OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of eccentric exercise on optimum lengths of the knee flexors and extensors during the preseason in professional soccer. DESIGN:Twenty-eight athletes from a professional Spanish soccer team (Division II) were randomly assigned to an eccentric exercise intervention group (EG) or a control group (CG). Over the four-week period two athletes from the control group suffered RF injuries and two athletes were contracted by other clubs. After these exclusions, both groups (EG, n=13; and CG, n=11) performed regular soccer training during the four-week preseason period. RESULTS: After the four weeks, the optimum lengths of the knee flexors were significantly (P<0.05) increased by 2.3 degrees in the CG and by 4.0 degrees in the EG. The change in the EG was significantly (P<0.05) greater than that of the CG. The optimum lengths of the knee extensors were significantly increased only in the EG by 6.5 degrees . Peak torque levels and ratios of quadriceps to hamstring (Q/H ratios) were not significantly altered throughout the study for either group. CONCLUSION:Eccentric exercise can increase the optimum lengths of both the knee extensors and knee extensors flexors during the preseason in professional soccer.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of eccentric exercise on optimum lengths of the knee flexors and extensors during the preseason in professional soccer. DESIGN: Twenty-eight athletes from a professional Spanish soccer team (Division II) were randomly assigned to an eccentric exercise intervention group (EG) or a control group (CG). Over the four-week period two athletes from the control group suffered RF injuries and two athletes were contracted by other clubs. After these exclusions, both groups (EG, n=13; and CG, n=11) performed regular soccer training during the four-week preseason period. RESULTS: After the four weeks, the optimum lengths of the knee flexors were significantly (P<0.05) increased by 2.3 degrees in the CG and by 4.0 degrees in the EG. The change in the EG was significantly (P<0.05) greater than that of the CG. The optimum lengths of the knee extensors were significantly increased only in the EG by 6.5 degrees . Peak torque levels and ratios of quadriceps to hamstring (Q/H ratios) were not significantly altered throughout the study for either group. CONCLUSION: Eccentric exercise can increase the optimum lengths of both the knee extensors and knee extensors flexors during the preseason in professional soccer.
Authors: Matthew Buckthorpe; Furio Danelon; Giovanni La Rosa; Gianni Nanni; Matthew Stride; Francesco Della Villa Journal: Sports Med Date: 2020-12-17 Impact factor: 11.136
Authors: Wesam Saleh A Al Attar; Najeebullah Soomro; Peter J Sinclair; Evangelos Pappas; Ross H Sanders Journal: Sports Med Date: 2017-05 Impact factor: 11.136
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