Effect of High-Intensity vs. Moderate-Intensity Resistance Training on Strength, Power, and Muscle Soreness in Male Academy Soccer Players

Abstract

McQuilliam, SJ, Clark, DR, Erskine, RM, and Brownlee, TE. The effect of high vs. moderate-intensity resistance training on strength, power and muscle soreness in male academy soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 37(6): 1250–1258, 2023—The aims of this study were to investigate the impact of high-intensity, low-volume (HRT) vs. moderate-intensity, and high-volume resistance training (MRT) vs. soccer training only (control group [CON]) on changes in strength, power, and speed and to compare delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) between groups in male academy soccer players (ASP). Twenty-two ASP (age: 18 ± 1 years) were assigned to HRT (n = 8), MRT (n = 7), or CON (n = 7). High-intensity resistance training completed 2 sets of 4 repetitions parallel back squat (PBS) repetitions at 90% 1 repetition maximum (1RM), while MRT performed 3 sets of 8 repetitions PBS repetitions at 80% 1RM, both once a week for 6 weeks in-season, alongside regular soccer training. All groups completed the following pretraining and posttraining assessments: 3RM PBS, bilateral vertical and horizontal countermovement jumps (CMJ), squat jump (SJ), and 30-m sprint. Delayed onset muscle soreness was assessed using a visual analog scale throughout training. High-intensity resistance training and MRT experienced similar increases compared with CON in absolute PBS 3RM (p < 0.001), SJ height (p = 0.001), and CMJ height (p = 0.008) after training. There was a greater increase in PBS 3RM relative to body mass after HRT than MRT and CON (p = 0.001) and horizontal CMJ distance improved in HRT but not in MRT or CON (p = 0.011). There was no change in 10-m, 20-m, or 30-m sprint performance in any group. High-intensity resistance training volume was 58 ± 15% lower than that of MRT (p < 0.001), and DOMS measured throughout training did not differ between groups (p = 0.487). These findings suggest that 1 HRT session a week may be an efficient method for improving strength and power in ASP in-season with minimal DOMS.

Physical testing and strength and conditioning practices differ between coaches working in academy and first team soccer

“…47 Furthermore, time restrictions have previously been cited as a major factor when looking to implement injury prevention strategies in soccer, 11 with 32% of coaches in our study stating that limited time restricted their practice. A low-volume, high-intensity strength training protocol (90% 1RM) has previously been implemented in-season with professional 48 and academy soccer players, 39 and may be a potential solution to alleviating these perceived restrictions. Strength development needs to be effectively implemented alongside training other physical components important to soccer performance.…”

“…We have recently shown that highintensity (90% 1RM) strength training performed just once a week in-season had more performance benefits compared to moderate intensity (80% 1RM) strength training and soccer training only, with no difference in perceived muscle soreness. 39 Thus, it appears as though soccer players would indeed benefit from undertaking highintensity strength training as part of their weekly training, as recommended in the scientific guidelines. 38 It is commonly accepted that training intensity is a crucial factor when the aim is to increase an individual's strength.…”

Research on Computer Artificial Intelligence Algorithm to Optimize Physical Training Intensity and Recovery Cycle Model

“…Using RecyclerView's circular queue effectively reduces the performance burden caused by constantly breaking projects and creating new ones. At the same time, this method also stores the layout information of each item in this item, when an item is viewed, the layout information can be read from within it, thus reducing the performance burden caused by the need to load the layout again from the layout file for each item [16]. The software cannot determine whether it is a month view or a day view, or whether the viewer has received a scroll indication.…”