Muscle Oxygenation and Autonomic Recovery After Repeated Sprint in Competitive Soccer Players: A NIRS-HRV-Based Field Study
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- Pamukkale University
- Enrollment
- 48
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Heart Rate Variability: RMSSD
Study Overview
Brief Summary
This study evaluates the acute and short-term recovery responses to repeated sprint exercise in competitive male soccer players. Forty-eight licensed male soccer players complete an 8 × 30 m repeated sprint protocol under field conditions, with 25 seconds of active recovery between sprints.
The study examines several aspects of recovery. Muscle oxygenation is assessed using portable near-infrared spectroscopy sensors placed on the vastus lateralis and biceps femoris muscles. Cardiac autonomic recovery is evaluated using heart rate variability measurements obtained at baseline, 5 minutes, 30 minutes, and 24 hours after the repeated sprint protocol. Countermovement jump performance is measured before the protocol, 10 minutes after the protocol, and 24 hours later.
Sprint performance, blood lactate concentration, and perceived exertion are also recorded to characterize the physiological and performance demands of the repeated sprint protocol. The study aims to determine how muscle oxygenation, cardiac autonomic recovery, and neuromuscular performance change during the recovery period following repeated sprint exercise and whether these recovery indicators are associated with repeated sprint performance.
Detailed Description
This study uses a single-group repeated-measures design to investigate muscle oxygenation, cardiac autonomic recovery, and neuromuscular performance responses following repeated sprint exercise in competitive male soccer players.
A total of 48 licensed male soccer players participate in the study. Participants regularly train and compete in soccer and have at least four years of soccer training experience.
During the measurement session, demographic and anthropometric characteristics are recorded first. Baseline measurements include heart rate variability, muscle oxygen saturation, blood lactate concentration, and countermovement jump performance. After a standardized 10-minute warm-up, participants complete an 8 × 30 m repeated sprint protocol. Each sprint is performed with maximal effort, and a 25-second active/light jogging recovery period is provided between sprints. Sprint times are recorded using an electronic timing gate system.
Muscle oxygenation is continuously assessed using portable near-infrared spectroscopy sensors placed on the vastus lateralis and biceps femoris muscles of the dominant leg. The evaluated muscle oxygenation variables include baseline muscle oxygen saturation, minimum muscle oxygen saturation, desaturation difference, 30-second reoxygenation muscle oxygen saturation, and reoxygenation rate.
Cardiac autonomic recovery is evaluated using heart rate variability derived from R-R interval recordings obtained with a Polar H10 chest strap. Five-minute HRV recordings are obtained at baseline, 5 minutes after the repeated sprint protocol, 30 minutes after the protocol, and 24 hours after the protocol. RMSSD and SDNN are used as the primary time-domain HRV parameters.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Na
- Intervention Model
- Single Group
- Primary Purpose
- Basic Science
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 26 Years (Adult)
- Sex
- Male
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Licensed male competitive soccer player
- •Age between 18 and 26 years
- •Regularly participating in soccer training within a club
- •Actively participating in official competitions
- •At least 4 years of soccer training experience
- •Physically able to complete the repeated sprint protocol
- •No acute injury or illness on the measurement day
- •Voluntary agreement to participate and provision of written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
- •Acute lower-extremity injury
- •Acute illness on the measurement day
- •Inability to complete the repeated sprint protocol
- •Missing data at any required measurement time point
- •Failure to complete the 24-hour follow-up measurements
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Heart Rate Variability: RMSSD
Time Frame: Baseline, 5 minutes, 30 minutes, and 24 hours after the repeated sprint protocol.
RMSSD was calculated from 5-minute R-R interval recordings obtained using a Polar H10 chest strap and analyzed with Kubios HRV Standard software. RMSSD was expressed in milliseconds and used as an indicator of parasympathetic cardiac autonomic recovery.
Secondary Outcomes
- Baseline Muscle Oxygen Saturation(Immediately before the repeated sprint protocol.)
- Minimum Muscle Oxygen Saturation(During the 8 × 30 m repeated sprint protocol.)
- Muscle Oxygen Desaturation Difference(Baseline and during the 8 × 30 m repeated sprint protocol on Study Day 1.)
- Thirty-Second Muscle Reoxygenation(30 seconds after completion of the repeated sprint protocol.)
- Muscle Reoxygenation Rate(During the first 30 seconds after completion of the repeated sprint protocol.)
- Countermovement Jump Height(Baseline, 10 minutes after the repeated sprint protocol, and 24 hours after the protocol.)
- Blood Lactate Concentration(Immediately before and 3 minutes after the repeated sprint protocol.)
- Rating of Perceived Exertion(Immediately after completion of the repeated sprint protocol.)
- Sprint Time Across Repetitions(During each of the eight repetitions of the repeated sprint protocol on the test day.)
- Best Sprint Time(During the 8 × 30 m repeated sprint protocol on the test day.)
- Mean Sprint Time(During the 8 × 30 m repeated sprint protocol on the test day.)
- Total Sprint Time(During the 8 × 30 m repeated sprint protocol on the test day.)
- Sprint Performance Decrement(Calculated from the eight sprint times recorded during the repeated sprint protocol on the test day.)
Investigators
Engin Güneş Atabaş
Assistant Professor
Pamukkale University