Association between physical demands, skin temperature and wellbeing status in elite football players.

The demanding nature of elite football requires players to be closely monitored to ensure optimal performance and minimize injury risk. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between physical demands, skin temperature, and well-being status in 30 elite football players over a 12-week competitive period. Thermography assessments, weekly Well-being questionnaires, and daily training and match load recordings were used to gather data. Results indicated that along the microcycles there was a decrease in high-intensity accelerations and decelerations distance completed, while maintaining other high-intensity actions. Furthermore, it was found that high-intensity movements contribute to the generation of thermal asymmetries in the thighs; the adductor thermal asymmetry showed a positive relationship with stress and muscle soreness, the knee thermal asymmetry had a positive relationship with fatigue and a negative relationship with rest and quality of rest, and finally the hamstrings muscles exhibited significant differences between the thermal asymmetry groups, with the high asymmetry completing less high intensity actions than the low asymmetry group. In conclusion, this study highlights the interconnections between physical demands, skin temperature, and well-being in elite football players and provides valuable insights for coaches and trainers in their efforts to optimize performance and health.

Skin temperature response to unilateral training measured with infrared thermography.

This study aimed to identify the skin temperature (Tsk) behavior to understand the acute cross-effect after unilateral training of lower-limbs. Seventeen healthy young men (weight, 75.2±5.5 kg; height, 1.8±0.1 m; age, 22.5±1.6 years) were divided into two groups: high-trained (n=8) and low-trained (n=9). All participants performed: (a) one-repetition maximum (1RM) testing protocol on the leg press, (b) a unilateral training protocol (4×10 repetitions at 70% of 1RM for leg press and 4×10 repetitions at 50% of 1RM for knee extension). Pre- and posttraining thermal images were recorded. The main results showed that independent of the limb (exercised vs. nonexercised), differences between low- and high-trained were observed for all regions of interest (ROI) except for the anterior knee: posttraining, 30-min and 60-min posttraining in nonexercised limb. The increase of contralateral Tsk was more than 50% on the ROIs corresponding to the exercises muscles 30-min post-training in low-trained but was not so high in high-trained (P<0.05). Low-trained subjects incremented more the Tsk than high-trained in both legs after exercise. In conclusion, we observed an acute contralateral Tsk effect to unilateral training on the Tsk of the nonexercised limb, reliant on the training level of the subject.

Relación de Lunge y Jack Test en la apófisis calcánea (Talalgia de Sever) en futbolistas jóvenes / Relationship of Lunge and Jack test in calcaneal apophysitis (sever´s disease) in young soccer players

La talalgia de Sever o apofisitis calcánea ocurre generalmente antes o durante el pico de crecimiento acelerado en niños y niñas. En ocasiones se presenta al practicar un nuevo deporte que implique desplazamientos y saltos como el fútbol. Fue descrita por el Doctor J. W. Sever, a causa de la detección de un dolor con sensibilidad localizada en la cara posterior del hueso calcáneo en jóvenes. El objetivo de este estudio es relacionar la incidencia de la talalgia de Sever con la restricción en los valores del Lunge test y con la incapacidad para activar el mecanismo de Windlass medido a través del test de Jack. Se realizaron los dos test a una muestra de 60 futbolistas jóvenes divididos en dos grupos (Sever = 30 jóvenes, de 10,84±0,79 años y 16,87±0,85 de IMC; No Sever = 30 jóvenes, de 10,87±0,80 y 17,58±1,41 de IMC). Los resultados muestran un test de Jack del pie derecho positivo en el 26,7% de los niños con Sever frente al 10,0% de los niños sin Sever (p=0,181). Mientras que, para el pie izquierdo, el 33,3% de los niños con Sever tiene el test de Jack positivo frente al 13,3% de los niños sin Sever (p=0,125). Por otro lado, el Lunge test para el pie derecho muestra una diferencia significativa (p< 0,01) entre los niños con Sever (32,2±3,6) y los niños sin Sever (40,5±4,1). Lo mismo ocurre para el pie izquierdo, niños con Sever (32,1±3,6) y sin Sever (39,2±4,4) con una diferencia significativa (p< 0,01). La restricción de la flexión dorsal (FD) de tobillo medida por medio del test de Lunge ha demostrado tener una relación significativa con la incidencia de la Talalgia de Sever. Mientras que el test de Jack no muestra una relación significativa (AU)

Sever´s Disease or calcaneal apophysitis occur before or during the early growth in children. Experienced after a new practice of psychical activity that involve running or jumping as soccer. It was described by Dr. J. W. Sever, due to detection of pain with localized sensitivity in the posterior area of the calcaneus bone in young people. The aim of the study is relate the Sever´s Disease incidence and restricted values of Lunge test. In the same way, the inability to activate the windlass mechanism measured through the Jack test related with Sever´s Disease incidence. We performed both test to 60 young soccer players divided in two groups (Sever = 30 young players, 10,84±0,79 years old and 16,87±0,85 IMC values; No Sever = 30 young players, 10,87±0,80 years old and y 17,58±1,41 IMC values). The results shows that a 26,7% of Sever´s Disease patient had a positive Jack test in right foot versus 10,0% of non Sever´s Disease patient (p=0,181). While for left foot, a 33,3% of Sever´s Disease patient had a positive Jack test versus 13,3% of non Sever´s Disease patient (p=0,125). On the other hand, Lunge test for right foot show a significant difference (p< 0,01) between Sever´s Disease patient (32,2±3,6) and non Sever´s Disease patient (40,5±4,1). At the same way, in left foot between Sever´s Disease patient (32,1±3,6) and non Sever´s Disease patient (39,2±4,4) with a significant difference (p< 0,01). The ankle dorsiflexion restriction measured by Lunge test is related with an incidence of Sever´s Disease. While, Jack test do not show a significant relationship (AU)