Author(s): THOMAKOS, P., BUDAKIS, C., CHASAPIS, I. , Institution: NATIONAL AND KAPODISTRIAN UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS, Country: GREECE, Abstract-ID: 433

INTRODUCTION:
Soccer is a team sport that distinguish to high intensity and density match-plays and cumulative to workload in training sessions affects the physical and neuromuscular strain [1]. The explosive activities such as sprints, change of directions, vertical jumps, duels and tackling are factors to determine of match performance [2]. However, the accumulation of weekly workload by sessions training and match-day is cause fatigue and therefore increase the risk of injury, mainly in hamstrings [3, 4]. The aim of the current study was to estimate the fatigue that lead increase in injury incidence by the implemented in 4 weeks an intervention training programme.
METHODS:
In the present study, thirteen semi-professional soccer players (Age: 23.4±3.6 y, height: 177.2±5.1 cm, weight: 73.69±8.03 kg, BMI: 23.45±1.63 kg/m2, BF: 8.64±1.78%) from a team in the Greek, third national division league, participated in an intervention programme which lasted 4 weeks of in-season. Recorded mean±SD each week, the rate of perceptual exertion (sRPE) 15 – 30 min at the end of every sessions. Before (pre) the intervention programme and before to start each training, the participants performed the countermovement jump (CMJ) and hamstrings muscles isometric force (N) of right and left legs. Also, examined the monotony and training strain. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to detect changes between base line compared each week. Significant main effects were followed up with Tukey’s LSD post-hoc. Significance level was set at p<0.05.
RESULTS:
The monotony and training strain were higher in 3rd week compared to others (3rd vs. 1st p<0.001, 3rd vs. 2nd p<0.001, 3rd vs. 4th p<0.001). CMJ was lower only in 3rd week compared with others (3rd vs. 1st p<0.01, 3rd vs.2nd p<0.01 and 3rd vs. 4th p<0.05) and the base line (3rd vs. pre p<0.001). Isometric hamstring force was lower only in 4th week compared with pre (right leg: 4th vs. pre p<0.01 and left leg: 4th vs. pre p<0.05, respectively). Rate of force development (RFD) was stable at every week and pre at both legs.
CONCLUSION:
These findings demonstrate that the workload and the fatigue that was caused about each week is evaluated more by sRPE and CMJ. Particularly, the monotony and training strain carried out high correlation by CMJ. Isometric hamstring strength reflects cumulative fatigue and strength performance is negatively affected during the last week. Fatigue is more reflected in neuromuscular control, which is more related to IIx muscle fibers and speed of movement, which are found to a greater percentage in extensor muscles, such as the thigh muscles and gastrocnemius, as opposed to flexors, such as the hamstrings.