title: Running speeds at ventilatory threshold and maximal oxygen consumption discriminate futsal competitive level.
abstract: We tested the hypothesis that maximal oxygen uptake and ventilatory threshold (VT), and their respective speeds (S(VO2max) and S(VT)) could discriminate the competitive level of futsal players. The outfield players of a high-level Brazilian professional futsal team (N = 9; age 22.6 ± 4.2 years; body mass 70.6 ± 6.4 kg; height 174.3 ± 6.0 cm), and a semiprofessional team (N = 11; age 17.2 ± 0.8 years; body mass 70.4 ± 6.5 kg; height 175.0 ± 4.0 cm), volunteered for participation in this study. Subsequently, they were evaluated during an incremental treadmill test for the determination of cardiorespiratory variables, S(VO2max), and S(VT). Both teams exhibited a similar body mass and VO2max (p = 0.542 and p = 0.427), whereas the S(VO2max) and the S(VT) were significantly higher in the professional team (p = 0.001 and p = 0.030, respectively). Additionally, the professional team exhibited both lower HR at VT (p = 0.046) and HRmax (p = 0.002). However, the %HRmax at VT did not differ between groups (p = 0.912). These results remained similar after adjusting for the age differences between groups (p = 0.106). It was concluded that both S(VO2max) and S(VT) were sensitive for detecting differences in the competitive level of futsal players, whereas VO2max and VT were not.
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Program in Physical Education, Center of Physical Education and Sport, State University of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Pedro
authors.forename: Vinicius F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Milanez
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Boullosa
authors.forename: Fábio Y
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult