Effect of re-warm-up practices on brain networks and physical performance in soccer players

Abstract

Objectives: The warm-up (WU) and re-warm-up (R-WU) regimes in many team sports, especially football and competition, plays an essential role in improving physical function and increasing communication between brain networks. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of the R-WU on brain networks and physical performance in young soccer players.Methods: After familiarizing the laboratory conditions, twelve young male soccer players (age 18.2± 0.5 years) performed only one WU protocol, which included 25 minutes and two parts of general and specialized warming up in one session. In addition to warming up in the next session, the participant performed an R-WU that included four sets of plyometric movements, five jumps from obstacles to a height of 40 cm, followed by crossing the agile ladder. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), 20m speed, and Illinois test were used to evaluate the function of brain networks and physical function.Results: The subjects showed a significant increase in the performance of both speed and agility in the R-WU session compared to the warm-up session (P≤0.01). Also, a positive relationship was observed between the performance of default, executive, and attention networks in the R-WU session compared to the WU session (P≤0.01, P≤0.03). Conclusions. The present study demonstrated that the R-WU program improved the relationship between brain networks and physical function in soccer players.