Comparison of body composition and muscle mass by age in amateur soccer players.

[Purpose] This study aimed to elucidate the changes in body composition components associated with aging in amateur male soccer players. Specifically, we investigated the alterations in the phase angle and regional muscle mass distribution. [Participants and Methods] The study included a cohort of 163 male participants categorized into three age groups: U15 (12-15 years), U18 (16-18 years), and O19 (≥19 years). Precise body composition assessments were performed, employing the InBodyS10 body composition scale. [Results] The findings revealed substantial age-related disparities in various body composition parameters. Data revealed a consistent trend of increasing basic body composition metrics with age. Notably, the body fat percentage progressively increased with age. Muscle mass and phase angle exhibited age-related increases with nuanced variations in different anatomical regions. [Conclusion] In the general Japanese population, muscle mass tends to decrease with age after 18 years. However, in this study on amateur soccer players, we observed a plateau in the height and lower limb phase angle around the age of 18 years, whereas muscle mass exhibited an increasing trend.

An intervention plan for preventing and handling amateur soccer players' injuries.

Background: The majority of amateur soccer players are vulnerable to soccer-related injuries and many such injuries are avoidable with an adequate education. Aim: The present study aimed to measure the impact of an intervention educational plan on improving amateur soccer players' knowledge and skills in preventing and handling soccer-related injuries. Subjects and Methods: The study design is a group-clustered randomized intervention-control trial, and it was carried out in Taif city, Saudi Arabia. The "Neighborhood League of Football" players were randomly allocated to a soccer injury prevention education group (intervention group) and a control group. A predesigned and validated questionnaire was used to study the changes in knowledge and skills about soccer injuries before the intervention (response a) and after (response b). Results: The study included 246 participants in the intervention group and 256 in the control group (n = 502). The median age was 22 years. The comparison of both groups' participants' performance showed significant differences in response b analyses and participants in the intervention group achieved significantly higher scores than the control group in total score levels (P < .0001), injury mechanisms (P < .0001), injury treatment and prevention (P < .0001), and health status (P < .034). The intervention group's scores on response b (after the educational sessions) were significantly higher than response a (before the educational sessions, P < 0.001). Conclusions: In multiple scales and overall score levels, intervention group participants achieved significantly higher scores than their control group counterparts. Educational assistance appears to have had a good impact on their knowledge and skills.

Relation of injuries and psychological symptoms in amateur soccer players.

OBJECTIVES: The first main goal of this study was to investigate the prevalence of depression and anxiety as well as self-compassion in a heterogeneous sample of male amateur soccer players. The second main goal of this study was the examination of the relationship between injuries and psychological factors in amateur soccer players. METHODS: Players were recruited from German amateur soccer clubs of the fourth to seventh league. 419 soccer players with the mean age of 22.88 years participated in the psychological and the injury assessment at the beginning of the season and at the end, 9 months later. For the psychological assessment, depression and anxiety rate as well as self-compassion was analysed. Furthermore, the frequencies of injuries were registered. RESULTS: The results showed that players of the highest amateur league, the fourth league in German soccer, showed significantly higher anxiety values than players from a lower league (p=0.013). There were no differences in depression values dependent on the league. Furthermore, players who suffered from an injury before the start of the season demonstrated higher anxiety values (p=0.027). This result was independent of the respective league. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrate that even in higher amateur soccer the anxiety level of the players varies between soccer players of different leagues. Because an injury before the start of the season influenced the anxiety level, a psychological treatment during injury should be considered.