title: Can a Repeated Sprint Ability Test Help Clear a Previously Injured Soccer Player for Fully Functional Return to Activity? A Pilot Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of fatigue induced by a repeated sprint ability (RSA) test on the neuromuscular responses of soccer players with a recent history of lower limb injuries (CH) and a matched control group in good fitness condition (GH).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine CH and 9 GH.
  
  
  METHODS
  Allocation to CH or GH.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each player was assessed for blood lactate concentration and jumping performance [squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ)] before/after RSA. Post-RSA rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was obtained. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to calculate RSA sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing between CH and GH. Intraclass correlation coefficient was used to assess reliability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No baseline differences were found for any variable. ΔSJ before/after RSA was -14 ± 2% and -5 ± 2% in CH and GH, respectively (P < 0.05). ΔCMJ before/after RSA was -15 ± 2% and -7 ± 2% in CH and GH, respectively (P < 0.05). ΔSJ-based and ΔCMJ-based (before/after RSA) area under curve (AUC) resulted in 0.90 ± 0.07 and 0.86 ± 0.09, respectively, with both AUCs differentiating between CH and GH with 77.78% sensitivity and 88.89% specificity. Pooled AUC resulted in 0.88 ± 0.06. Intraclass correlation coefficient was high (0.85/0.97).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Repeated sprint ability is a simple, low-cost field test potentially able to assist in clinical decision making for return to sport.
authors.affiliation: *University eCampus, Novedrate, Italy; †Sardinia Committee, Italian Olympic Committee, Cagliari, Italy; ‡Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, Croatia; §Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, School of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Verona, Verona, Italy; ¶School of Public Health, Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), Genoa University, Genoa, Italy; ‖Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), Section of Psychiatry, Genoa University, Genoa, Italy; **Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine, Queen Mary University of London Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Mile End Hospital, London, United Kingdom; ††Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy; ‡‡Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Sciences, Univ. Estadual Paulista-UNESP, Bauru, Brazil; and §§Science Life, Orde Wingate Institute for Physical Education and Sports, Netanya, Israel.
authors.forename: Johnny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Padulo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Attene
authors.forename: Luca P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Ardigò
authors.forename: Nicola L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Bragazzi
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maffulli
authors.forename: Alessandro M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Zagatto
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dello Iacono
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D056352:Athletes; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D054874:Athletic Performance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D018763:Muscle Fatigue; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D000068958:Return to Sport; D012420:Running; D012916:Soccer / Q000293:injuries*
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid