Somatic, Endurance Performance and Heart Rate Variability Profiles of Professional Soccer Players Grouped According to Age

Abstract

This cross-sectional study compared somatic, endurance performance determinants and heart rate variability (HRV) profiles of professional soccer players divided into different age groups: GI (17–19.9 years; n = 23), GII (20–24.9 years; n = 45), GIII (25–29.9 years; n = 30), and GIV (30–39 years; n = 26). Players underwent somatic and HRV assessment and maximal exercise testing. HRV was analyzed by spectral analysis of HRV, and high (HF) and low (LF) frequency power was transformed by a natural logarithm (Ln). Players in GIV (83 ± 7 kg) were heavier (p < 0.05) compared to both GI (73 ± 6 kg), and GII (78 ± 6 kg). Significantly lower maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max, ml•kg-1•min-1) was observed for GIV (56.6 ± 3.8) compared to GI (59.6 ± 3.9), GII (59.4 ± 4.2) and GIV (59.7 ± 4.1). All agegroups, except for GII, demonstrated comparable relative maximal power output (Pmax). For supine HRV, significantly lower Ln HF (ms2) was identified in both GIII (7.1 ± 0.8) and GIV (6.9 ± 1.0) compared to GI (7.9 ± 0.6) and GII (7.7 ± 0.9). In conclusion, soccer players aged >25 years showed negligible differences in Pmax unlike the age group differences demonstrated in VO2max. A shift towards relative sympathetic dominance, particularly due to reduced vagal activity, was apparent after approximately 8 years of competing at the professional level.

Changes in Injury Risk Mechanisms After Soccer-Specific Fatigue in Male Youth Soccer Players

“…One of the reasons of this discrepancy could be partly explained by the difference in anthropometric characteristics (elite youth players: body height 177.8 ± 6.6 cm; body mass 67.3 ± 8.3 kg, adult semi-professional players: body height 184.8 ± 6.6 cm; body mass 78.3 ± 5.4 kg), which could influence physical demands during specific movements, especially during changing of direction and acceleration/deceleration. Similar weight differences between youth and adult professional soccer players have been found recently ( Botek et al, 2016 ). Therefore, based on our results, it seems that the SAFT 90 applied in elite youth soccer players did not represent a high enough intensity of exercise to produce high lactate concentrations, RPE response and a decrease in muscular control.…”

Age‐related physical and technical match performance changes in elite soccer players

“…Professional soccer teams usually consist of players from a wide age range . In the four major European professional soccer leagues, Bundesliga (Germany), Premier League (England), Serie A (Italy), and La Liga (Spain), most players are between 21 and 29 years old, and a substantial drop‐off is observed at around the age of 30 years .…”

Assessment of the body response to specific fatigue exercise protocol SAFT90 in U16 soccer players

“…Anthropometrics characteristic particularly body mass, influence VO 2 max. Botek et al (2016) found the differences up to 10 kg between adults (20-39 years old) and youth (17-19.9 years old) professional soccer players. In the same study, authors found differences in the average percentage of body fat between 8.7% (17-19 years old) and 12.5% (30-39 years old).…”

“…Due to the fact that VO 2 max is age-related, we need to highlight that the data for the creation of SAFT90 was collected from matches of adult soccer players while we tested U16 players. Botek et al (2016) reported relatively stable VO 2 max (~59 ml ⋅ kg -1 ⋅ min -1 ) in professional soccer players up to 30 years of age. It then decreases by ~5% (~3 ml ⋅ kg -1 ⋅ min -1 ) in the following nine years possibly due to a gain in body weight.…”