The role of eccentric strength in 180° turns in female soccer players

Jones, PA; Thomas, C; Dos'Santos, T; McMahon, JJ; Graham-Smith, P

Abstract

Previous studies have reported an association between eccentric strength (ECC-STR) and change of direction (COD) ability. Little is known about how ECC-STR facilitates COD maneuvers. The aim of this study was to examine the role of ECC-STR during a 180° COD task in 18 female soccer players. Each player performed six trials of a 180° COD task whereby three-dimensional motion data from 10 Qualisys Pro-Reflex infrared cameras (240 Hz) and ground reaction forces (GRFs) from two AMTI force platforms (1200 Hz) were collected. Relative eccentric knee extensor (ECC-EXT) and flexor (ECC-FLEX) peak torque was collected from both limbs at 60°·s−1 using a Kin Com isokinetic dynamometer. Large correlations were revealed between COD performance (time to complete 5 m approach, 180° turn, 5 m return) and ECC-EXT (R = −0.674) and ECC-FLEX (R = −0.603). Moderate to large correlations were observed between approach velocity (AV) and COD performance (R = −0.484) and ECC-EXT (R = 0.724). Stronger participants (n = 9) recorded significantly (p < 0.05) faster AV (4.01 ± 0.18 vs. 3.74 ± 0.24 m·s−1, d = 1.27) and a greater reduction in velocity (−1.55 ± 0.17 vs. −1.37 ± 0.21 m·s−1, d = −0.94) during penultimate contact than weaker (n = 9) subjects. Greater ECC-STR is associated with faster COD performance in female soccer players, as stronger players are better able to decelerate during penultimate contact from faster approach velocities.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 15, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Jun 17, 2017
• Publication Date: Jun 17, 2017
• Deposit Date: Jun 19, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 19, 2017
• Journal: Sports
• Electronic ISSN: 2075-4663
• Publisher: MDPI
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 42
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/sports5020042
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/sports5020042
• Related Public URLs: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/sports