Changes in lower-limb neuromuscular performance from pre-season to the end of the early competitive period in elite male professional soccer players

TL;DR

This study shows that a short and intense pre-season followed by early competition leads to neuromuscular fatigue in elite male soccer players.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into how compressed pre-season training affects neuromuscular performance in professional soccer players.

Findings

Neuromuscular performance declined significantly at the end of pre-season compared to the start.

Some performance metrics remained reduced after the first competition period.

Isometric hip strength was maintained across all time points.

Abstract

The increasing compression of the pre-season period due to congested calendars may induce significant neuromuscular fatigue, potentially compromising player readiness for competition.

This study aimed to investigate the variation in neuromuscular performance in elite professional Brazilian male soccer players throughout the pre-season and at the end of the first competition of the year.

Thirteen outfield soccer players (3 defenders, 5 midfielders and 5 forwards) from a single Brazilian first-division team were included in the study. Neuromuscular performance was evaluated using a comprehensive set of countermovement jump (CMJ) variables and isometric hip adduction/abduction strength at three time points: the start of the pre-season (T1), the end of the pre-season (T2), and following the end of first competition of the season (T3).

In T2, CMJ values significantly decreased compared to T1 for jump height, RSI modified, take-off peak force, peak power, and concentric peak velocity (p < 0.05). In T3, peak power and concentric peak velocity remained reduced, while eccentric duration increased compared to T1 (p < 0.05). Regarding hip strength, no significant changes were observed for adduction or abduction peak forces across the assessed time points (p > 0.05), indicating a maintenance of isometric strength levels.

The findings indicate that an intensive and short pre-season induced a state of neuromuscular fatigue in elite soccer players, and the subsequent competitive period resulted in an incomplete recovery for most of the CMJ neuromuscular variables.

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