Neuromuscular Performance Changes in Elite Futsal Players Over a Competitive Season.

ABSTRACT: Spyrou, K, Alcaraz, PE, Marín-Cascales, E, Herrero-Carrasco, R, Cohen, DD, and Freitas, TT. Neuromuscular performance changes in elite futsal players over a competitive season. J Strength Cond Res 37(5): 1111-1116, 2023-A professional futsal season imposes a great amount of physiological and mechanical stress on players. The main aim of this study was to examine the changes in neuromuscular performance qualities across the season. Ten professional male players performed a 10-m sprint, standing long jumps (SLJs), and countermovement jumps (CMJs) during the competitive season (i.e., every ∼5 weeks from September to January). A one-way repeated measures ANOVA with post hoc pairwise comparisons and effect sizes (ESs) were used to analyze potential differences among these assessments. A significant and large decline was found in concentric peak power ( p = 0.040; ES = 1.24). A nonsignificant and moderate decrease was observed in sprint ability ( p = 0.155; ES = 1.03), CMJ height ( p = 0.175; ES = 1.00), and SLJ distance ( p = 0.164; ES = 1.03). Regarding other CMJ kinetic variables, nonsignificant and moderate changes were found. In summary, considering the neuromuscular performance tests and variables assessed, only concentric peak power in CMJ decreased significantly across the season; however, nonsignificant decrements were observed in sprinting time, SLJ, CMJ height, and other kinetic metrics. CMJ variables during the jump-land cycle should be incorporated alongside more traditional measures (e.g., jump height) to monitor performance during the season.

Load monitoring, strength training, and recovery in futsal: Practitioners' perspectives.

This study aimed to describe the current practices in futsal regarding a variety of topics related to performance and injury risk mitigation. Thirty-seven coaches from Spain and Portugal completed a questionnaire consisting of 28 closed questions organized in four categories: a) background information; b) training load (TL) monitoring and assessment of players' physical qualities; c) strength training (ST) practices; and d) recovery (REC) methods. The results showed that coaches varied in experience (1-8 years) and age (from 20 years to >50 years). Overall, 97.3% of the participants declared monitoring TL, with rating of perceived exertion, heart rate monitors, and wearable technology being used by 86.5%, 40.5%, and 37.8%, respectively. Neuromuscular and strength testing are the most common practices to evaluate performance and fatigue during the season. ST is a significant component of futsal, being performed 3 times/week during the pre- and in-season. ST is prescribed via %1RM - XRM (59.5%), velocity-based training (21.7%), repetitions in reserve (18.9%), until failure (10.8%), and circuit training (2.7%). 'Better Monitoring', 'More Individualized', 'Better Facilities', 'More Staff', and 'More Time' were the main aspects to improve ST. Multiple post-match REC strategies are used, with durations ranging from 0-15 to 16-30 min independently of game location.

External match load and the influence of contextual factors in elite futsal.

Quantifying external load during futsal competition can provide objective data for the management of the athlete's performance and late-stage rehabilitation. This study aimed to report the match external load collected via wearable technology according to time periods (i.e., halves) and contextual factors (i.e., team's ranking, match result, and location) in elite futsal. Nine professional male players used a GPS-accelerometer unit during all games of the 2019-2020 season. Player load (PL), PL·min-1, high-intensity acceleration (ACCHI), deceleration (DECHI), explosive movements (EXPL-MOV), and change of direction (CODHI) data were collected. On average, players displayed values of: total PL 3868 ± 594 a.u; PL·min-1: 10.8 ± 0.8 a.u; number of ACCHI: 73.3 ± 13.8, DECHI: 68.6 ± 18.8, EXPL-MOV: 1165 ± 188 and CODHI: 173 ± 29.1. A moderate and significant decrease was found in the 2nd half for total PL (p = 0.03; ES = 0.52), PL·min-1 (p = 0.001; ES = 1.16), DECHI (p = 0.001; ES = 0.83), and EXPL-MOV (p = 0.017; ES = 0.58) compared to the 1st half. Small and nonsignificant differences were found between contextual factors. In summary, this study indicates that futsal players are exposed to high-intensity mechanical external loads, and perform a great number of ACCHI, DECHI, EXPL-MOV and CODHI, without being influenced by the team ranking, result and match location. Coaches and sports scientists are advised to implement speed-power, DEC, and COD activities in the training sessions, and may use these reference values to design specific training and return-to-play plans.

Injury rates following the COVID-19 lockdown: A case study from an UEFA futsal champions league finalist

Introduction: Recently, a pandemic disease (i.e., COVID-19) arose complicated conditions for players, clubs, and sports competitions. Most European countries postponed or canceled their respective leagues as players were forced into a long-term lockdown. This case study presents and compares the absolute and relative non-contact lower-limb injury rates and characteristics before and after the lockdown from a Finalist of the UEFA Futsal Champion League. Material and methods: Thirteen elite futsal players (age: 27 ± 2.8 years old; body mass: 76 ± 5.4 kg; height: 1.79 ± 0.1 m; body fat: 9 ± 1.6%) participated in this study. Injury severity, location, type, and mechanism were recorded. Data from the 6 weeks pre- and post-lockdown were collected, and injury rates were expressed per 1,000 training and match hours. Results: Chi-Square tests revealed a significant difference (p = 0.039) in the distribution of the number of injuries between the two moments. No overuse and non-contact injuries were observed during the 6 weeks before the lockdown. Nevertheless, 38% (i.e., 5) of the players suffered minimal severity (i.e., ≤ 3 days of court absence) overuse injuries in the hip/groin and thigh muscles post-home-confinement. Conclusions: Elite male futsal players sustained a substantially higher number of lower-body non-contact injuries after the lockdown. Practitioners should implement a thorough analysis of players’ neuromuscular qualities and fatigue to identify individual training and recovery needs and, thus, prescribe more tailored injury-reduction programs.

Preseason Injury Characteristics in Spanish Professional Futsal Players: The LNFS Project.

ABSTRACT: López-Segovia, M, Vivo Fernández, I, Herrero Carrasco, R, and Pareja Blanco, F. Preseason injury characteristics in Spanish professional futsal players: the National Futsal League (LFNS) project. J Strength Cond Res 36(1): 232-237, 2022-This study aimed to examine the incidence of injuries and their characteristics among professional Spanish futsal players during the preseason period and to compare injury-related variables in the context of both competition and training. Eleven futsal teams belonging to the First and Second Spanish Division and 161 players participated in the study. Characteristics of injuries, including type, location, cause and time of injury, injury recurrence, and duration of absence, were recorded. A total of 62 injuries were reported; injury rates of 9.9 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.0-12.5) injuries/1,000 training hours and 61.1 (95% CI: 25.7-96.5) injuries/1,000 match hours were collected. These data indicate a mean of 5.64 ± 2.66 injuries per team during the preseason period. Of these injuries, 92.1% involved the lower limbs. When data from training and competition were analyzed together, the highest incidence of injuries affected the ankle (21%), followed by the hip/groin and knee (19.4% each). The most common type of injury was muscle rupture/tear/strain (29.0%). During training, the highest percentage of injuries were located in the knee (23.9%), followed by the ankle and hip/groin (21.7% in each case), while during matches, the thigh (35.7%) followed by the ankle (21.4%) was the regions most affected. A significant relationship (p = 0.008) was observed between injury cause (without contact, with other player, with the ball, and others) and injury context (training, match). To conclude, the results of this study suggest the need for injury prevention protocols focuses on the ankle and the knee joints and muscle strain prevention.

Effects of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Neuromuscular Performance and Body Composition in Elite Futsal Players.

ABSTRACT: Spyrou, K, Alcaraz, PE, Marín-Cascales, E, Herrero-Carrasco, R, Cohen, DD, Calleja-Gonzalez, J, Pereira, LA, Loturco, I, and Freitas, TT. Effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on neuromuscular performance and body composition in elite futsal players. J Strength Cond Res 35(8): 2309-2315, 2021-Recent world events (i.e., COVID-19 pandemic) led to an unparalleled situation in sports. Players were forced to stay at home for a prolonged period and not allowed to use their team's training facilities or even exercise outdoors. The main aim of this study was to examine the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on neuromuscular performance and body composition in futsal players. Ten elite male players performed a 10-m sprint, horizontal and vertical jump, and body composition measurements before and after the quarantine (i.e., 70 days). Pre-post confinement differences in horizontal jump distance, countermovement jump variables, sprinting time, and body composition were analyzed by a paired sample t-test and effect sizes (ESs). A large and significant decline was observed in sprint ability (p = 0.004; ES = 1.31). Small and nonsignificant differences were found in horizontal jump performance (p = 0.243; ES = -0.39). Nonsignificant differences were observed in countermovement jump (CMJ) height (p = 0.076; ES = -0.63) but moderate-to-large significant declines were found in CMJ eccentric deceleration impulse, rate of force development, peak power, velocity, and landing peak force (p ≤ 0.05; ES = -0.52 - 1.23). Finally, trivial and nonsignificant differences were obtained on body composition parameters. In summary, sprint performance and specific CMJ kinetic variables were significantly affected by long-term reduced training, whereas vertical jump height and horizontal jump distance and body composition were not. Practitioners are advised to implement efficient sprint-oriented and eccentric-oriented training strategies to optimize return to competition after prolonged detraining periods.