Recovery of kicking kinematics and performance following repeated high-intensity running bouts in the heat: Can a rapid local cooling intervention help young soccer players?

• Autor(a) principal: Palucci Vieira, Luiz H. [UNESP]
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Outros Autores: Carling, Christopher, Kalva-Filho, Carlos A. [UNESP], Santinelli, Felipe B. [UNESP], Velluto, Lorenzo A. G. [UNESP], da Silva, João Pedro [UNESP], Clemente, Filipe M, Kellis, Eleftherios, Barbieri, Fabio A [UNESP]
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UNESP
• Texto Completo: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2023.2220194; http://hdl.handle.net/11449/250052
• topic: accuracy; Cryotherapy; football; heat environment; technique; three-dimensional kinematics

The effects of a cooling strategy following repeated high-intensity running (RHIR) on soccer kicking performance in a hot environment (>30ºC) were investigated in youth soccer players. Fifteen academy under-17 players participated. In Experiment 1, players completed an all-out RHIR protocol (10×30 m, with 30s intervals). In Experiment 2 (cross-over design), participants performed this running protocol under two conditions: (1) following RHIR 5 minutes of cooling where ice packs were applied to the quadriceps/hamstrings, (2) a control condition involving passive resting. Perceptual measures [ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), pain and recovery], thigh temperature and kick-derived video three-dimensional kinematics (lower limb) and performance (ball speed and two-dimensional placement indices) were collected at baseline, post-exercise and intervention. In Experiment 1, RHIR led to small-to-large impairments (p < 0.03;d = −0.42–-1.83) across perceptual, kinematic and performance measures. In experiment 2, RPE (p < 0.01; Kendall’s W = 0.30) and mean radial error (p = 0.057; η2 = 0.234) increased only post-control. Significant small declines in ball speed were also observed post-control (p < 0.05; d = 0.35). Post-intervention foot centre-of-mass velocity was moderately faster in the cooling compared to control condition (p = 0.04; d = 0.60). In youth soccer players, a short cooling period was beneficial in counteracting declines in kicking performance, in particular ball placement, following intense running activity in the heat.