Muscle response of soccer players depends on their position on the field

Scientists from the University of Vigo have analysed different muscle response parameters in 78 Spanish first division footballers who have been playing for between four and fifteen years. They found variations depending on the field position of the players.

Published in the 'Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology', the results show that one of the extension muscles of the knee, rectus femoris muscle, belonging to the quadriceps muscle group, has different contraction, contraction maintenance and recovery times according to the specific position of the player on the pitch.

The authors measured the values of these times with a technique developed within the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia) named tensiomyography (TMG), which is used by various first division teams, like Barcelona Football Club.

"It is a non-invasive tool that allows for the assessment of the contracting characteristics of superficial muscles in terms of seconds," as explained by Ezequiel Rey, who headed the study.

Goalkeepers need to jump more than wingers

The central defender and the goalkeeper show lower contracting times of the rectus femoris muscle than the side defender. "This is because central defenders and goalkeepers need higher levels of explosive force in the knee extension muscles to jump, stop and head the ball effectively," outlines Rey.

Furthermore, the midfielders keep this muscle contracted for less time than the rest of the players because they require more resistance.

Preventing injury

The TMG technique allows us "to obtain information on the acute and chronic effects of training on a muscular level, prevent injuries, detect muscle imbalance and muscular asymmetry and assess the state of muscle fatigue after training," adds the researcher.

Rey points out that the specificity principle "is fundamental in the design of training programmes for complex sports like football," and he concludes that its study "provides values that can be used when prescribing the training loads in elite football and to reduce the risk of injury in the different specific positions."