title: Comparison between three different endurance tests in professional soccer players.
abstract: The aims of this study were (a) to assess and correlate interval shuttle run test (ISRT) performance, maximum oxygen uptake (V[Combining Dot Above]O(2)max), running economy (RE), running velocity at the first rise in blood lactate concentrations above baseline (vLT) and running velocity at 4 mmol·L(-1) blood lactate concentration (v4) in professional soccer players and (b) to investigate whether a correlation exists between the respective results of time to exhaustion (T(lim)) from continuous and intermittent endurance tests, respectively. Eleven male professional field soccer players (mean ± SD: age 23.8 ± 3.0 years, V[Combining Dot Above]O(2)max 58.2 ± 4.9 ml·kg(-1)·min(-1)) completed a continuous Incremental Test with lactate measurements to determine vLT and v4, a continuous Ramp Test with gas exchange analysis to determine V[Combining Dot Above]O(2)max and RE, and an intermittent ISRT to determine intermittent endurance capacity during the first week of preseason preparation. There were significant correlations between ISRT performance and V[Combining Dot Above]O(2)max (r = 0.70, p < 0.05), and between T(lim) in both continuous endurance tests (r = 0.89, p < 0.01). Between all other variables no significant correlations were found overall (best r = 0.60, p > 0.05). The assessment of all values of V[Combining Dot Above]O(2)max, RE, vLT, and v4 should be included when investigating aerobic endurance performance among groups or over time in professional soccer players. Although V[Combining Dot Above]O(2)max, RE, vLT, and v4 have been regarded as important factors of aerobic performance in endurance related sports, the present data revealed that V[Combining Dot Above]O(2)max was the only factor, which correlated with intermittent endurance capacity in professional soccer players. Hence, V[Combining Dot Above]O(2)max should be increased through soccer-specific training interventions including universal agility components. The T(lim) in continuous and intermittent endurance tests differs and is therefore an independent endurance performance factor in professional soccer players.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Performance Diagnostics and Training Advice, University of Wuppertal, Germany. m.hoppe@uni-wuppertal.de
authors.forename: Matthias W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Hoppe
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baumgart
authors.forename: Billy
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sperlich
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Freiwald
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000886:Anthropometry; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007773:Lactates