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Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the countermovement jump (CMJ) and sprint performance of professional football players, and to determine which strength and speed elements assessed by the CMJ translate into effective running. Methods: The research sample comprised 87 male professional football players (age 23.7 ± 4.20 years; body mass 82.33 ± 6.56 kg; body height 1.86 ± 0.05 m) who performed the CMJ on a dual-force platform, as well as the 30 m sprint test. The time and velocity of the run were recorded by photocells at 0, 5, 10, and 30 m of the distance. Results: No significant differences were noted in the time or velocity of the sprint over the initial 5 m between the groups of football players with a higher and lower braking rate of force development (RFD) in the CMJ (p > 0.05). However, at subsequent intervals (5–10 m and 10–30 m), players with a higher braking RFD achieved significantly better time and velocity than those with a lower RFD. Significant correlations in the group with a lower braking RFD between the CMJ and sprint variables occurred in the propulsion phase of the CMJ and most of them were in the first interval (0–5 m). In the group with a higher braking RFD, significant relationships were visible in both the propulsion (concentric) and braking (eccentric) phases of the CMJ, mainly during the second and third intervals of the sprint test. Conclusions: The noted observations may suggest that the relationship between strength and running performance is more complex than previously indicated, and that higher strength in the CMJ does not fully correlate with better sprinting. Therefore, it has been hypothesized that training aimed at generally increasing strength may not always be fully beneficial for running performance in football players and hence specific training guidelines are suggested for targeted strengthening of the required muscle performance characteristics. This may possibly contribute to reducing the unnecessary muscle overload during both training and matches, thereby preventing sports-related injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Study Aim. The objective of the study was to perform a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis to determine the validity of running-based sprint test in relation to 30 second Wingate anaerobic test. Material and Methods. A search of the relevant literature was done using the key words, ‘running-based anaerobic sprint test’, ‘RAST’, ‘Validity’ ‘repeated sprint’ and ‘Wingate’. Twelve studies including 368 participants were finalized to systematic review and meta-analysis. The mean ± standard deviation of the number of participants was 30.66 ± 16.17 years. Results. The summary of effects size were calculated to established the validity of running based sprint test (RAST) with 30 seconds Wingate test as a criterion measure. All studies indicate that effect size of Peak Power (PP) shows higher summary effects 0.58 (95%CI – 0.37, 0.79), similar outputs were observed for Mean Power (MP) 0.67 (95%CI – 0.45, 0.90). Therefore, the average outcomes were significantly different from zero. Conclusions. Running-based anaerobic sprint test is a valid alternative method of 30 seconds Wingate test to measure anaerobic power outputs of healthy individual belongs to various sports disciplines. Although, anaerobic capacity or power output is a determinant factor in power dominating sports. Therefore, RAST is compatible to laboratory-based Wingate 30 second anaerobic test (WAnT) in field-based settings.

The study purpose was to examine the anaerobic and aerobic performance and also determine the influence of the anaerobic performance on specific movements during a match-play. Materials and methods. A total of 12 Indonesian professional female players from Bandung district female futsal club were recruited and enrolled to participate in this study. They were required to complete one familiarization and two experimental sessions. During the first session (laboratory test), all players performed a treadmill test to ascertain their maximum rate of oxygen consumption (VO2max) and a running-based anaerobic sprint test (RAST) to measure their anaerobic performance. For the second session (on-court test), the participants played a simulated match on the court. A training team of 5 experts carried out an investigation regarding each player’s competitive performance per match. Furthermore, the blood lactate concentration and Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) were assessed in the pre- and post-test for both sessions, which were separated by a week to enable the players to recover. Results. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the mean power (MP) and fatigue index (FI) (p = 0.425, p = 0.938, respectively) for anaerobic performance using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), although, the MP and FI of team C was lower compared to A and B. Furthermore, the total number of failed passes and shot off target of team C was larger compared to B and A (for failed passes = 30 vs 20 vs 25, for shot off target 14 vs 13 vs 8). Conclusions. The results obtained indicate that there are strong associations between anaerobic capacity and explosive movements (shooting, tackling, heading and passing) among female futsal players.

PURPOSE A number of physiological diagnostics were developed. However, the timeline-related diagnostics of maximal anaerobic glycolytic capacity remain unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of a sprint running test to assess the anaerobic capacity. METHODS The study was divided into three parts. Sixty-one male (24±4 years, 181.0±4.3 cm; 78.5±5.9 kg) and twelve female (25±3 years, 167.0±0.6 cm, 60.4±5.7 kg) sports students participated in this study. Twenty-five subjects (13 males, 24±2 years, 181.0±0.5 cm, 78.5±5.9 kg; 12 females, 25±3 years, 167.0±0.6 cm, 60.4±5.7 kg) performed incremental step tests at running track and several linear sprints on a running track (LSRT) with different time durations (8, 10, 12, and 14 seconds)(part I) on different days. Twenty-five male subjects (24±3 years, 180.7±6.7 cm, 84.6±8.8 kg) conducted a 10 or 12 second sprint running on a non-motorized treadmill (NMT)(part II). In part III, twenty-three male subjects (24±2 years, 181.4±5.8 cm, 74.5±7.4 kg) ran a 10 second LSRT and NMT on consecutive days. Capillary blood samplings were taken before (Lacr) and after the sprint running for ten minutes at one minute intervals to find out maximal lactate concentration after exercise and to calculate the maximum lactate production rate (LPRmax). RESULTS For all parts reliability for LPRmax was proven (Part I: 8 seconds: ICC: r=.89; 10 seconds: ICC: r=.82; 12 seconds: ICC: r=.92; 14 seconds: r=.84, respectively; Part II: 10 seconds: ICC: r=.76; 12 seconds: ICC: r=.79). To analyze validity for LPRmax, Part III was conducted and proven valid (ICC: r=.96, p=.074). CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that LSRT and NMT reliably determine anaerobic capacity and can be used as a valid tool for physiological performance diagnostics.

Handcycling classification considers trunk function, but there is limited scientific evidence of trunk involvement in recumbent performance. This study investigated the association between trunk function and recumbent handcycling performance of athletes without upper-limb impairments (H3-H4 sport classes). The study was divided into two parts. First, 528 time-trial results from 81 handcyclists with spinal cord injury (SCI) were obtained between 2014 and 2020. Average time-trial velocity was used as performance measure and SCI level as trunk function determinant. Multilevel regression analysis was performed to analyse differences in performance among SCI groups while correcting for lesion completeness, sex, and age. Second, in 26 handcyclists, standardised trunk flexion strength was measured with a handheld dynamometer. Peak and mean power-output from a sprint test and time-trial average velocity were used as performance measures. Spearman correlations were conducted to investigate the association between trunk strength and performance. Results showed that the different SCI groups did not exhibit significant differences in performance. Furthermore, trunk flexion strength and performance exhibited non-significant weak to moderate correlations (for time-trial speed: rs = 0.36; p = 0.07). Results of both analyses suggest that trunk flexion strength does not seem to significantly impact recumbent handcycling performance in athletes without upper-limb impairments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the statistical relationships among different consolidated performance tests (Yo-Yo, jump, sprint and agility), and the Powersprint™ device, an isotonic equipment, usually used to increase the muscular strength of athletes, used here as performance test. One hundred individuals were involved in the tests (16 females and 84 males). Ninety-five subjects were practicing different field sports, whereas 3 female and 2 male subjects were inactive. Gender, height and body mass were recorded. Participants completed the following tests: Squat Jump, Counter Movement Jump, 10 m sprint, 15 m sprint, Change of Direction, Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test level 1 and PowerSprint 3.0™. Results of this experiment highlighted that PowerSprint 3.0™ is positively and significantly correlated with Squat Jump, Counter Movement Jump, 10 m sprint, 15 m sprint, Change of Direction, Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test level 1. Additionally, the principal component analysis, as expected, was able to neatly differentiates between male, female and inactive subjects. The selected tests appeared particularly effective in giving information about athlete performances in soccer. Performances measured with the PowerSprint 3.0™ positively and significantly correlated with jumps, COD, sprint and YYIR1 tests. This is an indication of the possible use of this light, inexpensive and portable instrument for measuring athlete performances and checking the effectiveness of training programs.

Purpose: In this study, the effects of caffeine supplementation in professional soccer players on the Hoff and sprint tests were examined. Material: 11 professional soccer players participated in this study in line with this purpose (Xage=20.636). The Hoff and sprint tests were applied 3 times at 1 week intervals. In each of these practices, caffeine added water was performed on the participants in the first week, and placebo was performed in the second week. In the third week, the participants were tested without any additional supplement. This practice lasted 3 weeks. Caffeine supplementation was given to each participant with the amount of 6 mg / kg in 200 ml water 1 hour before the tests, and placebo supplementation in 200 ml water was given 1 hour before the tests. The soccer players did the hoff test and sprint test respectively after 20 minutes of warming period. Results: Following Wilcoxon signed-ranks analysis, it was found that caffeine supplementation and placebo applications significantly increased the hoff test averages (p

Purpose: This study aimed at evaluating the correlation between seven different performance tests and two neuromuscular control tests in youth football players and to evaluate the influence of sex and age groups on test results. Methods: One-hundred and fifteen football players (66 boys, 49 girls) mean age 14 ± 0.7 (range 13–16) years from youth teams were tested at the start of the second half of the competitive season. A test battery including agility t-test, 505 agility test, single-leg hop for distance test, side-hop test, countermovement jump test, 10-m sprint test, 20-m sprint test, tuck jump assessment (TJA) and drop vertical jump (DVJ) was completed. Results: Correlations between the seven different performance tests of agility, jump and sprint ability were generally moderate to strong (r = 0.534–0.971). DVJ did not correlate with the performance tests (rho = 0.004 to – 0.101) or with TJA total score (rho = 0.127). There were weak to moderate correlations between TJA total score and the performance tests (r = – 0.323–0.523). Boys performed better than girls in all performance tests (p < 0.001) and in TJA total score (p = 0.002). In boys, older players performed better than younger players in the majority of the tests, while there was no clear age influence among girls. Conclusion: Sprint performance was moderately to strongly correlated with agility and jump performance, and performance tests were weakly to moderately correlated to TJA, while DVJ did not correlate with the other tests. Boys performed better than girls on performance tests and TJA. An age effect on performance was evident in boys but not in girls. Level of evidence: Level IV Trial registration: Clinical Trials gov identifier: NCT03251404 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study aimed to compare the post-activation potentiation performance enhancement (PAPE) response to the acute inertial flywheel (FW) and free weight resistance training (TRA) on subsequent countermovement jump (CMJ) and sprint performance (10 m sprint). This study used a randomized crossover design including twenty-eight healthy males that were divided into strong (relative one-repetition maximum (1RM) back squat > 2.0 × body mass) and weak (relative 1RM back squat < 2.0 × body mass) groups. All participants performed the following: (a) three reps at 90% of their 1RM back squat (TRA) and (b) three reps on an inertial FW (plus one repetition to initiate flywheel movement) with an intensity that generated a mean propulsive velocity equal to that achieved with 90% of the 1RM back squat. Before and after the conditioning activity, participants performed two CMJs and two 10 m sprints. Within-group analyses showed significantly greater CMJ (d > 0.9, p < 0.001) and sprint performance (d > 0.5, p < 0.05) in the FW and the TRA group. Between-group analysis showed that sprint changes were significantly greater in the FW-strong group when compared with the TRA (F1,18 = 5.11, p = 0.036, η2p = 0.221—large) group. These results suggest that using a squat activation protocol on a FW may lead to an acute positive effect on jump and sprint performance, especially in stronger individuals.

Football is characterized as a predominately aerobic modality, however, during a match; the most important actions performed by the players are in short duration and high intensity. In addition, this sport presents to have some particularities, such as, highlights differences of each tactical position. Thus, this study aimed to compare the anaerobic power of professional football players grouped by different tactical positions. Thirty professional football players separated in three groups, goal¬keep¬ers+fullbacks, sideways+DMF (defensive middlefields) and OMF (offensive middlefields)+forwards, performed two anaerobic po¬wer tests, Running anaerobic sprint test and Sargent jump test Goalkeepers+fullbacks showed higher values of body mass index and absolute anaerobic power (w), using Sargent jump test than the others, but when analyzed the RAST results, this same group presented lower values (p

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of naturalOpuntia ficus-indicajuice (OFIJ) supplementation on anaerobic performance at two times of day. Twenty-two healthy male subjects (20.91 ± 1.22; 21.00 ± 0.84 years) divided into two groups: Experimental group (EG:n = 11) and a control group (CG:n = 11) performed two tests-sessions (30-s of Wingate test (i.e. Peak power (PP), Mean power (MP)), Sargent jump test (SJT), sprint 10 m), before and after natural OFIJ supplementation at 07:00 h and 17:00 h.T-test showed that the OFIJ has a potent antioxidant capacity for capturing free radicals following the 22-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH●) test (p < 0.05). Likewise, the ANOVA revealed that anaerobic performances were significantly higher at 17:00 h compared to 07:00 h around the peak of the temperature (p < 0.05) in both EG and CG before supplementation. Moreover, OFIJ lead an improvement of performances with (+2.09% at 07:00 h vs.+9.36% 17:00 h) for PP, (+11.29% at 07:00 h vs.+11.77% 17:00 h) for MP, (+9.42% at 07:00 h vs.+7.63% 17:00 h) for SJT in EG. The RPE scores on response to the Wingate test decrease after OFIJ supplementation (p < 0.01). For the sprint values, a significant improvement was after OFIJ (−7.10% at 07:00 h vs. −6.45% 17:00 h). However, no change was observed for CG after supplementation. In conclusion, the natural OFIJ supplementation for two weeks appears to ameliorate the performance upon two times of day with great improvement observed in the evening during short-term maximal exercise given the higher muscle damage, inflammatory, and oxidative responses at this time of day. Thus, it’s necessary that athletes, coaches, and medical staff consider the positive effects ofOpuntia ficus-indicato improve anaerobic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of time of day and different modalities of recovery (active vs. passive recovery) after intermittent exercise in young soccer players. In randomized order, 16 boys participated in the study, divided into two groups: passive recovery (PRG,n = 8) and active recovery (ARG,n = 8). Both groups performed tests at 07:00 and 17:00 h. The results showed that performance in the Sargent jump test (SJT), 10-m sprint, and agility were higher in the evening (17:00 h), around the presumed peak of body temperature. SJT and agility performance decreased after the match. The better performance in SJT and agility were found in ARG rather than PRG (p < 0.01). The rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was lower in the morning (p < 0.05). Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (DBP and SBP) increased immediately after the match. In addition, HR and SBP values differed between PRG and ARG (p < 0.01), with a greater recovery observed in the morning (p < 0.05). Muscle damage markers (lactate and creatine kinase) were significantly higher after the match (p < 0.05), and there was a significant decrease in lactate concentration after recovery in the ARG group compared to the PRG group (p < 0.05), even though neither lactate nor creatine kinase concentrations were affected by the time of day. In conclusion, the recovery process following exercise does not show time-of-day effects, even though active recovery appears to be an effective tool for accelerating the elimination of muscle damage markers and decreasing neuromuscular fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study investigated performance, neuromuscular characteristics, and fatigue in Paralympic athletes with cerebral palsy (CP) during a maximal explosive performance trial, compared with well-trained, sprint-specific able-bodied athletes. Design: Six Paralympic athletes with hemiplegic CP and 12 able-bodied athletes performed one 40-m sprint test (in seconds) and Vertical Jump Tests off both legs (in centimeters), the affected leg individually (in centimeters), and the nonaffected leg individually (in centimeters) before and after an adapted Multistage Shuttle Run Test to exhaustion. Electromyography of five bilateral muscles was measured for mean amplitude (percentage maximum activation). Results: The 40-m sprint test, Vertical Jump Test off both legs, and Vertical Jump Test off the affected leg were significantly compromised in the CP group, whereas the Vertical Jump Test off the nonaffected leg was similar between groups (P < 0.05). Both groups fatigued similarly in performance and electromyography. Affected side electromyography was higher than nonaffected electromyography in the Vertical Jump Test off both legs and Vertical Jump Test off the affected leg in both groups. Conclusions: The similarity in fatigue between CP and able-bodied groups confirms that Paralympic athletes with CP may have overcome deficits associated with CP documented in sedentary children. The identified asymmetry may assist with a deeper understanding of performance deficits in CP, as it is indicated that activity generated by both legs is performed toward the capacity of the affected leg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article cites a study which determined the test-retest reliability of a newly developed anaerobic sprint running test (ASRT) on a nonmotorized treadmill (NMT). The study results show that the ASRT is reliable for assessing PP and MP in highly motivated subjects. It also found that anaerobic testing using the ASRT may be a more sport-specific test to assess anaerobic performance for many coaches and athletes.

Hamstring injuries constitute one of the most concerning injuries in English Premier League football, due to its high primary incidence but also its recurrence. Functional methods assessing hamstring function during high-risk performance tasks such as sprinting are vital to identify potential risk factors. The purpose of this study was to assess horizontal force deficits during maximum sprint running on a non-motorized treadmill in football players with previous history of hamstring strains as a pre-season risk-assessment in a club setting. 17 male football players from one Premier League Club were divided into 2 groups, experimental (n = 6, age = 24.5±2.3 years) and control (n = 11, age = 21.3 ± 1.2 years), according to history of previous hamstring injury. Participants performed a protocol including a 10-s maximum sprint on a non-motorized treadmill. Force deficits during acceleration phase and steady state phases of the sprint were assessed between limbs and between groups. The main outcome measures were horizontal and vertical peak forces during the acceleration phase or steady state. There were no significant differences in peak forces between previously injured and non-injured limbs, or between groups, challenging the ideas around functional force deficits in sprint running as a diagnostic measure of hamstring re-injury risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of a noncircular chainring (NCC) compared with a conventional circular chainring (CC) on hand cycling performance. Eleven nondisabled male participants with no hand cycling experience initially completed an incremental exercise test. Afterward, the participants completed two 20 s sprint tests, followed by a 20 min endurance test and then another two 20 s sprint tests. An NCC and a CC were used in random order on two separate occasions. To compare the effects of the NCC and CC on power data of the sprint tests and metabolic response during the endurance test, a two-way analysis of variance for repeated measures was used. Average power values of the sprint tests showed no significant difference between NCC and CC, but over time, values of the first and third sprint tests were higher than those of the second and fourth sprint tests for both chainrings. Values of energy expenditure (kilojoules), gross efficiency (percentage), and net efficiency (percentage) after 10 and 20 min during the endurance test using NCC and CC showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) either between tests or over time. Under the current test conditions and focusing on physiological parameters, a performance optimization using an NCC in hand cycling could not be proven. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Football is characterized as a predominately aerobic modality, however, during a match; the most important actions performed by the players are in short duration and high intensity. In addition, this sport presents to have some particularities, such as, highlights differences of each tactical position. Thus, this study aimed to compare the anaerobic power of professional football players grouped by different tactical positions. Thirty professional football players separated in three groups, goalkeepers+fullbacks, sideways+DMF (defensive middlefields) and OMF (offensive middlefields)+forwards, performed two anaerobic power tests, Running anaerobic sprint test and Sargent jump test Goalkeepers+fullbacks showed higher values of body mass index and absolute anaerobic power (w), using Sargent jump test than the others, but when analyzed the RAST results, this same group presented lower values (p<0.05) of relative AP (w·kg-1). OMF+forwards showed to have the best Pmed and Pmax values (p<0.05), when compared with defensive players. These results suggest the use of running anaerobic sprint test and sargent jump test together when is proposed to measure the anaerobic power of football players, and also a anthropometric evaluation, so the training can be more specific e efficient to each tactical position and athlete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 30-s Wingate anaerobic test (30-WAT) is the most widely accepted protocol for measuring anaerobic response, despite documented physical side effects. Abbreviation of the 30-WAT without loss of data could enhance subject compliance while maintaining test applicability. The intent of this study was to quantify the validity of the 20-s Wingate anaerobic test (20-WAT) versus the traditional 30-WAT. Fifty males (mean ± SEM; age = 20.5 ± 0.3 years; Ht = 1.6 ± 0.01 m; Wt = 75.5 ± 2.6 kg) were randomly selected to either a validation ( N = 35) or cross-validation group ( N = 15) and completed a 20-WAT and 30-WAT in double blind, random order on separate days to determine peak power (PP; W kg−1), mean power (MP; W kg−1), and fatigue index (FI; %). Utilizing power outputs (relative to body mass) recorded during each second of both protocols, a non-linear regression equation ( Y 20WAT+10 = 31.4697 e−0.5[ln( X second/1174.3961)/2.63692]; r 2 = 0.97; SEE = 0.56 W kg−1) successfully predicted (error ∼10%) the final 10 s of power outputs in the cross-validation population. There were no significant differences between MP and FI between the 20-WAT that included the predicted 10 s of power outputs (20-WAT+10) and the 30-WAT. When derived data were subjected to Bland–Altman analyses, the majority of plots (93%) fell within the limits of agreement (±2SD). Therefore, when compared to the 30-WAT, the 20-WAT may be considered a valid alternative when used with the predictive non-linear regression equation to derive the final power output values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this study was to determine the test–retest reliability of an experimental functional test battery: Y-balance test (YBT), single-leg countermovement jump (SLCMJ), single-leg hop for distance (SLH), side-hop (SH), speedy-jump (SJ), agility-T (AT), and lower extremity functional test (LEFT). Secondary aims were (1) to determine the mean range for the limb symmetry index (LSI) and (2) to detect significant differences in performance between test–retest sessions. Twenty-two healthy adults (14 males, 8 females; age 23.3 ± 3.9) were tested by the same rater during two different sessions (T1–T2), with a seven-day interval, under the same conditions. Reliability analysis showed good-to-excellent reliability (0.89 < ICC < 0.97; 0.80 < α < 0.98) for the test battery. LSI ranged from 95.9 ± 6.7% (SH-T1) to 104.4 ± 12.5% (SLCMJ-T2). Repeated measures ANOVA detected significant performance differences between sessions in the LEFT (p = 0.009) and for non-dominant sides in the SLH (p = 0.015), SH (p = 0.007), and SJ (p = 0.011). The high reliability of the test battery suggests a potential use in clinical sports practice. The LSI range of ≥95% was proposed as a benchmark for healthy adults. Learning effect seems to have played a crucial role in the T2 improvements of the non-dominant side for hop performances (SLH, SH, SJ) and speed performance (LEFT). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to compare the post-activation potentiation performance enhancement (PAPE) response to the acute inertial flywheel (FW) and free weight resistance training (TRA) on subsequent countermovement jump (CMJ) and sprint performance (10 m sprint). This study used a randomized crossover design including twenty-eight healthy males that were divided into strong (relative one-repetition maximum (1RM) back squat > 2.0 × body mass) and weak (relative 1RM back squat < 2.0 × body mass) groups. All participants performed the following: (a) three reps at 90% of their 1RM back squat (TRA) and (b) three reps on an inertial FW (plus one repetition to initiate flywheel movement) with an intensity that generated a mean propulsive velocity equal to that achieved with 90% of the 1RM back squat. Before and after the conditioning activity, participants performed two CMJs and two 10 m sprints. Within-group analyses showed significantly greater CMJ (d > 0.9, p < 0.001) and sprint performance (d > 0.5, p < 0.05) in the FW and the TRA group. Between-group analysis showed that sprint changes were significantly greater in the FW-strong group when compared with the TRA (F1,18 = 5.11, p = 0.036, η2p = 0.221—large) group. These results suggest that using a squat activation protocol on a FW may lead to an acute positive effect on jump and sprint performance, especially in stronger individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Paralympic sports, the goal of functional classifications is to minimize the impact of impairment on the outcome of the competition. The present cross-sectional study aimed to investigate aerobic and anaerobic personalized tests in Paralympic athletes and to correlate them with the classification of the international wheelchair rugby federation (IWRF). Sixteen elite players of the Italian wheelchair rugby team volunteered for the study. Aerobic (incremental test to exhaustion) and anaerobic (Wingate 30s all-out test, 5 and 10-meter sprint test, shuttle test, isometric test) sport-performance measurements were correlated singularly or grouped (Z scores) with the classification point. Moreover, a multivariate permutation-based ranking analysis investigated possible differences in the overall level of performance among the adjacent classified groups of players, considering the scores of each test. A statistically significant correlation between the performance parameters and the IWRF functional classification considering both aerobic and anaerobic personalized tests was detected (0.58 ≤ r ≤ 0.88; 0.0260 ≤ p ≤ 0.0001). The multivariate permutation-based ranking analysis showed differences only for the low-pointers versus mid-pointers (p = 0.0195) and high-pointers (p = 0.0075). Although single performance parameters correlated with athletes' classification point, results of the multivariate permutation-based ranking analysis seem to suggest considering only the most significant anaerobic and sport-specific performance parameters among athletes. These should be combined with the physical assessment and the qualitative observation, which are already part of the classification process to improve its effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to compare sprint test performance performed by football players of different ages and levels of competition. One hundred and forty six Portuguese players from different teams completed the test (seven maximal sprints interspersed with 25 s active recovery). A 6 (level of competition: 1(st) national division, 2(nd) national division, 1(st) regional division, sub 16, sub 14, sub 12) 7 (sprint trial: sprint 1, sprint 2, sprint 3, sprint 4, sprint 5, sprint 6, sprint 7) repeated measures ANOVA was carried out on subjects sprint times. The main effect of level of competition was statistically significant, F(5, 140) = 106.28, p < 0.001. Subjects from 1(st) national division were significantly faster than subjects from 2(nd) national division; subjects from 1(st) regional division obtained similar performances when compared to sub 16 and sub 14 level; subjects from sub 12 level were the slowest. The main effect of sprint trial was also statistically significant, F (6, 840) = 7.37, p < 0.001. Mean sprint times from the first trial were significantly slower than mean sprint times from the second, third and fourth trial. Results from the fifth, sixth and seventh trials were slower, denoting a decrement in performance. The two main effects were qualified by a significant level of competition x sprint trial interaction, F (30, 840) = 9.47 p < 0.001, identifying markedly different performance profiles. Coaches should be aware that normative data regarding this test can play a very important role if used frequently and consistently during the whole season. Key PointsGroups of different ages (Sub 16, Sub 14 and Sub 12) and groups of different training quality (1(st) and 2(nd) national divisions and 1(st) regional division) were clearly discriminated by sprint test performances.Professional players exhibited higher performances in sprint test.Fatigue effects were the strongest between 5th to the 7th sprint.