Monitoring Internal Training Intensity Correlated with Neuromuscular and Well-Being Status in Croatian Professional Soccer Players during Five Weeks of the Pre-Season Training Phase

This study aimed to investigate the changes in internal training intensity, well-being, and countermovement jump (CMJ) performance and to determine their relationship across five weeks of the pre-season training phase in professional soccer players. A total of 22 professional male soccer players (ag...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Josip Maleš, Ibrahim Ouergui, Danijela Kuna, Frane Žuvela, Andrea De Giorgio, Goran Kuvačić
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-11-01
Series:Sports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/10/11/172
Description
Summary:This study aimed to investigate the changes in internal training intensity, well-being, and countermovement jump (CMJ) performance and to determine their relationship across five weeks of the pre-season training phase in professional soccer players. A total of 22 professional male soccer players (age = 21.7 ± 4 years, body height = 185.9 ± 6.3 cm, body weight = 79 ± 6.3 kg, BMI = 22.8 ± 1.4 kg·m<sup>−2</sup>; VO<sub>2max</sub> = 52.9 ± 3.2) from the Croatian Second League voluntary participated in this study. The players spent 2230 ± 117 min in 32 technical/tactical and strength/conditioning training sessions, mostly at the low intensity zone (61%), and played 8 friendly matches at a high intensity (>90%). A one-way repeated measure of analysis ANOVA revealed a significant difference between weeks in CMJ performance (F<sub>(1,22)</sub> = 11.8, <i>p</i> < 0.001), with CMJ height in weeks 4 and 5 being likely to very likely higher than that noted in week 1. Moreover, significant differences between weeks were found in all internal training intensity measures (average [F<sub>(1,22)</sub> = 74.8, <i>p</i> < 0.001] and accumulated weekly internal training intensity [F<sub>(1,22)</sub> = 55.4, <i>p</i> < 0.001], training monotony [F<sub>(1,22)</sub> = 23.9, <i>p</i> < 0.001], and training strain [F<sub>(1,22)</sub> = 34.5, <i>p</i> < 0.001]). Likewise, differences were observed for wellness status categories (fatigue [F<sub>(1,22)</sub> = 4.3, <i>p</i> = 0.003], sleep [F<sub>(1,22)</sub> = 7.1, <i>p</i> < 0.001], DOMS [F<sub>(1,22)</sub> = 5.7, <i>p</i> < 0.001], stress [F<sub>(1,22)</sub> = 15.6, <i>p</i> < 0.001]), mood [F<sub>(1,22)</sub> = 12.7, <i>p</i> < 0.001], and overall well-being status score (F<sub>(1,22)</sub> = 13.2, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Correlation analysis showed large negative correlations between average weekly internal training intensity and fatigue (r = −0.63, <i>p</i> = 0.002), DOMS (r = −0.61, <i>p</i> = 0.003), and WBI (r = −0.53, <i>p</i> = 0.011). Additionally, fatigue was significantly associated (large negative correlation) with accumulated weekly internal training intensity (r = −0.51, <i>p</i> = 0.014) and training strain (r = −0.61, <i>p</i> = 0.003). Small, but non-significant, correlations were found between CMJ performance and wellness status measures. These findings highlight the utility and simplicity of monitoring tools to improve athletes’ performance.
ISSN:2075-4663