Research article - (2018)17, 359 - 365
Is Plantar Loading Altered During Repeated Sprints on Artificial Turf in International Football Players?
Olivier Girard1,2, Grégoire P. Millet3,, Athol Thomson1,4, Franck Brocherie5
1School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
2Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Athlete Health and Performance Research Centre, Doha, Qatar
3ISSUL, Institute of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
4Ulster Sports Academy, University of Ulster, Belfast, UK
5Laboratory Sport, Expertise and Performance (EA 7370), Research Department, French Institute of Sport (INSEP), Paris, France

Grégoire P. Millet
✉ ISSUL, Institute of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Email: gregoire.millet@unil.ch
Received: 09-04-2018 -- Accepted: 14-05-2018
Published (online): 14-08-2018

ABSTRACT

We compared fatigue-induced changes in plantar loading during the repeated anaerobic sprint test over two distinct distance intervals. Twelve international male football outfield players (Qatar Football Association) completed 6 × 35-m sprints (10 s of active recovery) on artificial turf with their football boots. Insole plantar pressure distribution was continuously recorded and values (whole foot and under 9 foot zones) subsequently averaged and compared over two distinct distance intervals (0–17.5 m vs. 17.5–35 m). Sprint times increased (p <0.001) from the first (4.87 ± 0.13 s) to the last (5.63 ± 0.31 s) repetition, independently of the distance interval. Contact area (150 ± 23 vs. 158 ± 19 cm2; -5.8 ± 9.1%; p = 0.032), maximum force (1910 ± 559 vs. 2211 ± 613 N; -16.9 ± 18.2%; p = 0.005) and mean pressure (154 ± 41 vs. 172 ± 37 kPa; -13.9 ± 19.0%; p = 0.033) for the whole foot were lower at 0–17.5 m vs. 17.5–35 m, irrespectively of sprint number. There were no main effects of sprint number or any significant interactions for any plantar variables of the whole foot. The distance interval × sprint number × foot region interaction on relative loads was not significant. Neither distance interval nor fatigue modified plantar pressure distribution patterns. Fatigue led to a decrement in sprint time but no significant change in plantar pressure distribution patterns across sprint repetitions.

Key words: Repeated-sprint ability, plantar loading, pressure distribution patterns, team sports, distance interval

Key Points
  • Fatigue inducing protocol completion by male international football players on artificial turf led to substantial lengthening in sprint times across repetitions.
  • Differences in plantar loading (whole foot) occurred between the acceleration and terminal phases of each 35-m sprint, but were independent from sprint repetitions.
  • There was no significant change in plantar pressure distribution patterns across sprint repetitions.








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