Skip to main content

The Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test

A Useful Tool for Evaluation of Physical Performance in Intermittent Sports

Sports Medicine volume 38, pages 37–51 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

The two Yo-Yo intermittent recovery (IR) tests evaluate an individual’s ability to repeatedly perform intense exercise. The Yo-Yo IR level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1) test focuses on the capacity to carry out intermittent exercise leading to a maximal activation of the aerobic system, whereas Yo-Yo IR level 2 (Yo-Yo IR2) determines an individual’s ability to recover from repeated exercise with a high contribution from the anaerobic system. Evaluations of elite athletes in various sports involving intermittent exercise showed that the higher the level of competition the better an athlete performs in the Yo-Yo IR tests. Performance in the Yo- Yo IR tests for young athletes increases with rising age. The Yo-Yo IR tests have shown to be a more sensitive measure of changes in performance than maximum oxygen uptake. The Yo-Yo IR tests provide a simple and valid way to obtain important information of an individual’s capacity to perform repeated intense exercise and to examine changes in performance.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 49.95

Price includes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Table I
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16

References

  1. Bangsbo J. The physiology of soccer-with special reference to intense intermittent exercise. Acta Physiol Scand 1994; 15 Suppl. 619: 1–156

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bangsbo J, NØrregaard L, ThorsØe F. Activity profile of competition soccer. Can J Sports Sci 1991 Jun; 16 (2): 110–6

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Ekblom B. Applied physiology of soccer. Sports Med 1986 Jan–Feb; 3 (1): 50–60

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Krustrup P, Mohr M, Ellingsgaard H, et al. Physical demands of elite female soccer games: importance of training status. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2005; 37 (7): 1242–8

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Krustrup P, Mohr M, Steensberg A, et al. Muscle and blood metabolites during a soccer game: implications for sprint performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2006; 38 (6): 1165–74

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Mayhew SR, Wenger HA. Time-motion analysis of professional soccer. J Hum Movement Stud 1985; 11: 49–52

    Google Scholar 

  7. McInnes SE, Carlson JS, Jones CJ, et al. The physiological load imposed on basketball players during competition. J Sports Sci 1995; 13: 387–97

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Mohr M, Krustrup P, Bangsbo J. Match performance of high standard soccer players with special reference to development of fatigue. J Sport Sci 2003 Jul; 21 (7): 519–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Rienzi E, Drust B, Reilly T, et al. Investigation of antrophometric and work-rate profiles of elite South Americaninternational soccer players. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2000 Jun; 40 (2): 162–9

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Young WB, Newton RU, Doyle TL, et al. Physiological and anthropometric characteristics of starters and non-starters and playing positions in elite Australian Rules football: a case study. J Sci Med Sport 2005; 8 (3): 333–45

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Léger LA, Lambert J. A maximal multistage 20-m shuttle run test to predict V?O2max. Eur J Appl Physiol 1982; 49: 1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Bangsbo J. Fitness training in football: a scientific approach. Bagsværd: HO+Storm, 1994

    Google Scholar 

  13. Castagna C, Abt G, D’Ottavio S. Competitive-level differences in Yo-Yo intermittent recovery and twelve minute run test performance in soccer referees. J Strength Cond Res 2005; 19 (4): 805–9

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Krustrup P, Bangsbo J. Physiological demands of top class soccer refereeing in relation to physical capacity: effect of intense intermittent exercise training. J Sports Sci 2001; 19: 881–91

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Krustrup P, Mohr M, Amstrup T, et al. The Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test: physiological response, reliability and validity. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2003 Apr; 35 (4): 697–705

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Bangsbo J. The Yo-Yo tests [online]. Available from URL: (http://www.soccerfitness.com) [Accessed 2005]

  17. Krustrup P, Mohr M, Nybo L, et al. The Yo-Yo IR2 test: physiological response, reliability, and application to elite soccer. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2006 Sep; 38 (9): 1666–73

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Tong TK, Fu FH. Effect of specific inspiratory muscle warm-up on intense intermittent run to exhaustion. Eur J Appl Physiol 2006 Aug; 97 (6): 673–80

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Oliveira J. Endurance evaluation in intermittent sports [dissertation]. Porto: Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, University of Porto, 2000

    Google Scholar 

  20. Barbero Alvarez JC, Barbero Alvarez V. Efectos del entrenamieno durante una pretemporada en la potencia maxima aerobica medida dos test de campo progresivos, uno continuo y otro intermitente. Granada: Departamento de Educacion Fisica Y Deportiva, Facultad de Educacion y Humanidades de Melilla,Universidad de Granada [online]. Available from URL: (http://www.futbolrendimiento/comar/Download/Pretemporada.pdf) [Accessed 2007 Nov 15]

    Google Scholar 

  21. Carvalho C, Roriz-de-Oliveira P, Carvalho A. Analysis of different parameters of physical condition for footballers in relation to their positional role [abstract]. J Sports Sci 2004 Jun; 22 (6): 531–2

    Google Scholar 

  22. Castagna C, Impellizzeri FM, Chamari K, et al. Aerobic fitness and Yo-Yo continuous and intermittent tests performances in soccer players: a correlation study. J Strength Cond Res 2006 May; 20 (2): 320–5

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Ferrari Bravo D, Rampinini E, Impellizzeri FM. et al. Effect of repeated sprints versus aerobic interval training in soccer players [abstract]. In: Hoppeler H, Reilly T, Tsolakidis E, et al.,editors. 11th annual Congress of the European College ofSport Science; 2006 Jul 5-8; Lausanne. Cologne: Sportverlag Strauss, 2006: 319

    Google Scholar 

  24. Hasegawa H. et al. Changes of jump squat power and its relationship with sprint speed, agility, and intermittent endurance during the preseason and the first part of the in-season in professional football league players in Japan [abstract]. In: Aagaard P, Madsen K, Magnusson P, et al., editors. Strength training for sport, health, aging and rehabilitation. 5th International Conference on Strength Training; 2006 Oct 18-21; Odense: University of Southern Denmark, 2006: 245–6

    Google Scholar 

  25. Kirkendall DT. Physiology of soccer. In: Garrett WE, Kirkendall DT, editors. Exercise and sport science. Philadelphia (PA): Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2000: 875–84

    Google Scholar 

  26. Kirkendall DT, Leonard K, Garret Jr WE. On the relationship between fitness and running volume and intensity in female soccer players [abstract]. J Sports Sci 2004 Jun; 22 (6): 549–50

    Google Scholar 

  27. McHughes M, Bangsbo J, Lexell J. Principles of rehabilitation following sports injuries: sports-specific performance testing. In: Kjær M, Krogsgarrd M, Magnusson P, et al., editors. Textbook of sports medicine. Oxford: Blackwell Science, 2003: 201–25

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  28. Neto L, Nunes C, Hespanhol J, et al. Physiological and anthro pometric characteristics of junior Brazilian soccer players [abstract]. J Sports Sci 2004 Jun; 22 (6): 554–5

    Google Scholar 

  29. Rampinini E, Impellizzeri FM, Castagna C, et al. Factors influencing physiological responses to small-sided soccer games. J Sports Sci 2007; 25 (6): 659–66

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Atkins SJ. Performance of the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test by elite professional and semiprofessional rugby league players. J Strength Cond Res 2006 Feb; 20 (1): 222–5

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Thomas A, Dawson B, Goodman C. The Yo-Yo test: reliability and association with a 20-m run and V? O2max. Int J Sports Physiol Perf 2006; 1: 137–49

    Google Scholar 

  32. Iaia FM, Kolding H, Gunnarsson T, et al. Change to anaerobic training improves running economy and high intensity exercise performance in endurance runners [abstract]. In: Hoppeler H, Reilly T, Tsolakidis E, et al., editors. 11th annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science; 2006 Jul 5-8; Lausanne. Cologne: Sportverlag Strauss, 2006: 212–3

    Google Scholar 

  33. Bangsbo J, Mohr M, Krustrup P. Physical and metabolic demands of training and match-play in the elite football player. J Sports Sci 2006; 24 (7): 665–74

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Bangsbo J. Aerobic and anaerobic training in soccer: with special emphasis on training of youth players-fitness training in soccer I. Bagsværd: HO+Storm, 2006

  35. Balsom PD, Wood K, Olsson P, et al. Carbohydrate intake and multiple sprint sports: with special reference to football (soccer). Int J Sports Med 1999; 20 (1): 48–52

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Balsom PD, Gaitanos GC, SØderlund K, et al. High-intensity exercise and muscle glycogen availability in humans. Acta Physiol Scand 1999; 165: 337–45

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Bangsbo J, NØrregaard L, ThorsØe F. The effect of carbohydrate diet on intermittent exercise performance. Int J Sports Med 1992; 13 (2): 152–7

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Weston M, Helsen W, MacMahon C, et al. The impact of specific high-intensity training sessions on football referees’ fitness levels. Am J Sports Med 2004 Jan–Feb; 32 (1 Suppl.): 54S–61S

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Ferrari Bravo D. Capacita` di ripetere sprint nel calcio: aspetti fisiologici, valutazione e allenamento [dissertation]. Milan: Faculty of Exercise Sciences, State University of Milan, 2006

    Google Scholar 

  40. Mohr M, Krustrup P, Bangsbo J. Seasonal changes in physiological parameters of elite soccer players [abstract]. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2002; 36 (5): 24

    Google Scholar 

  41. Todd MK, Scott D, Chisnall PJ. Fitness characteristics of English female soccer players: an analysis by position and playing standard. In: Spinks W, Reilly T, Murphy A, editors. Science and football IV. London: E & FN Spon, 2002: 374–81

    Google Scholar 

  42. Mohr M, Bangsbo J. Development of fatigue towards the end of a high level soccer match [abstract]. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2001; 33 (5): 215

    Google Scholar 

  43. Mohr M, Krustrup P, Nielsen JJ, et al. Effect of two different intense training regimes on skeletal muscle ion transport proteins and fatigue development. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2007; 292 (4): R1594–602

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Bangsbo J, Mohr M, Poulsen A, et al. Training and testing the elite athlete. J Exerc Sci Fitness 2006; 4 (1): 1–14

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Muscle Research Centre, Universitets parken 13, Copenhagen Ö, DK-2100, Denmark

    Jens Bangsbo & Peter Krustrup

  2. Faculty of Exercise Sciences, State University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    F. Marcello Iaia

Authors
  1. Jens Bangsbo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. F. Marcello Iaia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Peter Krustrup
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jens Bangsbo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bangsbo, J., Iaia, F.M. & Krustrup, P. The Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test. Sports Med 38, 37–51 (2008). https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200838010-00004

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200838010-00004

Keywords

  • Soccer Player
  • Intermittent Exercise
  • Male Soccer Player
  • Soccer Referee
  • Intermittent Recovery