The paper provides a large-scale study into the motion characteristics of top class soccer players, during match play, according to playing position. Three hundred top-class outfield soccer players were monitored during 20 Spanish Premier League and 10 Champions League games using a computerized match analysis system (Amisco Pro®, Nice, France). Total distance covered in five selected categories of intensity, and the mean percentage of playing time spent in each activity were analyzed according to playing position. Midfield players covered a significantly greater total distance (p < 0.0001) than the groups of defenders and forwards did. Analyzing the different work rates showed significant differences (p < 0.5 - 0.0001) between the different playing positions. There were no significant differences between halves in the total distance covered, or in distances covered at submaximal and maximal intensities. However, significantly more distance was covered in the first half compared to the second in medium intensities (11.1 - 19 km/h). The current findings provide a detailed description of the demands placed on elite soccer players, according to their positional role at different work intensities, which may be helpful in the development of individualized training programs.

It has been suggested that assessment of high-intensity activities during a match is a valid measure of physical performance in elite soccer. Recently, sprinting activities have been analysed in more depth. The aim of this study was to develop a detailed analysis of the sprinting activities of different playing positions during European Champions League and UEFA Cup competitions. Altogether, 717 elite outfield soccer players were evaluated throughout 2002–2006 using ProZone® (Leeds, UK). Sprinting (explosive and leading) was analysed for each playing position. To compare positional differences, a Kruskal-Wallis analysis was performed. Differences were found among positions for total number of sprints and total sprint distance covered: wide midfielders > (attackers = wide defenders) > central midfielders > central defenders (P < 0.001), as well as for explosive sprints: (wide midfielders = attackers = wide defenders) > central defenders, wide midfielders > central midfielders > central defenders and attackers = wide defenders = central midfielders (P < 0.001), and leading sprints: wide midfielders > (attackers = wide defenders) > central midfielders > central defenders (P < 0.001). For each group, there were no differences in ratio of explosive to leading sprints. Wide midfielders performed a higher number of sprints in all five distance categories than all other positions. This study showed that sprinting characteristics are influenced by position. Wide midfielders have to complete additional high-intensity activities during training sessions compared with the other positions to achieve the performance level required during the match.

Background — Benefits of moderate endurance training include increases in parasympathetic activity and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and a relative decrease in sympathetic tone. However, the effect of very intensive training load on neural cardiovascular regulation is not known. We tested the hypothesis that strenuous endurance training, like in high-performance athletes, would enhance sympathetic activation and reduce vagal inhibition. Methods and Results — We studied the entire Italian junior national team of rowing (n=7) at increasing training loads up to 75% and 100% of maximum, the latter ∼20 days before the Rowing World Championship. Autoregressive power spectral analysis was used to investigate RR interval and blood pressure (BP) variabilities. BRS was assessed by the sequences method. Increasing training load up to 75% of maximum was associated with a progressive resting bradycardia and increased indexes of cardiac vagal modulation and BRS. However, at 100% training load these effects were reversed, with increases in resting heart rate, diastolic BP, low-frequency RR interval, and BP variabilities and decreases in high-frequency RR variability and BRS. Three athletes later won medals in the World Championship. Conclusions — This study indicates that very intensive endurance training shifted the cardiovascular autonomic modulation from a parasympathetic toward a sympathetic predominance. This finding should be interpreted within the context of the substantial role played by the sympathetic nervous system in increasing cardiovascular performance at peak training. Whether the altered BP and autonomic function shown in this study might be in time hazardous to human cardiovascular system remains to be established.

Governments have restricted public life during the COVID-19 pandemic, inter alia closing sports facilities and gyms. As regular exercise is essential for health, this study examined the effect of pandemic-related confinements on physical activity (PA) levels. A multinational survey was performed in 14 countries. Times spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) as well as in vigorous physical activity only (VPA) were assessed using the Nordic Physical Activity Questionnaire (short form). Data were obtained for leisure and occupational PA pre- and during restrictions. Compliance with PA guidelines was calculated based on the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). In total, n = 13,503 respondents (39 ± 15 years, 59% females) were surveyed. Compared to pre-restrictions, overall self-reported PA declined by 41% (MVPA) and 42.2% (VPA). Reductions were higher for occupational vs. leisure time, young and old vs. middle-aged persons, previously more active vs. less active individuals, but similar between men and women. Compared to pre-pandemic, compliance with WHO guidelines decreased from 80.9% (95% CI: 80.3–81.7) to 62.5% (95% CI: 61.6–63.3). Results suggest PA levels have substantially decreased globally during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key stakeholders should consider strategies to mitigate loss in PA in order to preserve health during the pandemic.

The muscle healing process is defined as a complex and dynamic process resulting in the restoration of anatomic continuity and function. This process is characterized by a cascade of events triggered by the tissue injury itself. It is widely accepted that growth factors play a central role in the healing processes by modulating the recruitment, duplication, activation, and differentiation of different cell types. This observation is the basis on which the use of platelet-rich plasma in several circumstances is founded; all of them requiring the activation or the modulation of the tissue repair process. There is an extensive documentation of in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrating the safety and efficacy of growth factors in the muscle healing process. Unfortunately, the precise biological efficacy and the lack of long-term side effects have not been clearly demonstrated. With regard to sports medicine, doping-related issues are still a matter of debate, especially regarding the treatment of muscle injuries. The purpose of this review is to examine the role of growth factors during muscle healing processes and to discuss the implications of platelet-rich plasma in its therapeutic applications. Sports medicine issues are also discussed particularly with regard to antidoping regulations.

The purpose of this study was to compare motions of soccer players in the English Premier (1^st) and Championship (2^nd) League. A total of 26 449 observations were obtained from players during 4 seasons (2006–2010) in the 2 leagues. Time-motions of all players (attackers, central defenders, central midfielders, wide defenders, wide midfielders) were recorded during each match using the Prozone^® System, (Leeds, UK), and categorized by speed intensity. Number of actions, total distance and the mean distance covered at each speed intensity were measured. Players in the Championship league covered a total match distance of 11.1±0.9 km compared with 10.8±1.0 km for players from the Premiership (p<0.001). Championship players also covered greater distances during jogging, running, high-speed running, and sprinting. Premiership players covered more distance walking. Players in the Soccer League Championship had more instances of each condition. Although these differences were statistically significant, they were negligible in practical terms, suggesting match-related activities do not explain the general superiority of Premiership players over Championship players in England.