Term of Award

Spring 2016

Degree Name

Master of Science in Kinesiology (M.S.)

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (open access)

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Department

Department of Health and Kinesiology

Committee Chair

Adam Wells

Committee Member 1

Stephen Rossi

Committee Member 2

Jim McMillan

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between changes in running performance and the stress-recovery state in Division I collegiate soccer players. Methods: Running performance was evaluated in eight NCAA Division I male soccer players (179.39 ± 5.24 cm; 75.46 ± 5.98 kg; 20.37 ± 1.41 yrs.) over the course of 12 games during a single competitive season. The 12 games were divided into four blocks [B1(n=3), B2(n=3), B3(n=3), and B4(n=3)]. Running performance and game load were assessed using a wearable physiological harness and Global Positioning System (GPS) module. Game load, absolute distance, and distance covered while engaging in walking (0.2-2.0 m·s-1; 0.72-7.20 km·h-1), jogging (2.01-3.70 m·s-1; 7.21-13.32 km·h-1), low speed running (3.71-4.99 m·s-1; 13.33-17.99 km·h-1), high speed running (5.0-6.0 m·s-1; 18.0-21.60 km·h-1) sprinting (6.01+ m·s-1; 21.61+ km·h-1), low-intensity running (LIR: 0.2-3.70 m·s-1; 0.72-13.32 km·h-1) and high-intensity running (HIR: > 3.70 m·s-1; > 13.32 km·h-1) were assessed during each block. These variables were also assessed relative to minutes played. Stress-recovery state was assessed using the RESTQ 52 Sport, which was administered to each athlete twice during each block, separated by at least one week. Measures of general stress (GS), general recovery (GR), sport specific stress (SSS), sport specific recovery (SSR), global stress (GLS), global recovery (GLR) and the recovery-stress balance (RSB). Results: Total distance was significantly greater during B4 compared to B1 (p=0.027). Absolute jogging distance and low-speed running distance were significantly greater during B4 compared to all other time points (p’s ≤ 0.05). Absolute LIR distance was significantly greater during B4 compared to B1 (p=0.034). Jogrel was significantly greater during B4 compared to B1 (p=0.001) and B3 (p=0.001). Analysis of correlation coefficients between running performance and RESTQ scales indicate that greater high-speed/HIR is associated with increased stress. Similarly, greater low-speed/LIR is associated with greater recovery. However, changes in SSR did not correlate with changes in running performance from B1 to B4. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that running performance declined across the season. However, changes in performance were not related to changes in SSR, as determined via the RESTQ 52 Sport questionnaire.

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