Comparison of acceleration-speed profiles from training and competition to individual maximal sprint efforts

Patrick Cormier; Ming-Chang Tsai; César Meylan; Marc Klimstra

doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111724

Comparison of acceleration-speed profiles from training and competition to individual maximal sprint efforts

J Biomech. 2023 Aug:157:111724. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111724. Epub 2023 Jul 11.

Authors

Patrick Cormier¹, Ming-Chang Tsai², César Meylan³, Marc Klimstra⁴

Affiliations

¹ Canadian Sport Institute Pacific, Victoria, BC, Canada; School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; Health and Athletic Performance Department, Canada Soccer, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Electronic address: pcormier@csipacific.ca.
² Canadian Sport Institute Pacific, Victoria, BC, Canada.
³ Canadian Sport Institute Pacific, Victoria, BC, Canada; School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Health and Athletic Performance Department, Canada Soccer, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
⁴ Canadian Sport Institute Pacific, Victoria, BC, Canada; School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.

PMID: 37451206
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111724

Abstract

This study aimed to (1) compare "in-situ" monitored acceleration-speed (AS_in-situ) profile metrics from training/competition data in elite female soccer players to similar metrics from profiles developed from isolated maximal sprint efforts (AS_sprint) and; (2) compare the confidence interval (CI) and a Tukey boxplot (BP) outlier removal technique on the training/competition data to derive AS_in-situ profiles. Fifteen national team soccer players participated in a 4-week camp while wearing 10 Hz GNSS units. Towards the middle of the camp, 2 × 40 m isolated maximal sprints were performed. AS_in-situ profiles (theoretical maximum acceleration A₀ in m∙s^-2 and speed S₀ in m∙s^-1) were computed using the CI and BP techniques with training/competition data. The sprint data were modelled separately to construct horizontal force-velocity (FV) profiles, from which AS_sprint profiles were derived. Bland-Altman analysis was used to assess agreement between the CI- and BP-derived AS_in-situ profiles to the AS_sprint profiles, as well as regression analysis for systematic and proportional bias. Additionally, 1-way ANOVAs with Tukey posthoc compared the metrics between each method of analysis. Using the BP method, good agreement of the AS_in-situ with AS_sprint profile metrics A₀/S₀ was displayed, whereas good to moderate agreement was shown for the CI. The CI technique showed a proportional bias for A₀/S₀. Good to excellent intertrial reliability was demonstrated for isolated sprint metrics. Both BP and CI techniques provided comparable AS_in-situ profiles to AS_sprint profiles. This current research demonstrated that AS_in-situ profiling is applicable in elite women's soccer and will have further application in many team sports.

Keywords: Biomechanics; Running; Soccer; Sprint kinematics; Wearables.

MeSH terms

Acceleration
Athletic Performance*
Female
Humans
Reproducibility of Results
Running*
Soccer*