Competitive Male Players Research Articles

Acute Effects of Ice Hockey on Hip Range of Motion, Strength, and Pelvic Tilt in Competitive Male Players.

Ice hockey players are at high risk for hip and groin injury. Several risk factors have been identified or proposed, including lower hip rotation range of motion (ROM), lower hip adductor strength, lower ratio of hip adductor to abductor strength, and lower pelvic tilt angle. It is not known how these risk factors change acutely with ice hockey participation. Acute exposure to ice hockey will result in a reduction in ROM, strength, and pelvic tilt angle in competitive male players. Controlled cohort study. Level 3. Risk factors for hip and groin injury, including isometric hip adductor strength at 0° of flexion, the ratio of hip adductor to abductor strength, total hip rotation passive ROM in supine, and the resting pelvic tilt angle, were assessed immediately before, immediately after, and 24 hours after an ice hockey exposure in 42 competitive male ice hockey players. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was collected to identify the intensity of the exposure. There was a significant decrease in total hip rotation ROM (-7.32°, P < 0.01 (-3.91, -10.70)) and hip adductor strength (-4.41 kg, P < 0.01 (-2.81, -6.00) immediately after the exposure, and a significant decrease in total hip rotation ROM (-18.54°, P < 0.01 (-14.35, -22.73)), hip adductor strength (-6.56 kg, P < 0.01 (-4.58, -8.61)), and the ratio of hip adductor to abductor strength (-0.12, P < 0.01 (-0.21, -0.45)) 24 hours after. There was no significant change in pelvic tilt found in this study immediately after or 24 hours after. There was a moderate relationship between changes in hip adductor strength and changes in the ratio of hip adductor to abductor strength (r = 0.433, P < 0.01). RPE was not significantly correlated to any of the changes observed. Risk factors for hip and groin injury in ice hockey players are modifiable after a single ice hockey exposure. The identified fluctuation of injury risk factors for hip and groin injury in ice hockey players has implications for injury risk profiling, rehabilitation, and return-to-competition decision-making.

Psychological momentum in football: the impact of a last-minute equalizer in a knock-out match

ABSTRACT What could be the impact of a last-minute equalizer on players’ psychological momentum (PM) in a high-stake, knock-out football match? In the current study, 86 competitive male players were asked to imagine that they were playing in a cup final in which they were trailing 1–0 or leading 1–0. Subsequently, participants watched a video clip in which their team or the opponent team scored the equalizer either in the 61st minute or 92nd minute (i.e., last-minute) of regular playing time. Participants indicated their PM after the equalizer. Although the situation became objectively neutral (1–1), results showed that PM was higher when players’ own team scored than when the opponent team did. More importantly, the equalizer had a particularly big impact on PM when the goal was scored last-minute. These results provide a better understanding of PM processes in football, and may explain the euphoria or despair of football players after a last-minute equalizer in a high-stake match.

Fatigue Responses in Various Muscle Groups in Well-Trained Competitive Male Players after a Simulated Soccer Game.

We examined the degree of post-game fatigue and the recovery pattern in various leg and upper-body muscle groups after a simulated soccer game. Well-trained competitive male soccer players (n = 12) participated in the study. The players completed the Copenhagen Soccer Test, a 2 x 45 min simulated soccer protocol, following baseline measures of maximal voluntary contractions of multiple muscle groups and systemic markers of muscle damage and inflammation at 0, 24 and 48 h into recovery. All muscle groups had a strength decrement (p ≤ 0.05) at 0 h post-match with knee flexors (14 ± 3%) and hip abductors (6 ± 1%) demonstrating the largest and smallest impairment. However, 24 h into recovery all individual muscles had recovered. When pooled in specific muscle groups, the trunk muscles and knee joint muscles presented the largest decline 0 h post-match, 11 ± 2% for both, with the performance decrement still persistent (4 ± 1%, p ≤ 0.05) for trunk muscles 24 h into recovery. Large inter-player variations were observed in game-induced fatigue and recovery patterns in the various muscle groups. Markers of muscle damage and inflammation peaked 0 h post-match (myoglobin) and 24 h into recovery (creatine kinase), respectively, but thereafter returned to baseline. Intermittent test performance correlated with creatine kinase activity 24 h after the Copenhagen Soccer Test (r = -0.70; p = 0.02). In conclusion, post-game fatigue is evident in multiple muscle groups with knee flexors showing the greatest performance decrement. Fatigue and recovery patterns vary markedly between muscle groups and players, yet trunk muscles display the slowest recovery.

A link between cortisol and performance: An exploratory case study of a tennis match

So far, studies have focused mainly on changes in cortisol levels before and after competitions, and little is known about cortisol secretion within a competition. In this exploratory study we aimed to gather in-depth information about cortisol development during a tennis match and to relate cortisol levels to specific performance parameters of two competitive male players. Thereby, we were also able to compare winner and loser directly. A total of 20 samples per player were assessed before (4 samples), during (10 samples), and after (6 samples) a match and on a resting day (5 samples). Cortisol was higher on competition day in comparison to resting day in both players. Further, cortisol was higher in the loser before (17%), during (65%), and after (54%) the match. In addition, cortisol was negatively correlated with certain performance parameters (e.g., unforced errors and return performance) but uncorrelated with other performance parameters such as serving performance. Further research should look into within-competition cortisol variations, additionally assessing different hormones, and take into account the methodological concerns that were identified in this single case study.

Muscle damage, inflammatory, immune and performance responses to three football games in 1 week in competitive male players.

We examined effects of a three-game, 1-week microcycle (G1, G2, G3) on recovery of performance and inflammatory responses in professional male footballers. Players were randomized into an experimental (EXP; N = 20) and a control group (CON; N = 20). Blood was drawn and repeated sprint ability (RSA), muscle soreness and knee range of motion (KJRM) were determined pre- and post-games and during recovery. High-intensity running during G2 was 7-14% less compared to G1 and G3. RSA declined in EXP by 2-9% 3 days post-game with G2 causing the greatest performance impairment. In EXP, game play increased muscle soreness (~sevenfold) compared to CON with G2 inducing the greatest rise, while KJRM was attenuated post-game in EXP compared to CON (5-7%) and recovered slower post G2 and G3 than G1. CK, CRP, sVCAM-1, sP-Selectin and cortisol peaked 48 h post-games with G2 eliciting the greatest increase. Leukocyte count, testosterone, IL-1β and IL6 responses, although altered 24 h post each game, were comparable among games. Plasma TBARS and protein carbonyls rose by ~50% post-games with G2 eliciting the greatest increase 48 h of recovery. Reduced to oxidized glutathione ratio declined for 24 h post all games with G2 displaying the slowest recovery. Total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase activity increased (9-56%) for 48 h in response to game play. In summary, post-game performance recovery and inflammatory adaptations in response to a three-game weekly microcycle displayed a different response pattern, with strong indications of a largest physiological stress and fatigue after the middle game that was preceded by only a 3-day recovery.

Muscle damage produced during a simulated badminton match in competitive male players

The purpose of the study was to assess the occurrence of muscle damage after a simulated badminton match and its influence on physical and haematological parameters. Sixteen competitive male badminton players participated in the study. Before and just after a 45-min simulated badminton match, maximal isometric force and badminton-specific running/movement velocity were measured to assess muscle fatigue. Blood samples were also obtained before and after the match. The badminton match did not affect maximal isometric force or badminton-specific velocity. Blood volume and plasma volume were significantly reduced during the match and consequently haematite, leucocyte, and platelet counts significantly increased. Blood myoglobin and creatine kinase concentrations increased from 26.5 ± 11.6 to 197.3 ± 70.2 µg·L−1 and from 258.6 ± 192.2 to 466.0 ± 296.5 U·L−1, respectively. In conclusion, a simulated badminton match modified haematological parameters of whole blood and serum blood that indicate the occurrence of muscle fibre damage. However, the level of muscle damage did not produce decreased muscle performance.

Playing vs. nonplaying aerobic training in tennis: physiological and performance outcomes.

This study compared the effects of playing and nonplaying high intensity intermittent training (HIIT) on physiological demands and tennis stroke performance in young tennis players. Eleven competitive male players (13.4 ± 1.3 years) completed both a playing and nonplaying HIIT session of equal distance, in random order. During each HIIT session, heart rate (HR), blood lactate, and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were monitored. Before and after each HIIT session, the velocity and accuracy of the serve, and forehand and backhand strokes were evaluated. The results demonstrated that both HIIT sessions achieved an average HR greater than 90% HRmax. The physiological demands (average HR) were greater during the playing session compared to the nonplaying session, despite similar lactate concentrations and a lower RPE. The results also indicate a reduction in shot velocity after both HIIT sessions; however, the playing HIIT session had a more deleterious effect on stroke accuracy. These findings suggest that 1) both HIIT sessions may be sufficient to develop maximal aerobic power, 2) playing HIIT sessions provide a greater physiological demand with a lower RPE, and 3) playing HIIT has a greater deleterious effect on stroke performance, and in particular on the accuracy component of the ground stroke performance, and should be incorporated appropriately into a periodization program in young male tennis players.

Heat stress does not exacerbate tennis-induced alterations in physical performance

ObjectivesTo assess the time course of changes in physical performance in response to match-play tennis under heat stress.MethodsTwo matches consisting of 20 min of effective playing time (2×10 min segments)...