Tensiomyographic And Sprint Assessments Following Different Warmup Protocols In Collegiate Male Soccer Athletes

Tensiomyography (TMG) has been shown to be a non-invasive technique to assess the contractile properties of skeletal muscle which may have application in assessing the effectiveness of warm-up procedures prior to training and athletic competition. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of three different warm-up protocols on TMG variables and sprint performance in collegiate male soccer athletes. METHODS: Fifteen collegiate male soccer athletes (age = 20.1±1.3y, height = 176.6±6.9cm, body mass = 78.2±7.8kg, body fat percentage = 12.9±3.6) participated in the study. The three testing days consisted of: pre- and post-TMG assessments; warm-up protocol [dynamic (DYN); plyometrics (PLY); and passing patterns (SOC)]; and two 20-m sprints. Pre- and post-TMG assessments were completed for the biceps femoris (BF) and rectus femoris (RF) of both legs for all participants. The DYN warm-up protocol consisted of a six-minute jog followed by nine minutes of dynamic stretching. The PLY warm-up protocol consisted of a six-minute jog followed by nine minutes of plyometric exercises. The PAS consisted of a five-minute jog followed by a passing pattern drill typically used in advanced soccer athletes termed the “Rondo.” Repeated measures ANOVAs (condition x leg x time) were used to evaluate muscle displacement (Dm) and contraction time (Tc) in the BF and RF. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to evaluate the fastest of the two 20-m sprint times between conditions. RESULTS: Results showed no significant interactions for Dm (BF: 2.851 to 3.508mm; RF: 6.793 to 8.253mm) or Tc (BF: 20.04 to 24.00ms; RF: 26.87 to 29.36ms); however, a main effect for time (p=0.035) was found for BF Tc with a significant decrease from pre- (22.24±9.09ms) to post-warmup (20.47±5.01ms). Significant differences (p<0.05) between conditions for 20-m sprint performance were also noted (DYN: 2.76±0.27 s; PLY: 2.64±0.13s; SOC: 2.62±0.15s). CONCLUSION: In collegiate male athletes, the warm-up protocols did not appear to have differential effects on specific TMG variables, while differences in sprint performance were seen. The warm-up procedures decreased Tc as evaluated by TMG; however, further research is needed to examine the influence of this change on performance.