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01-04-2010 | Original Article

Muscle adaptations and performance enhancements of soccer training for untrained men

Authors: Peter Krustrup, Jesper F. Christensen, Morten B. Randers, Henrik Pedersen, Emil Sundstrup, Markus D. Jakobsen, Birgitte R. Krustrup, Jens J. Nielsen, Charlotte Suetta, Lars Nybo, Jens Bangsbo

Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology | Issue 6/2010

Abstract

We examined the physical demands of small-sided soccer games in untrained middle-age males and muscle adaptations and performance effects over 12 weeks of recreational soccer training in comparison with continuous running. Thirty-eight healthy subjects (20–43 years) were randomized into a soccer (SO), running (RU) and control (CO) group. Two–three weekly 1-h training sessions were performed. Muscle lactate (30.1 ± 4.1 vs. 15.6 ± 3.3 mmol/kg d.w.), blood lactate, blood glucose and time above 90% HR_max (20 ± 4% vs. 1 ± 1%) were higher (p < 0.05) during training in SO than in RU. After 12 weeks of training, quadriceps muscle mass and mean muscle fibre area were 9 and 15% larger (p < 0.05) in SO, but unaltered in RU, and in SO, the fraction of FTx fibres was lowered (10.7 ± 1.8 vs. 17.9 ± 3.2%). In SO, citrate synthase activity was 10 and 14% higher (p < 0.05) after 4 and 12 weeks, but unaltered in RU. After 4 weeks VO_2max and Yo-Yo IE2 performance were elevated (p < 0.05) to a similar extent in SO (7 and 37%) and RU (6 and 36%) but increased further (p < 0.05) from 4 to 12 weeks in SO (6 and 23%). In SO, 30-m sprint performance was improved (p < 0.05) by 0.11 ± 0.02 s. Blood lactate during running at 11 km/h was lowered (p < 0.05) from 0 to 4 and 4 to 12 weeks (2.6 ± 0.3 vs. 3.8 ± 0.6 vs. 6.1 ± 0.9 mM) and from 0 to 12 weeks in RU. No changes occurred for CO. In conclusion, recreational soccer organized as small-sided games stimulates both aerobic and anaerobic energy turnover and is an effective type of training leading to significant cardiovascular and muscular adaptations as well as performance enhancements throughout a 12-week training period.

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Title: Muscle adaptations and performance enhancements of soccer training for untrained men
Authors: Peter Krustrup
Jesper F. Christensen
Morten B. Randers
Henrik Pedersen
Emil Sundstrup
Markus D. Jakobsen
Birgitte R. Krustrup
Jens J. Nielsen
Charlotte Suetta
Lars Nybo
Jens Bangsbo
Publication date: 01-04-2010
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology / Issue 6/2010
Print ISSN: 1439-6319
Electronic ISSN: 1439-6327
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-009-1319-8

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Muscle adaptations and performance enhancements of soccer training for untrained men

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