Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Altered neuromuscular control of leg stiffness following soccer-specific exercise

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To examine changes to neuromuscular control of leg stiffness following 42 min of soccer-specific exercise.

Methods

Ten youth soccer players, aged 15.8 ± 0.4 years, stature 1.73 ± 0.06 m and mass 59.8 ± 9.7 kg, hopped on a force plate at a self-selected frequency before and after simulated soccer exercise performed on a non-motorised treadmill. During hopping, muscle activity was measured using surface electromyography from four lower limb muscles and analysed to determine feedforward- and feedback-mediated activity, as well as co-contraction.

Results

There was a small, non-significant change in stiffness following exercise (26.6 ± 10.6 vs. 24.0 ± 7.0 kN m−1, p > 0.05, ES = 0.25), with half the group increasing and half decreasing their stiffness. Changes in stiffness were significantly related to changes in centre of mass (CoM) displacement (r = 0.90, p < 0.01, extremely large correlation) but not changes in peak ground reaction force (r = 0.58, p > 0.05, large correlation). A number of significant relationships were observed between changes in stiffness and CoM displacement with changes in feedforward, feedback and eccentric muscle activity of the soleus and vastus lateralis muscles following exercise (r = 0.64–0.98, p < 0.05, large–extremely large correlations), but not with changes in co-contraction (r = 0.11–0.55, p > 0.05, small–large correlations).

Conclusions

Following soccer-specific exercise individual changes in feedforward- and reflex-mediated activity of the soleus and vastus lateralis, and not co-contraction around the knee and ankle, modulate changes in CoM displacement and leg stiffness.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

BF:

Biceps femoris

BGA:

Background muscle activity

CoM:

Centre of mass

EMG:

Electromyography

HR:

Heart rate

M 1 :

Short-latency stretch reflex

M 2 :

Medium-latency stretch reflex

M 3 :

Long-latency stretch reflex

GRF:

Ground reaction force

SSIET:

Soccer-specific intermittent exercise test

SOL:

Soleus

TA:

Tibialis anterior

VL:

Vastus lateralis

References

  • Alentorn-Geli E, Myer GD, Silvers HJ, Samitier G, Romero D, Lazaro-Haro C, Cugat R (2009) Prevention of non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injuries in soccer players. Part 1: mechanisms of injury and underlying risk factors. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 17:705–729

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Andersson H, Raastad T, Nilsson J, Paulsen G, Garthe I, Kadi F (2008) Neuromuscular fatigue and recovery in elite female soccer: effects of active recovery. Med Sci Sports Exerc 40:372–380

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Avela J, Komi PV (1998) Reduced stretch reflex sensitivity and muscle stiffness after long-lasting stretch-shortening cycle exercise in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 78:403–410

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bouffard M, Reid G (2012) The good, the bad, and the ugly of evidence-based practice. Adapt Phys Activ Q 29:1–24

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brughelli M, Cronin J (2008) Influence of running velocity on vertical, leg and joint stiffness : modelling and recommendations for future research. Sports Med 38:647–657

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Butler RJ, Crowell HP 3rd, Davis IM (2003) Lower extremity stiffness: implications for performance and injury. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 18:511–517

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cloke D, Moore O, Shah T, Rushton S, Shirley MD, Deehan DJ (2012) Thigh muscle injuries in youth soccer: predictors of recovery. Am J Sports Med 40:433–439

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cone JR, Berry NT, Goldfarb AH, Henson RA, Schmitz RJ, Wideman L, Shultz SJ (2012) Effects of an individualized soccer match simulation on vertical stiffness and impedance. J Strength Cond Res 26:2027–2036

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dutto DJ, Smith GA (2002) Changes in spring-mass characteristics during treadmill running to exhaustion. Med Sci Sports Exerc 34:1324–1331

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Edwards AM, Macfadyen AM, Clark N (2003) Test performance indicators from a single soccer specific fitness test differentiate between highly trained and recreationally active soccer players. J Sports Med Phys Fit 43:14–20

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ekstrand J, Hagglund M, Walden M (2011) Injury incidence and injury patterns in professional football: the UEFA injury study. Br J Sports Med 45:553–558

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Emery CA, Meeuwisse WH (2006) Risk factors for injury in indoor compared with outdoor adolescent soccer. Am J Sports Med 34:1636–1642

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Farley CT, Morgenroth DC (1999) Leg stiffness primarily depends on ankle stiffness during human hopping. J Biomech 32:267–273

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins RD, Hulse MA, Wilkinson C, Hodson A, Gibson M (2001) The association football medical research programme: an audit of injuries in professional football. Br J Sports Med 35:43–47

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hewett TE, Zazulak BT, Myer GD, Ford KR (2005) A review of electromyographic activation levels, timing differences, and increased anterior cruciate ligament injury incidence in female athletes. Br J Sports Med 39:347–350

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hobara H, Kanosue K, Suzuki S (2007) Changes in muscle activity with increase in leg stiffness during hopping. Neurosci Lett 418:55–59

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hobara H, Kimura K, Omuro K, Gomi K, Muraoka T, Iso S, Kanosue K (2008) Determinants of difference in leg stiffness between endurance- and power-trained athletes. J Biomech 41:506–514

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins WG, Marshall SW, Batterham AM, Hanin J (2009) Progressive statistics for studies in sports medicine and exercise science. Med Sci Sports Exerc 41:3–13

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Horita T, Komi PV, Nicol C, Kyrolainen H (1999) Effect of exhausting stretch-shortening cycle exercise on the time course of mechanical behaviour in the drop jump: possible role of muscle damage. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 79:160–167

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes G, Watkins J (2006) A risk-factor model for anterior cruciate ligament injury. Sports Med 36:411–428

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hunter I, Smith GA (2007) Preferred and optimal stride frequency, stiffness and economy: changes with fatigue during a 1-h high-intensity run. Eur J Appl Physiol 100:653–661

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kofotolis ND, Kellis E, Vlachopoulos SP (2007) Ankle sprain injuries and risk factors in amateur soccer players during a 2-year period. Am J Sports Med 35:458–466

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Komi PV (2000) Stretch-shortening cycle: a powerful model to study normal and fatigued muscle. J Biomech 33:1197–1206

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koutures CG, Gregory AJ (2010) Injuries in youth soccer. Pediatrics 125:410–414

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kuitunen S, Ogiso K, Komi PV (2011) Leg and joint stiffness in human hopping. Scand J Med Sci Sports 21:e159–e167

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lakomy HK (1987) The use of a non-motorised treadmill for analysing sprint performance. Ergonomics 30:627–637

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lloyd RS, Oliver JL, Hughes MG, Williams CA (2012) Age-related differences in the neural regulation of stretch-shortening cycle activities in male youths during maximal and sub-maximal hopping. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 22:37–43

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McLean SG, Fellin RE, Suedekum N, Calabrese G, Passerallo A, Joy S (2007) Impact of fatigue on gender-based high-risk landing strategies. Med Sci Sports Exerc 39:502–514

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Millet GY, Lepers R (2004) Alterations of neuromuscular function after prolonged running, cycling and skiing exercises. Sports Med 34:105–116

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mohr M, Krustrup P, Bangsbo J (2003) Match performance of high-standard soccer players with special reference to development of fatigue. J Sports Sci 21:519–528

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nicol C, Avela J, Komi PV (2006) The stretch-shortening cycle: a model to study naturally occurring neuromuscular fatigue. Sports Med 36:977–999

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oliver JL, Smith PM (2010) Neural control of leg stiffness during hopping in boys and men. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 20:973–979

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oliver J, Armstrong N, Williams CA (2007) Reliability and validity of a soccer-specific test of prolonged repeated sprint ability. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2:137–149

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oliver J, Armstrong N, Williams C (2008) Changes in jump performance and muscle activity following soccer-specific exercise. J Sports Sci 26:141–148

  • Paavolainen L, Nummela A, Rusko H, Hakkinen K (1999) Neuromuscular characteristics and fatigue during 10 km running. Int J Sports Med 20:516–521

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Padua DA, Carcia CR, Arnold BL, Granata KP (2005) Gender differences in leg stiffness and stiffness recruitment strategy during two-legged hopping. J Mot Behav 37:111–125

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Price RJ, Hawkins RD, Hulse MA, Hodson A (2004) The Football Association medical research programme: an audit of injuries in academy youth football. Br J Sports Med 38:466–471

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Voigt M, Dyhre-Poulsen P, Simonsen EB (1998) Modulation of short latency stretch reflexes during human hopping. Acta Physiol Scand 163:181–194

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson JM, Flanagan EP (2008) The role of elastic energy in activities with high force and power requirements: a brief review. J Strength Cond Res 22:1705–1715

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiff School of Sport, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UK

    Jon L. Oliver & Rhodri S. Lloyd

  2. School of Sport and Exercise, University of Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, UK

    Mark B. A. De Ste Croix

  3. Children’s Health and Exercise Research Centre, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK

    Craig A. Williams

Authors
  1. Jon L. Oliver
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mark B. A. De Ste Croix
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rhodri S. Lloyd
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Craig A. Williams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jon L. Oliver.

Additional information

Communicated by Peter Krustrup.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Oliver, J.L., De Ste Croix, M.B.A., Lloyd, R.S. et al. Altered neuromuscular control of leg stiffness following soccer-specific exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 114, 2241–2249 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-2949-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-2949-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation