Isokinetic strength differences between elite senior and youth female soccer players identifies training requirements

Abstract

Objectives: To compare traditional and angle-specific isokinetic strength of eccentric knee flexors and concentric knee extensors in female senior professional and youth soccer players. Design: Crosssectional study design. Setting: University's Laboratory. Participants: A total of 34 players (17 seniors [age 25.31 ± 4.51 years; height 167.89 ± 7.04cm; mass 63.12 ± 7.79kg] and 17 youths [16.91 ± 1.16 years; height 165.92 ± 4.42cm; mass 60.07 ± 4.48kg]) from the Women's Super League 1 completed strength assessments at 180, 270 and 60°•s-1. Main Outcome Measures: Peak torque (PT), dynamic control ratio (DCR), angle of peak torque (APT), functional range (FR), angle-specific torque (AST) and angle-specific DCR (DCRAST) were compared between age groups. Results: The PT (P = 0.016) AST (P = 0.041) were significantly higher in seniors compared to youths; however APT (P = 0.141), DCR (P = 0.524) FR (P = 0.821) and DCRAST (P = 0.053) were not significant between playing age. Conclusion: The use of absolute and angle-specific strength measures were able to distinguish between female playing ages, whereas DCR and DCRAST was unable to identify differences. The PT and AST metrics may be the most useful metrics to help identify and inform training needs, particularly in youths.

Isokinetic profiling of elite youth footballers: informing selection of a practicable and efficacious isokinetic screening test

“…In contrast, eccKF peak torque is maintained with increasing velocity, and therefore as angular velocity increased the quadriceps dominance apparent at slow velocities was reduced. The conKE and eccKF torque-velocity curves did not cross as observed by Eustace et al (2019) in senior professional players, where the eccentric knee flexors became dominant at velocities greater than approximately 200°•s −1 . This might reflect the relative training status of the samples, with the youth players used in the current study not generating the same magnitude of peak torques observed by Eustace et al (2017).…”

Isokinetic Strength, Bilateral and Unilateral Strength Differences: Variation by Age and Laterality in Elite Youth Football Players

“…Age-related differences within isokinetic strength of elite youth football players' lower limbs were evaluated in many studies (Kellis et al;Forbes et al, 2009;Lehnert et al, 2011;Bona et al, 2017;Eustace et al, 2019;Zahalka et al, 2019). In summary, part of the studies reported a significant effect of age on isokinetic strength of players; however, another part of the findings is inconsistent.…”

Physical Fitness of Female Soccer Players Based on Playing Position

“…Previous studies had shown different results where there were differences in sprint performance based on playing positions and there was no difference in sprint performance based on the age category (Haugen et al, 2012). Previous studies had suggested that sprint performance and high-intensity running distance observed in senior female soccer players were better than in young players (Eustace et al, 2019). Other studies revealed that there was no comparison of aerobic and anaerobic capacity parameters between adult and young elite soccer players (Angius et al, 2012).…”