Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2016; 37(11): 878-883
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-109268
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effect of High and Low Flexibility Levels on Physical Fitness and Neuromuscular Properties in Professional Soccer Players

E. Rey
1   Faculty of Education and Sports Sciences, University of Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
,
A. Padrón-Cabo
1   Faculty of Education and Sports Sciences, University of Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
,
R. Barcala-Furelos
1   Faculty of Education and Sports Sciences, University of Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
,
M. Mecías-Calvo
1   Faculty of Education and Sports Sciences, University of Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted after revision 12 May 2016

Publication Date:
13 July 2016 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

This study aimed to analyse the impact of high and low flexibility levels of hamstring and quadriceps muscles on physical fitness and neuromuscular properties in professional soccer players. 62 male professional soccer players participated in this study and performed 2 instrumented flexibility tests (passive straight leg raise [PSLR] and quadriceps flexibility [QF]). Anaerobic performance was assessed using countermovement jump (CMJ), Abalakov vertical jump, 20-m sprint, and Balsom agility test. A k-means cluster analysis was performed to identify a cut-off value of hamstring and quadriceps flexibility and classify players as high hamstring flexibility (HHF) and low hamstring flexibility (LHF) or high quadriceps flexibility (HQF) and low quadriceps flexibility (LQF), respectively, according to the PSLR and QF performances. The LQF players performed better than HQF on CMJ (p=0.042, ES: 0.64) and Balsom agility test (p=0.029, ES: 0.68). In addition, LQF showed higher muscular stiffness than HQF players (p=0.002, ES: 0.88). There were no significant differences between HHF and LHF groups. When pooling the HQF and LQF players’ data, the Pearson’s correlation showed significant moderate positive association between muscular stiffness and QF (r=0.516, p<0.001). These results support the rationale that baseline stiffness is likely to influence athletic performance rather than flexibility level in soccer players.

Key words

athletic performance - tensiomyography stiffness
 

  • References

  • 1 Alter MJ. Science of Flexibility. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics; 1996
    Google Scholar
  • 2 Ayala F, de Baranda PS, De Ste Croix M, Santonja F. Absolute reliability of five clinical tests for assessing hamstring flexibility in professional futsal players. J Sci Med Sport 2012; 15: 142-147
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Balsom PD. Evaluation of physical performance. In: Ekblom B. (Ed.). Football (soccer). London: Blackwell; 1994: 102-123
    Google Scholar
  • 4 Bradley PS, Portas MD. The relationship between preseason range of motion and muscle strain injury in elite soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 2007; 21: 1155-1159
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Cohen J. Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioural Sciences. 2nd ed. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum; 1988
    Google Scholar
  • 6 Dadebo B, White J, George K. A survey of flexibility training protocols and hamstring strains in professional football clubs in England. Br J Sports Med 2004; 38: 388-394
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Delagi EF, Perotto A, Iazetti J, Morrison D. Anatomic Guide for the Electromyographer: The Limbs. Springfield: Charles C. Thomas; 1975
    Google Scholar
  • 8 Fried T, Lloyd GJ. An overview of common soccer injuries. Management and prevention. Sports Med 1992; 14: 269-275
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 García-Pinillos F, Ruiz-Ariza A, Moreno Del Castillo R, Latorre-Román PÁ. Impact of limited hamstring flexibility on vertical jump, kicking speed, sprint, and agility in young football players. J Sports Sci 2015; 33: 1293-1297
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Gleim GW, Mchugh MP. Flexibility and its effects on sports injury and performance. Sports Med 1997; 24: 289-299
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. Ethical standards in sport and exercise science research: 2016 Update. Int J Sports Med 2015; 36: 1121-1124
    Google Scholar
  • 12 Haugen TA, Tønnessen E, Seiler S. Anaerobic performance testing of professional soccer players 1995–2010. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2013; 8: 148-156
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Henderson G, Barnes CA, Portas MD. Factors associated with increased propensity for hamstring injury in English Premier League soccer players. J Sci Med Sport 2010; 13: 397-402
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Hopkins WG, Marshall SW, Batterham AM, Hanin J. Progressive statistics for studies in sports medicine and exercise science. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2009; 41: 3-13
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Kallerud H, Gleeson N. Effects of stretching on performances involving stretch-shortening cycles. Sports Med 2013; 43: 733-750
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Little T, Williams AG. Effects of differential stretching protocols during warm-ups on high-speed motor capacities in professional soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 2006; 20: 203-207
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 McHugh MP, Kremenic IJ, Fox MB, Gleim GW. The role of mechanical and neural restraints to joint range of motion during passive stretch. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1998; 30: 928-932
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Palmer TB, Thompson BJ, Hawkey MJ, Conchola EC, Adams BM, Akehi K, Thiele RM, Smith DB. The influence of athletic status on the passive properties of the muscle-tendon unit and traditional performance measures in division I female soccer players and nonathlete controls. J Strength Cond Res 2014; 28: 2026-2034
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Pisot R, Narici MV, Simunic B, De Boer M, Seynnes O, Jurdana M, Biolo G, Mekjavic IB. Whole muscle contractile parameters and thickness loss during 35-day bed rest. Eur J Appl Physiol 2008; 104: 409-414
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Pruyn EC, Watsford ML, Murphy AJ, Pine MJ, Spurrs RW, Cameron ML, Johnston RJ. Seasonal variation of leg stiffness in professional Australian rules footballers. J Strength Cond Res 2013; 27: 1775-1779
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Rey E, Lago-Peñas C, Lago-Ballesteros J. Tensiomyography of selected lower-limb muscles in professional soccer players. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2012; 22: 866-872
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Rodacki ALF, Fowler NE, Bennett SJ. Vertical jump coordination: fatigue effects. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2002; 34: 105-116
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Rodriguez A, Sánchez J, Rodriguez-Marroyo JA, Villa JG. Effects of seven weeks of static hamstring stretching on flexibility and sprint performance in young soccer players according to their playing position. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2016; 56: 345-351
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Rubini EC, Costa ALL, Gomes PSC. The effects of stretching on strength performance. Sports Med 2007; 37: 213-224
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Sayers AL, Farley RS, Fuller DK, Jubenville CB, Caputo JL. The effect of static stretching on phases of sprint performance in elite soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 2008; 22: 1416-1421
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Stølen T, Chamari K, Castagna C, Wisløff U. Physiology of soccer. An update. Sports Med 2005; 35: 501-536
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Valencic V, Knez N. Measuring of skeletal muscle’s dynamic properties. Artif Organs 1997; 21: 240-242
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Watsford M, Ditroilo M, Fernández-peña E, D’Amen G, Lucertini F. Muscle stiffness and rate of torque development during sprint cycling. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2010; 42: 1324-1332
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Witvrouw E, Danneels L, Asselman P, D'Have T, Cambier D. Muscle flexibility as a risk factor for developing muscle injuries in male professional soccer players. A prospective study. Am J Sports Med 2003; 31: 41-46
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Witvrouw E, Mahieu N, Danneels L, McNair P. Stretching and injury prevention: an obscure relationship. Sports Med 2004; 34: 443-449
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Wong DP, Hjelde GH, Cheng CF, Ngo JK. Use of the RSA/RCOD index to identify training priority in soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 2015; 29: 2787-2793
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Woods C, Hawkins R, Hulse M, Hodson A. The Football Association Medical Research Programme: an audit of injuries in professional football – analysis of preseason injuries. Br J Sports Med 2002; 36: 436-441
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar