Submaximal field testing validity for aerobic fitness assessment in recreational football

Abstract

Submaximal field tests are especially recommended when repeated testing is warranted. This study aimed at assessing the validity of the submaximal versions of the Yo‐Yo intermittent tests in male recreational football players in untrained and trained status. The participants’ (n = 66; age 39.3 ± 5.8 years, VO2max 41.2 ± 6.2 mL·kg−1·min−1, body mass 81.9 ± 10.8 kg, height 173.2 ± 6.4 cm) heart rate after 2 minutes (HR2min) during the level 1 (YYIE1HR2min) and 2 (YYIE2HR2min) versions of the Yo‐Yo intermittent endurance test and the level 1 version of the Yo‐Yo intermittent recovery test (YYIR1HR2min) was plotted against individual VO2max values. Thirty‐two participants performed all the tests after a 12‐week recreational football intervention for test responsiveness. Associations between VO2max and YYIE1HR2min were large to small (P = .0001). Large to trivial associations were found between YYIE2HR2min, YYIR1HR2min, and VO2max (P < .01). Maximal Yo‐Yo performances were large, significant, and inversely related to HR2min (−0.68 to −0.49, P < .0001). Pre‐ to post‐intervention ICC values were good for YYIE1HR2min and YYIE2HR2min, and excellent for YYIR1HR2min. Post‐intervention associations between HR2min and Yo‐Yo maximal performances were large to very large (−0.55 to −0.72; P < .002, n = 32). Training‐induced changes in VO2max moderately correlated with YYIR1HR2min (−0.48; P = .007; n = 32). HR2min lower than 89%, 98%, and 91% HRmax for YYIE1HR2min, YYIE2HR2min, and YYIR1HR2min, respectively, may be considered as signs of good to excellent VO2max levels. Since in the YYIE1HR2min, the participants attained 84% HRmax and test specificity increased for HR2min values <89%, this test may be the preferred choice when repeated assessment of aerobic fitness, using submaximal intermittent Yo‐Yo tests, is considered in recreational football.

COVID-19-Related Restrictions and Quarantine COVID-19: Effects on Cardiovascular and Yo-Yo Test Performance in Professional Soccer Players

“…Yo-Yo test has a higher ecological validity and reliability (Castagna et al, 2019;Francini et al, 2019), since soccer matches performance analyses have shown that >90% of all sprints in games are shorter than 20 m, acceleration and deceleration capabilities are essential for soccer athletes (Modric et al, 2019). Still, the importance of peak velocity increases during the game when sprints start from a jogging or non-stationary condition (Datson et al, 2014;Palucci Vieira et al, 2019;Slimani and Nikolaidis, 2019), with the Yo-Yo intermittent test being useful to evaluate the physical fitness condition of soccer players in terms of levels (Redkva et al, 2018;Povoas et al, 2020;Castagna et al, 2020b), gender (Emmonds et al, 2019;Castagna et al, 2020a), and age classes (Ehlert et al, 2019;Francini et al, 2019).…”

“…The test was terminated when the subjects failed twice to reach the starting line, or the participant felt unable to complete another shuttle at the dictated speed (Castagna et al, 2020b). The VO 2 max (ml/kg/min) was assessed as indicated in Povoas et al (2020) study.…”

“…In the scholarly literature, there is a dearth of data concerning the effects of physical distancing in athletes after COVID-19 related quarantine and restrictions: for the above-mentioned practical reasons, field-testing represents an interesting approach for exploring such effects. Indeed, no published paper has addressed so far the external responsiveness (i.e., sensitivity) of the Yo-Yo intermittent tests in tracking professional players' VO 2 max development after a period of physical distancing, quarantine, and potential detraining (i.e., pre-to-post-COVID-19 physical distancing and related restrictions; Castillo et al, 2019;Povoas et al, 2020). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to verify the effects of the quarantine during a serious viral outbreak on the cardiovascular and performance associated with Yo-Yo test in a sample of professional soccer players.…”

Estimation of maximal oxygen uptake using the heart rate ratio method in male recreational football players

“…The impact of VO 2max on fitness and health promoted the interest in valid, reliable and sustainable alternative methods to CPET to estimate VO 2max . Field testing, namely the Yo-Yo intermittent tests, were recently proposed as valid, reliable and practically sustainable tools for estimating individual VO 2max in recreational football players (Castagna et al 2020;Póvoas et al 2019a). However, CPET and field tests both require participants' maximal effort to obtain valid and satisfactory VO 2max estimates.…”

“…Exhaustive efforts may represent a concern when patients enroll in a training intervention if they have a previous inactive or untrained status and in the presence of chronic morbidity(ies). Alternatively, submaximal field testing may represent a valid and reliable surrogate for exhaustive testing (Póvoas et al 2019a). However, patients may experience difficulties in adapting to submaximal testing given their reduced familiarisation with testing and their current fitness and health status.…”