Analysis of aerobic power of soccer players through field test and laboratory test

Introduction:

There are direct and indirect methods that are used by soccer clubs to assess, monitor and determine the VO_2max of soccer players, which is very important for the performance and recovery of athletes during a match.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to assess the level of the correlation between measures of VO_2max by direct gas analysis and by the field test Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1).

Methods:

The study included 24 Brazilian male soccer players from under 20 category, of a club in the State of São Paulo, Brazil with stature of 1.72 ± 0.08 meter and body mass of 61.17 ± 9.18 kg, with at least five years of practice in the sport. The athletes performed the direct analysis of gases test on a treadmill 48 hours later the Yo-Yo IR1 was performed.

Results:

The results revealed a significant correlation between tests (r=0.524; p<0.01), but Yo-Yo IR1 underestimated measures of direct analysis of gases in the laboratory (44.98ml/kg/min and 48.14ml/kg/min, respectively).

Conclusion:

The results showed a moderate correlation between measures of VO_2max, that way both tests can be used to analyze the aerobic power of soccer players, since the same protocol is repeated in subsequent evaluations.

soccer; oxygen consumption; physiology