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Neuro-mechanical and metabolic adjustments to the repeated anaerobic sprint test in professional football players

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to determine the neuro-mechanical and metabolic adjustments in the lower limbs induced by the running anaerobic sprint test (the so-called RAST).

Methods

Eight professional football players performed 6 × 35 m sprints interspersed with 10 s of active recovery on artificial turf with their football shoes. Sprinting mechanics (plantar pressure insoles), root mean square activity of the vastus lateralis (VL), rectus femoris (RF), and biceps femoris (BF) muscles (surface electromyography, EMG) and VL muscle oxygenation (near-infrared spectroscopy) were monitored continuously.

Results

Sprint time, contact time and total stride duration increased from the first to the last repetition (+17.4, +20.0 and +16.6 %; all P < 0.05), while flight time and stride length remained constant. Stride frequency (−13.9 %; P < 0.001) and vertical stiffness decreased (−27.2 %; P < 0.001) across trials. Root mean square EMG activities of RF and BF (−18.7 and −18.1 %; P < 0.01 and 0.001, respectively), but not VL (−1.2 %; P > 0.05), decreased over sprint repetitions and were correlated with the increase in running time (r = −0.82 and −0.90; both P < 0.05). Together with a better maintenance of RF and BF muscles activation levels over sprint repetitions, players with a better repeated-sprint performance (lower cumulated times) also displayed faster muscle de- (during sprints) and re-oxygenation (during recovery) rates (r = −0.74 and −0.84; P < 0.05 and 0.01, respectively).

Conclusion

The repeated anaerobic sprint test leads to substantial alterations in stride mechanics and leg-spring behaviour. Our results also strengthen the link between repeated-sprint ability and the change in neuromuscular activation as well as in muscle de- and re-oxygenation rates.

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Abbreviations

BF:

Biceps femoris

EMG:

Electromyography

Fz max :

Maximal vertical force

K leg :

Leg stiffness

K vert :

Vertical stiffness

L 0 :

Lower-limb length

RAST:

Running anaerobic Sprint Test

RF:

Rectus femoris

RSA:

Repeated-sprint ability

RMS:

Root mean square

S dec :

Sprint decrement score

S F :

Stride frequency

S L :

Stride length

t c :

Contact time

t f :

Flight time

TSI:

Tissue saturation index

V forward :

Forward running velocity

VL:

Vastus lateralis

ΔL :

Leg compression

Δz :

Centre of mass vertical displacement

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Qatar Football Association for their support and the national team players for their enthusiastic participation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ISSUL, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Building Geopolis, Campus Dorigny, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Franck Brocherie, Gregoire P. Millet & Olivier Girard

  2. Athlete Health and Performance Research Centre, ASPETAR - Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar

    Olivier Girard

Authors
  1. Franck Brocherie
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  2. Gregoire P. Millet
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  3. Olivier Girard
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Franck Brocherie.

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Communicated by Peter Krustrup.

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Brocherie, F., Millet, G.P. & Girard, O. Neuro-mechanical and metabolic adjustments to the repeated anaerobic sprint test in professional football players. Eur J Appl Physiol 115, 891–903 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-3070-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-3070-z

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