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Resistance training programs play a crucial role in optimizing soccer performance. The aim of this study is to compare performance outcomes in sport-specific tasks after implementing two different flywheel resistance training (FRT) programs: variable intensity (VI) and constant intensity (CI). Seventeen ( n = 17) amateur footballers were divided into VI and CI groups with the same training volume. For the VI group, a decrease in inertial load was implemented every four sessions, whereas the CI group maintained a constant load during the entire program. After different familiarization sessions and testing (sprint, change of direction, jump, one-repetition maximum and flywheel strength variables), ten sessions of FRT were performed over 5 weeks. Both groups showed similar improvements in the one-repetition maximum ( p < 0.01) but the CI group had significant improvements in the 10-m sprint ( p = 0.04; ES = 0.72), emphasizing the potential benefits of medium inertial loads to maximize power and specificity in sport tasks. However, no significant differences were observed in the countermovement jump, change of direction and 30-m sprint, possibly attributed to neuromuscular fatigue from a high-volume training schedule and friendly matches. The study highlights the importance of considering training load distribution in FRT programs. The findings emphasize the need for complementary training to maximize the jump and change of direction abilities and caution against high-volume training and friendly match scenarios. In conclusion, FRT programs, whether varying in intensity or not, can yield medium-term performance improvements for soccer players., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Asencio, Moreno, Hernández-Davó and Sabido.)

Objectives: The purpose of this study was 1) to determine and compare kinetic parameters during the realization of a countermovement jump (CMJ) between footballers with cerebral palsy (CP) and non-impaired footballers, and 2) to analyze the differences in this action between different players' impairment profiles and a group of non-impaired footballers. Methods: This study involved 154 participants comprising 121 male footballers with CP from 11 national teams and 33 male non-impaired football players recruited as the control group (CG). The footballers with CP were described according to the different impairment profiles (bilateral spasticity = 10; athetosis or ataxia = 16; unilateral spasticity = 77; minimum impairment = 18). All participants performed three CMJs on a force platform to record kinetic parameters during the test. Results: The group of para-footballers presented significantly lower values than the CG in the jump height ( p < 0.01, d = -1.28), peak power ( p < 0.01, d = -0.84), and the net concentric impulse ( p < 0.01, d = -0.86). Concerning the pairwise comparisons between CP profiles and the CG, significant differences were found for the bilateral spasticity, athetosis or ataxia, and unilateral spasticity subgroups compared to the non-impaired players for jump height ( p < 0.01; d = -1.31 to -2.61), power output ( p < 0.05; d = -0.77 to -1.66), and concentric impulse of the CMJ ( p < 0.01; d = -0.86 to -1.97). When comparing the minimum impairment subgroup with the CG, only significant differences were found for jump height ( p = 0.036; d = -0.82). Footballers with minimum impairment presented higher jumping height ( p = 0.002; d = -1.32) and concentric impulse ( p = 0.029; d = -1.08) compared to those with bilateral spasticity. Also, the unilateral spasticity subgroup reports a higher jump height performance than the bilateral group ( p = 0.012; d = -1.12). Conclusion: These results suggest that the variables related to power production during the concentric phase of the jump are crucial for the performance differences between groups with and without impairment. This study provides a more comprehensive understanding of kinetic variables that would differentiate CP and non-impaired footballers. However, more studies are necessary to clarify which parameters better differentiate among different profiles of CP. The findings could help to prescribe effective physical training programs and support the classifier's decision-making for class allocation in this para-sport., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Henríquez, Sabido, Barbado, Roldan, Elvira, Yanci and Reina.)

The use of flywheel devices has increased in popularity during the last few years. Flywheel training is an attractive alternative to traditional resistance exercise because it allows for the loading stimulus to be manipulated. Some of the benefits associated with flywheel training include increases in muscle hypertrophy, muscular strength and reductions in injury risk. Nevertheless, there is a lack of research about how basic training variables [i.e., rest intervals (RI) between sets], or variables associated with manipulation of the loading stimulus (i.e., different inertial loads), influence the acute responses during a flywheel session. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the influence of three different RI between sets (1, 2, or 3 min), during a flywheel squat session with two different inertial loads: light (0.025 kg⋅m 2 ) and high (0.075 kg⋅m 2 ). Twenty-three participants performed six exercise sessions (two inertial loads × three RI) consisting of four sets of 11 repetitions. Concentric and eccentric power, lactate concentration ([La]) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured during the exercise session, and delayed onset muscular soreness (DOMS) were recorded 24 h post-exercise. Both concentric (9.1 and 22.1% at light and high load respectively; p = 0.022 and 0.005) and eccentric peak power (17.5% at high load; p = 0.02) decreased across sets when the 1 min RI was used. Concentric peak power was decreased (11.1%, p = 0.041) from the 2 min RI only with the high inertial load. RPE was higher during the 1 min compared with the 3 min RI protocol when using the high inertial load ( p = 0.028). [La] was higher when using the 2 min RI compared with the 3 min RI at light load ( p = 0.03). In conclusion, during flywheel training sessions, a short RI (1 min) was insufficient to maintain power output across all four sets and was linked to greater perceptual variables. A 2 min RI allowed for power to be maintained, but only when training with light inertial loads. Based on these results, coaches should consider prescribing 3 min RI's when performing flywheel squat exercises regardless the inertial load. In contrast, when using 2 min RI's the inertial load should be light., (Copyright © 2020 Sabido, Hernández-Davó, Capdepon and Tous-Fajardo.)

Background: Boccia is a paralympic sport played by athletes with severe neurological impairments affecting all four limbs. Impaired manual dexterity (MD) and intralimb coordination (ILC) may limit individuals' ability to perform certain activities such as grasping, releasing, or manipulating objects, which are essential tasks for daily life or to participate in para sports such as boccia. However, there are currently no specific instruments available to assess hand-arm coordination in boccia players with severe cerebral palsy (CP)., Purpose: To design new sport-specific coordination tests to assess impaired MD and ILC in boccia players; afterward, quantify to what extent their coordination is impaired compared to a control group (CG) without neurological impairments., Methods: Seventy-three recreational boccia players with severe CP (BC1: age = 34.01 ± 16.43 years; BC2: age = 33.97 ± 14.29 years), and 19 healthy adults (age = 27.89 ± 7.08 years) completed the test battery. The Box and Block test (BBT) and Box and Ball test (BBLT) were used to assess MD and four tapping tests to assess upper ILC., Results: Both MD tests were able to discriminate between sport classes. Boccia players obtained better scores in the BBLT in comparison to the BBT, showing that the BBLT had more appropriate testing features. On the other hand, only one of the ILC tests was able to discriminate between sport classes, displaying the highest practical significance ( d  = -1.12). Participants with CP scored significantly worse in all the coordination tests compared to the CG., Conclusion: Using sport-specific equipment facilitated grasp function during the MD assessment. Regarding the ILC, the type of movement (continuous vs. discrete) seems to be more relevant for classification than the movement direction (vertical vs. horizontal) or the presence of a ball.