demond1, Jürgen Scharhag1,2
1Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany; and.
Professional football coaches experience significant cardiocirculatory stress during matches but show no signs of cardiac damage. Their high fitness levels may protect them from negative health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Cardiology
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Professional football (soccer) coaches face intense competition.
- Quantifying cardiocirculatory stress and cardiac risk in this population is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess cardiocirculatory stress and cardiac risk in professional football coaches during matches.
- To monitor cardiac biomarkers and heart rate for signs of damage.
Main Methods:
- Descriptive cross-sectional study involving 17 head and 11 assistant coaches from top German leagues.
- Medical screening, cycle ergometry, and physiological measurements during professional matches.
- Monitoring of heart rate, arrhythmias, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and troponin I.
Main Results:
- Coaches exhibited above-average physical fitness (Pmax 2.9 W*kg-1, PWC130 1.9 W*kg-1).
- No significant match-induced changes in BNP or troponin I levels were observed.
- Maximal heart rates averaged 127 bpm (first half) and 132 bpm (second half); no serious arrhythmias occurred.
Conclusions:
- Professional football coaches do not exhibit match-induced cardiac damage despite high cardiocirculatory stress.
- Above-average fitness levels may mitigate detrimental cardiac outcomes in coaches.
- Further research could explore long-term cardiac health in this cohort.
More Related Videos
06:52An Inertial Measurement Unit Based Method to Estimate Hip and Knee Joint Kinematics in Team Sport Athletes on the Field
Published on: May 26, 2020
10:08Effects of a Novel Neuromuscular Training Intervention on Jump, Sprint, and Change of Direction in Adult Female Soccer Players
Published on: June 10, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Exercise and Cardiac Output
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be...
Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
Exercise Stress Test
Exercise stress testing, commonly known as a treadmill test, is a noninvasive procedure used to evaluate cardiovascular function and diagnose heart conditions.
Definition
An exercise stress test measures the heart's response to exertion using a treadmill or stationary bicycle. Chest electrodes record the heart's electrical activity through an ECG, and blood pressure is monitored regularly.
Purposes
Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
Imbalances in Cardiac Output
CHF can occur due to the failure of either side of the heart. Left-side failure leads to pulmonary congestion—the right side continues to send...
Physiological Foundation of Stress
Role of the Sympathetic Nervous System
Adrenaline triggers the...
