Physiological and mechanical response to soccer-specific intermittent activity and steady-state activity

The aim of this study was to quantify response to a soccer-specific intermittent (INT) treadmill protocol based on notational analysis of match-play. Ten male semiprofessional football players (age 24.7 +/- 4.4 yr, body mass 77.1 +/- 8.3 kg, VO2max 63.0 +/- 4.8 ml x kg x min(-1)) completed the 90 minute INT protocol and a steady-state (SS) protocol eliciting the same distance covered. Physiological (heart rate [HR], ratings of perceived exertion [RPE], blood lactate concentration, salivary cortisol concentration) and mechanical (electromyography [EMG] of biceps femoris and rectus femoris) responses were obtained at 15 minute intervals throughout each protocol. The physiological and mechanical responses were typically greater during the INT protocol than during the SS protocol, tending to increase as a function of exercise duration. The INT activity profile induces cumulative mechanical load on the musculoskeletal system. The increased incidence of injury toward the latter stages of match-play is attributed to compromised movement mechanics, rather than physiological strain.