Enhancing Change-of-Direction Speed in Soccer Players by Functional Inertial Eccentric Overload and Vibration Training.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of a novel isoinertial eccentric-overload and vibration training (EVT) paradigm on change-of-direction (COD) speed and multiple performance tests applicable to soccer.


METHODS
Twenty-four young male players were assigned to an EVT (n = 12) or conventional combined (CONV, n = 12) group, once weekly for 11 wk. EVT consisted of 2 sets of 6-10 repetitions in 5 specific and 3 complementary exercises. CONV used comparable volume (2 sets of 6-10 reps in 3 sequences of 3 exercises) of conventional combined weight, plyometric, and linear speed exercises. Pre- and postintervention tests included 25-m sprint with 4 × 45° COD every 5th m (V-cut test), 10- and 30-m sprints, repeat-sprint ability, countermovement jump, and hopping (RJ5).


RESULTS
Group comparison showed very likely to likely better performance for EVT in the COD (effect size [ES] = 1.42), 30-m (ES = 0.98), 10-m (ES = 1.17), and average power (ES = 0.69) and jump height (ES = 0.69) during RJ5. There was a large (r = -.55) relationship between the increase in average hopping power and the reduced V-cut time.


CONCLUSIONS
As EVT, not CONV, improved not only COD ability but also linear speed and reactive jumping, this "proof-of-principle" study suggests that this novel exercise paradigm performed once weekly could serve as a viable adjunct to improve performance tasks specific to soccer.
Dept of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Julio
J
Tous-Fajardo
Oliver
O
Gonzalo-Skok
José Luis
JL
Arjol-Serrano
Per
P
Tesch
D000293:Adolescent; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D059385:Plyometric Exercise; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014732:Vibration