Physiological and neuromuscular responses in the shuttle and straight line-repeated sprint running

Abstract

IntroductionThe aim of the present study was to compare and analyze the performance in the shuttle (RSS) and straight line (RSL) repeated sprint running and to compare the physiological and neuromuscular responses obtained post-RSL and post-RSS. Material and methodsFourteen male futsal players performed 25m sprints in a straight line and with a change of direction. The sprint performances (mean time, best time and fatigue index), countermovement jump (CMJ) performance were evaluated before and after both tests, as well as measuring blood lactate concentrations (LACPEAK) after the sprints. ResultsThe mean time (MT) and best time (BT) were lower in the RSL (P<0.01), while the fatigue index was lower in the RSS (P=0.02). Significant correlations were found between MTRSL and MTRSS (r=0.79), as well as between BTRSL and BTRSS (r=0.69). Significant differences in CMJ performance were recorded between baseline and post-RSL (P=0.01), as well as between baseline and post-RSS (P=0.02). No significant differences were found between CMJ performance (P=0.08) and LACPEAK (P=0.09) and post-RSL and post-RSS. ConclusionsIt was concluded that, despite the differences in BT and MT in the two models of repeated sprints, the MT in both tests correlated well, suggesting that repeated sprint ability is a general quality and independent of changing direction. Moreover, both the glycolytic and neuromuscular demand did not differ between the two sprints models.