This study was aimed at assessing the effects of a 6-week intervention within a training environment that uses special lighting conditions targeted to slow down the visual processing speed of visual and visuomotor performance in professional soccer players. Twenty-four soccer players (age = 21.8 ± 4.8 years, 50% women) from the under 18 and under 23 men's teams, and 1st Women's team of the Sunderland Association Football Club participated in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups, with the intervention group performing 2-weekly 30-min sessions of specific soccer tasks with specific lighting conditions using the Okkulo system (Okkulo™, okkulo.com), whereas the control group performed the same training under normal lighting conditions. The intervention group showed significant improvements in dynamic visual acuity (p < 0.001), recognition time (p = 0.002), sensory reaction time (p < 0.001), motor reaction time (p = 0.002) and peripheral identification accuracy (p < 0.001), whereas no significant effects were obtained for stereopsis (p = 0.05), peripheral identification speed (p = 0.17) and anticipation (p = 0.22). In conclusion, a 6-week training intervention using the Okkulo system improved several visual and visuomotor skills in professional soccer players. Future studies will assess the transfer effects of using this technology to on-field performance.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/opo.13423 | DOI Listing |
PLoS One
December 2024
Life Quality Research Centre (CIEQV-IP Setúbal), Campus do IPS-Estefanilha, Setúbal, Portugal.
The study aim was to compare the external load during varying microcycles (M1-M4 during pre-season and M5 during the in-season) in elite female Portuguese soccer players and to describe external load variations between differing Ms. Fourteen first-team players participated in the study (age 23.29 ± 3.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAn ecological niche is a field in a landscape of affordances, rich in information inviting its inhabitants to develop functionality and effectiveness of their behavior. This idea means that, in sports like soccer, the playing area encapsulates an ecological niche, replete with affordances inviting collective and individual technical-tactical actions, contextualized with associated psychological and physical demands. To examine the co-adaptive relationships framing players' actions in their ecological niche, the present study employed a crossover design with repeated measures to compare the players' transactions within 11 vs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Shoulder dislocations in professional football are severe injuries with an increasing incidence and considerable layoff times. Unlike other football injuries, the mechanisms leading to shoulder dislocations are not well understood, which limits the development of targeted preventive measures. Thus, the aims of this study were: (1) to analyse injury mechanisms of shoulder dislocations in professional football, (2) to evaluate situational and (3) to assess kinematic patterns by performing a systematic video analysis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Research on the effects of training programs involving small-sided games (SSG) versus high-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been increasing in recent years. However, there is limited understanding of how an individual's initial physical fitness level might influence the extent of adaptations achieved through these programs. This study aimed to compare the impacts of SSG and HIIT on male soccer players, while also considering the players' athleticism, categorized into lower and higher total athleticism score (TSA).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Sports Act Living
December 2024
CIAMS Laboratory, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France.
Purpose: This study investigated the evolution of neuromotor control during a typical short sport-specific rehabilitation program (SSR) in professional soccer players who had incurred a major lower-limb injury ( = 15, chondral and muscle injuries, ACL-reconstruction).
Methods: All injured participants ( = 15) were in the on-field rehabilitation phase of their specific sport rehabilitation process, prior to return to play. An experimental group (EG, chondral and muscle injuries, ACL-reconstruction) followed a 3-week SSR-program composed of muscular and core strengthening (weightlifting, functional stability, explosivity and mobility exercises), running and cycling, neuromotor reprogramming, cognitive development and specific soccer on-field rehabilitation (acceleration, braking, cutting, dual-contact, high-speed-running, sprint, jump, drills with ball).
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!