Performance and Muscle Architecture Comparisons Between Starters and Nonstarters in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Women's Soccer

Abstract

This study compared performance and muscle architecture (MA) changes in starters (S) and nonstarters (NS) during a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I women's soccer season. Twenty-eight women (19.9 ± 1.1 years; 1.71 ± 0.08 m; 64.7 ± 6.4 kg) were monitored for vertical jump power (VJP), repeated line drills (LDs), 3-dimensional multiple object tracking (3D-MOT), and reaction time (RT) at preseason, midseason, and postseason. Muscle architecture changes using ultrasonography were assessed at preseason and postseason. Comparisons between S (n = 11; 70.0 ± 14.6 min per game) and NS (n = 17; 8.4 ± 8.0 min per game) were performed to make magnitude-based inferences. No differences were seen in VJP during the season in either group. Starters were more likely (81.1%) to decrease LD time than NS, with no differences in fatigue rate. Starters and NS improved 3D-MOT (1.14 ± 0.41 to 1.55 ± 0.43) and RT (0.37 ± 0.05 to 0.34 ± 0.33 seconds), with no differences between groups. Rectus femoris (RF) echo intensity improved (65.57 ± 1.50 to 61.26 ± 1.59) in both groups, with no interactions observed. Cross-sectional area (20.84 ± 3.58 to 21.46 ± 3.66 cm) increased and pennation angle (PANG) (12.58 ± 2.56 to 11.78 ± 2.03°) decreased for both groups in the vastus lateralis (VL). Muscle architecture comparisons between groups revealed S likely decreased VL muscle thickness (MT) and PANG (81.6 and 79.4%, respectively) and possibly decreased RF MT and PANG (65.7 and 59.4%, respectively) when compared with NS. Results indicate that VJP and LD fatigue rate are not changed during a competitive season, but S become faster than NS. Three-dimensional multiple object tracking and RT improve regardless of playing time. Changes in MA indicate that practices alone provide sufficient stimulus for improving muscle quality during the competitive season.

Reliability of Panoramic Ultrasound Imaging in Simultaneously Examining Muscle Size and Quality of the Hamstring Muscles in Young, Healthy Males and Females

“…For example, previous investigations in these populations have reported EI ICC values calculated either between days (i.e., test-retest) or across differentsized ROIs (Caresio et al 2014) ranging from 0.540 to 0.760 for the medial gastrocnemius (Caresio et al 2014;Rosenberg et al 2014), 0.720 to 0.920 for the biceps brachii (Caresio et al 2014;Chen et al 2012;Radaelli et al 2012), 0.571 to 0.910 for the rectus femoris (Caresio et al 2014;Jajtner et al 2013;Strasser et al 2013) and 0.623 to 0.980 for the vastus lateralis muscles (Caresio et al 2014;Jajtner et al 2013;Strasser et al 2013, Wells et al 2014). Although we are aware of no previous reliability studies to date that have examined EI for the hamstring muscles, the present study's ICC findings of 0.715-0.917 were comparable to those previously reported for EI for the biceps brachii and rectus femoris (Caresio et al 2014;Chen et al 2012;Radaelli et al 2012;Strasser et al 2013).…”

“…Despite numerous research studies examining the reliability of US to measure muscle architecture of the locomotor-related lower body muscles such as the quadriceps and plantar flexors (Jajtner et al 2013;Melvin et al 2014;Rosenberg et al 2014;Scanlon et al 2014;Wells et al 2014), interestingly, we are aware of only a few studies to date that have examined the reliability of US to measure muscle architecture of the hamstring muscle group (i.e., biceps femoris [BF], semitendinosus [ST], semimembranosus [SM]) (Chleboun et al 2001;Kellis et al 2009;Timmins et al 2014). Specifically, Chleboun et al (2001), Kellis et al (2009) andTimmins et al (2014) reported that US was a valid and reliable assessment tool for examining MT, fascicle length and/or pennation angle of the BF and ST.…”

Body Composition and Muscle Characteristics of Division I Track and Field Athletes

“…Recently, ultrasound has been used to evaluate muscle characteristics in athletes (8, 15, 23). Measurements of muscle cross sectional area (mCSA) and echo intensity (EI) can be used to assess muscle size and quality, respectively (2).…”

Les étirements sont-ils un facteur préventif des lésions de l’appareil locomoteur ? Étude pilote prospective dans une population de footballeurs amateurs

“…Le protocole d'étirements consistait en deux répétitions de 10 secondes d'étirements statiques de 5 groupes musculaires les plus sollicités durant l'exercice footballistique [19,20] : fessiers, adducteurs, quadriceps, ischiojambiers, triceps. Ces exercices étaient à l'image de ceux habituellement réalisés par les footballeurs de ce club en fin d'entraînement.…”

“…Il y a eu 20 Concernant les circonstances de survenue des blessures, 8 se sont produites pendant l'entraînement : 4 dans chaque groupe. L'incidence des blessures à l'entraînement pour 1000 heures de pratique était de 1,7 pour GE contre 2,6 pour GC avec un RR de 1 entre les deux groupes (IC 95 % 0,28-3,47).…”