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This study compares the conditioning services of Spanish sports teams: From soccer and basketball professional leagues, and top-division amateur leagues for handball, volleyball, indoor soccer, and field hockey. A survey was administered to those responsible for the conditioning preparation. The response rate was 82% (77 of 94). The teams were divided into class A and class B, with class A having the best performance. Fifty eight percent of the professional teams have hired a full-time person, with university degree, exclusively for the conditioning. The percentage was significantly less in amateur leagues for handball, volleyball, and field hockey: class A teams (41%), class B teams (0%). A small percentage of the Physical Conditioning Coaches (PCCs) continued their academic education (22%), and the consultation of scientific journals (5%). Only 6% of the PCCs did not mention deficiencies in the context of work. The main complaints are associated with the strength-training equipment and facilities. In class B teams of the amateur leagues, significant deficiencies were found in almost all the variables within the training environment. These results show significant deficiencies in the conditioning services offered by teams to their players, especially in no-professional teams and in the teams with lower performance level. Spanish PCCs should take advantage of advances made through scientific research in the area of conditioning by acquiring Master's Degrees and consulting peer-reviewed journals. The club's managers and/or coaches must be aware of the importance of conditioning for improving the training environment. Both aspects would increase the likelihood that better training or rehabilitation procedures would be developed at the club.

Resumen Introduccion El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar los parametros cardiorrespiratorios en condiciones de reposo y la respuesta durante ejercicio fisico a muy baja intensidad en mujeres con sindrome de fatiga cronica (SFC). Material y metodos Un grupo de 141 mujeres afectadas por el SFC se comparo con un grupo control (C) de 20 mujeres en condiciones de reposo y durante 4 min de ejercicio constante en un cicloergometro sin carga de trabajo (carga de trabajo=0 W). Resultados Se encontraron diferencias significativas durante el ejercicio: el cociente respiratorio (SFC=0,9±0,09, C=0,8±0,08; p −1 , C=79,8±8,4 lpm −1 ; p=0,03). No hubo diferencias significativas en la percepcion del esfuerzo realizado durante el descanso (SFC=10,3±3,0, C=6,2±0,6; p Conclusiones Se concluye que las mujeres con SFC tienen menos eficiencia ventilatoria que las del C durante el esfuerzo fisico a baja intensidad. Este aspecto podria ser mejorado a traves de programas especificos de rehabilitacion.

This study describes the results of a survey of the resistance training practices of the following Spanish sports teams: soccer and basketball professional leagues, and top-division leagues for handball, volleyball, indoor soccer, and field hockey. The response rate was 81.8% (77 of 94). This survey examines (a) strength and conditioning (SC) coach profiles, (b) resistance training exercises, (c) resistance training load, (d) repetition velocity, and (e) training leading to muscle failure. The results indicate that 80.5% of coaches held a university degree, with 22% holding a master's degrees, 40% held National Federation certification, and none held Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification. Respondents relied on nonscientific sources of information to develop their conditioning programs. Fifty-eight percent of the SC coaches were hired full time, with 18% performing the duties of a first trainer. Many SC coaches did not use weightlifting (54%), full squat (51%), load squat jump (35%), or bench press throw (100%) exercises. Thirty-eight percent of respondents did not control the load intensity or did not use a load of 50-90% of 1 repetition maximum. For these load intensities, 70% did not perform the combination of maximum repetition velocity and nonmuscular failure. More significant deficiencies in the fundamental principles of resistance training were observed in indoor soccer, soccer, field hockey, and among lower performing handball and basketball teams. These results indicate that the profile of the SC coaches in the Spanish teams is insufficient for an optimal application of resistance training. Spanish SC coaches should therefore take advantage of advances made through scientific research in the area of strength and conditioning by acquiring master's degrees and specific certificates and consulting peer-reviewer journals.