Velocity at Lactate Threshold and Running Economy Must Also be Considered Along With Maximal Oxygen Uptake When Testing Elite Soccer Players During Preseason

Abstract

Maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) has been traditionally used to explain physiologic differences among soccer teams of different ranking. However, other endurance markers may have greater discriminatory ability. The purpose of this study was to examine whether velocity at lactate threshold and running economy can be used to better discriminate endurance characteristics of soccer teams of different levels along with VO₂max during preseason testing. One hundred twenty-nine professional Greek soccer players participating in the top 3 divisions underwent an incremental treadmill test to exhaustion using expired gas analysis and simultaneous blood lactate measurements. Velocity at lactate threshold was determined using the Dmax method, and running economy was measured at 12 km·h⁻¹. Analyses of variation were used to compare for differences between divisions. Velocity at lactate threshold was the only variable that was statistically different between any 2 divisions. In every comparison, the higher division had the higher velocity at lactate threshold. The VO₂ was statistically different only between the top 2 divisions. Running economy was statistically different between divisions with similar VO₂, with better running economy for the higher division in each comparison. These results indicate that velocity at lactate threshold can be used to better discriminate endurance characteristics of soccer teams of different level along with VO₂max during preseason testing. Running economy may reveal differences between teams with similar VO₂max.

Avaliação aeróbia no futebol. DOI: 10.5007/1980-0037.2011v13n5p384

“…The authors attributed this finding to the fact that the athletes had returned from a summer break during which they were not involved in any type of training. Recently, Ziogas et al 5 demonstrated differences in LT 2 between soccer players of different competitive levels (1st, 2nd and 3rd Greek division). The highest values were observed in athletes of the 1st division, suggesting that this parameter can be used as a discriminator of aerobic performance in soccer since in that study LT 2 was the only aerobic parameter able to distinguish between the three divisions.…”

“…By representing the upper limit of energy transformation via aerobic metabolism, VO 2 max is considered to be the main physiological indicator of maximal aerobic power 8 . Several studies have analyzed VO 2 max in soccer players 5,9,10 . Most of them report values ranging from 55 to 68 mL.kg.min -1 , which are lower than those traditionally found in endurance runners (70 mL.kg.min -1 ).…”

“…The parameters used for the evaluation of aerobic fitness in soccer players include maximal oxygen uptake (VO 2 max), which corresponds to the maximum capacity of a subject to take up, transport and utilize oxygen at the cellular level per unit time 3 ; peak velocity (PV) which, according to Rampinini et al 4 , is associated with the distance run at high intensity (>19.8 km.h -1 ) and, more recently, the anaerobic threshold and running economy (RE), which can also be used to discriminate performance among athletes of different competitive levels 5 . Although various reports have investigated aerobic parameters in soccer players, there is a lack of studies that evaluate in detail the characteristics related to the assessment of these parameters, particularly factors interfering with the tests (field and laboratory) and standardization of the methods.…”

A comparison of internal load between friendly matches and a conditioned game in professional football players

“…El fútbol es un deporte de naturaleza intermitente (Di Salvo et al, 2007;Ziogas, Patras, Stergiou, & Georgoulis, 2011) y de elevada intensidad (Hoff, Wisloff, Engen, Kemi, & Helgerud, 2002). En este deporte, la intensidad de trabajo media en los partidos de competición se sitúa entre el 80 y el 90% de la frecuencia cardíaca máxima (FC max ), próxima al umbral anaeróbi-co Stolen, Chamari, Castagna, & Wisloff, 2005).…”

Análise da potência aeróbia de futebolistas por meio de teste de campo e teste laboratorial

“…O futebol de campo, devido as suas ações de saltar, acelerar e mudar de direção, é considerado uma modalidade muito complexa, classificada como intermitente devido as suas corridas de altas e médias intensidades e com corridas de baixas intensidades para a recuperação passiva [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] . A potência aeróbia (VO 2max ) é considerada muito importante para os jogadores de futebol para que suportem os 90 minutos de jogo, pois ela assegura um alto rendimento energético durante toda a partida e remove rapidamente o lactato acumulado entre as ações com altas intensidades [1][2][3][4]8 . O VO 2max é a máxima capacidade do organismo em captar, transportar e utilizar o oxigênio e pode ser expresso em termos absolutos (l/min) ou relativo à massa corpórea (ml/kg/min) 2,9 .…”