Does Warm-up Type Matter? A Comparison between Traditional and Functional Inertial Warm-up in Young Soccer Players

Giovanni Fiorilli,Arrigo Giombini,Federico Quinzi,Andrea Buonsenso,Giulia Di Martino,Alessandra Di Cagno,Giuseppe Calcagno,Marco Centorbi

doi:10.3390/jfmk5040084

Giovanni Fiorilli, Arrigo Giombini + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk5040084

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Abstract

Functional inertial training, a popular high-intensity training mode, provides high neuromuscular activation, developing proprioception, postural control, power, and sprint time. Aim of the study was to assess the acute effects of two types of warm-up (WU), inertial warm-up (IWU) vs. traditional warm-up (TWU), on explosive and reactive strength, sprint, and Change of Directions (COD) in young soccer players. In a randomized cross-over design study, twelve soccer players (aged 13.3 ± 0.7) performed 16 min of IWU and 16 min of TWU. IWU and TWU were spaced two weeks apart. Pre and post intervention tests, aimed at assessing explosive and reactive strength, sprint, and COD ability included: Squat Jump test (SJ), Countermovement Jump test (CMJ), Drop Jump test (DJ), Seven Repetition Hopping test (7R-HOP), 40 m-sprint test (40 m), and Illinois Agility Test (IAT). RM-ANOVA, used to compare differences between IWU and TWU effects (the level of significance set at ρ ≤ 0.05), showed enhanced performance after the IWU compared to the TWU. In addition, the effects of the IWU on performance lasted longer after the IWU than after the TWU. For IAT, the enhanced effects of IWU on performance lasted up to ten minutes after the administration of the IWU. Our results suggest that IWU affects functional changes displaying earlier adaptation in explosive and reactive strength with longer lasting effects compared to TWU and it could be recommended in young soccer athletes as a WU procedure.

Highlights

Warm Up (WU) is considered essential to enhance the subsequent performance and optimally prepare the soccer players for jumps, sprint, change of directions (COD), and agility tasks
Aim of the study was to assess the acute effects of two types of warm-up (WU), inertial warm-up (IWU) vs. traditional warm-up (TWU), on explosive and reactive strength, sprint, and Change of Directions (COD) in young soccer players
Our results suggest that IWU affects functional changes displaying earlier adaptation in explosive and reactive strength with longer lasting effects compared to TWU and it could be recommended in young soccer athletes as a WU procedure

Summary

Introduction

Warm Up (WU) is considered essential to enhance the subsequent performance and optimally prepare the soccer players for jumps, sprint, change of directions (COD), and agility tasks. Change of direction and agility tasks require a complex synchronization of different movements and multiple strength components [1]. Eccentric strength plays a crucial role in COD, which requires the body to decelerate and stabilize as quick as possible and to re-accelerate in a new direction, and in jumping action during the braking phase [2]. The performance in COD and agility tasks has been shown to be correlated with a combination of maximum and reactive strength and power [3]. Eccentric hamstring strength was the primary predictor of agility deceleration task [4]. Agility is a multifaceted quality, which recognizes, in addition to the physical demands, cognitive processes and technical skills too [2]

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