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Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore if specific hip and knee range-of-movement (ROM) tests can predict a risk factor for hamstring strain (HS) injury in male and female soccer players. Methods: One hundred amateur soccer players (56 men and 44 women) performed six tests to determine hip and knee ROM: straight leg raise test (SLR), modified Thomas test (TT), hip internal and external rotation (ER), hip abduction and adduction, Nachlas test and Ridge test. A logistic regression analysis was carried out to create a predictive model for HS injuries. Results: The percentage of HS injury was 20.45% and 30.35%, for female and male players. The logistic regression showed a significant model for both genders on the logit of suffering an HS injury with active-SLR and TT variables for females (R2CS = 0.491; R2N = 0.771) and active SLR and ER variables for males (R2CS = 0.623; R2N = 0.882). The predictive models correctly classify 95.5% and 94.6% of cases presenting good sensitivity (77.8% and 88.2%) and full (100%) and high (97.4%) specificity respectively. Furthermore, female players showed a greater ROM than males (p ≤ 0.01). Conclusion: Both female and male soccer players that suffered a HS injury had lower ROM in SLR, NT and RT and higher ROM in the TT that non-injured players. The tests that most likely predict HS injury are SLR and TT in females and SLR and ER in males. Thus, it is suggested to including specific exercises in amateur soccer players training programs to improve hip and knee ROM for injury prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the changes in neuromuscular contractile properties in elite cyclists associated to the peripheral fatigue produced in a maximal incremental test in cycle ergometer. Methods: Forty-eight volunteers' well-trained male cyclists were evaluated during the competition season within a recovery microcycle. Tensiomyography was used before and after performing an incremental test until exhaustion in cycle ergometer to measure the radial muscle belly displacement of the vastus lateralis (VL), rectus femoris (RF), and biceps femoris (BF) on the dominant leg. Maximum radial muscle belly displacement (Dm), contraction time (Tc), delay time (Td), sustain time (Ts), and radial displacement velocity (Vrd) were measured. Mixed-design factorial analysis of variance was used to detect changes in the mechanical and neuromuscular characteristics after a maximal incremental exercise test. Results: The results show in the evaluated muscles a moderate-large decrease (p < .01, η2 = 0.06-0.51) in Tc, Td, Dm, Ts, and Vrd. This decrease occurs more sharply in the BF than in RF or VL. Conclusion: An incremental effort until exhaustion produces peripheral fatigue associated with a decrease in Dm, Tc, Td, Ts, and Vrd, being more pronounced in biceps femoris than in vastus lateralis and rectus femoris. Coaches can use these changes found in the contractile properties as a reference to detect the muscle fatigue degree that certain training models pose for the cyclist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of match conditions on the defensive positioning in professional soccer. One hundred and ten ball recovery situations from an elite soccer team were analysed using a tracking system (Amisco Pro). Three team performance variables (ball recovery location (BRL), position of the defensive line (PDL) and position of the offensive line (POL), and three situational variables (match location, quality of opposition and match status) were considered. The results suggest that teams alter their style of play as a consequence of the match conditions. BRL was advanced by 4.87 and 1.80 m (p < 0.05) when the teams were losing and winning, respectively, and POL by 3.67 m (p< 0.05) when losing, than when the scores were even. Playing away decreased the BRL, the PDL and the POL by 4.62, 3.41 and 3.48 m compared with playing at home (p < 0.01). Playing against strong opposition decreased the BRL and the PDL by 5.32 and 3.51 m (p< 0.01) respectively, compared with playing against similar opponents. A combination of these variables can be used to develop a model to predict future performances. The findings emphasise the need for match analysts and coaches to consider the impact of match conditions during assessments of technical and tactical components of football performance. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]