Adrien Vachon1,2, Nicolas Berryman1,3,4,5, Iñigo Mujika6,7, Jean-Baptiste Paquet2, Denis Arvisais8, Laurent Bosquet1,9. 1. Lab MOVE (EA6314), Faculty of sport sciences, University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France. 2. Stade Rochelais Rugby, La Rochelle, France. 3. Department of Sports Studies, Bishop's University, Sherbrooke QC, Canada. 4. Institut national du sport du Québec, Montréal QC, Canada. 5. Département des Science de l'activité physique, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal QC, Canada. 6. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Basque Country. 7. Exercise Science Laboratory, School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Finis Terrae, Santiago, Chile. 8. Direction of Libraries, University of Montreal, Montreal QC, Canada. 9. Department of kinesiology, University of Montreal, Montreal QC, Canada.
Abstract
Purpose: To assess the effects of a taper strategy on neuromuscular and metabolic fitness in team sport athletes, through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Method: To be included in this meta-analysis, studies had to involve competitive team sport athletes and a tapering intervention providing details about the procedures used to decrease the training load, as well as competition or field-based criterion performance and all necessary data to calculate effect sizes. Four databases were searched according to these criteria, which led to the identification of 895 potential studies and the subsequent inclusion of 14 articles. Independent variables were training intensity, volume and frequency, as well as the pattern of taper and its duration. The dependent variable was performance obtained in various neuromuscular and metabolic tests. Results: There was limited evidence of a moderate taper-induced improvement in repeated sprint ability (Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) (95%IC;I2) = 0.41 (0.26-0.55;0%)) and moderate evidence of a moderate increase in maximal power (SMD (95%IC;I2) = 0.44 (0.32-0.56;15%)), change of direction speed (SMD (95%IC;I2) = 0.38 (0.15-0.60;28%)) and maximal oxygen uptake (SMD (95%IC;I2) = 0.76 (0.43-1.09;37%)). Conclusion: Tapering is an effective training strategy to improve maximal power, maximal oxygen uptake, repeated sprint ability and change of direction speed in team sports. However, the literature lacks studies using various tapering strategies to compare their effectiveness and make evidence-based recommendations. Future original studies should focus on this major issue.
Purpose: To assess the effects of a taper strategy on neuromuscular and metabolic fitness in team sport athletes, through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Method: To be included in this meta-analysis, studies had to involve competitive team sport athletes and a tapering intervention providing details about the procedures used to decrease the training load, as well as competition or field-based criterion performance and all necessary data to calculate effect sizes. Four databases were searched according to these criteria, which led to the identification of 895 potential studies and the subsequent inclusion of 14 articles. Independent variables were training intensity, volume and frequency, as well as the pattern of taper and its duration. The dependent variable was performance obtained in various neuromuscular and metabolic tests. Results: There was limited evidence of a moderate taper-induced improvement in repeated sprint ability (Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) (95%IC;I2) = 0.41 (0.26-0.55;0%)) and moderate evidence of a moderate increase in maximal power (SMD (95%IC;I2) = 0.44 (0.32-0.56;15%)), change of direction speed (SMD (95%IC;I2) = 0.38 (0.15-0.60;28%)) and maximal oxygen uptake (SMD (95%IC;I2) = 0.76 (0.43-1.09;37%)). Conclusion: Tapering is an effective training strategy to improve maximal power, maximal oxygen uptake, repeated sprint ability and change of direction speed in team sports. However, the literature lacks studies using various tapering strategies to compare their effectiveness and make evidence-based recommendations. Future original studies should focus on this major issue.
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Keywords:
Team sport; change of direction; maximal oxygen uptake; maximal power; repeated sprint ability; training load