Twelve Weeks of In-Season Strength Training at Moderate Intensities Improve Strength and Body Composition Without Increasing Muscle Damage or Inflammation in Elite Young Female Soccer Players

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  • Bousselmi, Mariem
    • Other Affiliation: High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
  • Zouita, Amira Ben Moussa
    • Other Affiliation: Research Laboratory (LR23JS01) “Sports Performance, Health & Society”, University of Manouba, Manouba, Tunisia
  • Darragi, Manel
    • Other Affiliation: High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
  • Karamti, Houssem M.
    • Other Affiliation: High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
  • Zouita, Sghaeir
    • Other Affiliation: Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Said, University of Manouba, Manouba, Tunisia
  • Coso, Juan Del
    • Other Affiliation: Sport Sciences Research Centre, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain
  • Hmid, Ahlem Ben
    • Other Affiliation: Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections (LR11IPT02), Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
  • Hackney, Anthony C.
    • College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Exercise and Sport Science
  • Granacher, Urs
    • Other Affiliation: Department of Sport and Sport Science, Exercise and Human Movement Science, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
  • Zouhal, Hassane
    • Other Affiliation: International Institute of Sport Sciences (2I2S), Rennes, France
Abstract
  • Strength training (ST) is commonly implemented to enhance soccer-related fitness qualities such as sprinting, jumping, and changes-of-direction while also contributing to injury risk reduction. It is traditionally emphasized in the pre-season period. In-season ST may confer these benefits, but it can also induce muscle damage and inflammation. To examine the effects of a 12-week in-season ST program on maximal dynamic strength, muscle damage biomarkers, and inflammatory biomarkers, 24 elite young female soccer players (Tier 4 according to the McKay et al. classification) aged 14.9 ± 0.8 years and a maturity offset of +2.6 ± 1.1 years were randomly allocated to an ST group (STG, n = 12) or an active control group (CG, n = 12). Both groups followed the same soccer training program. However, in the STG, two weekly soccer sessions were replaced with ST. Overall training volume was comparable between groups. Maximal dynamic strength (1-RM tests for bench press, lat pull-down, and leg press), blood biomarkers of muscle damage (creatine phosphokinase [CPK], lactate dehydrogenase [LDH]), and inflammation (interleukin-6 [IL-6], tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α]) were assessed before (T1) and after (T2) the interventions. Analyses showed significant increases for STG for the 1-RM bench press, the 1-RM lat pull-down, and the 1-RM leg press (p < 0.001). No significant interactions were detected for any blood marker of muscle damage (LDH and CPK) or inflammation (IL-6 and TNF-α) (all p > 0.05). Results support a 12-week in-season ST program improved maximal dynamic strength in elite young female soccer players without altering resting levels of muscle damage or inflammatory markers measured 48 h after training compared to regular soccer training. These findings suggest that ST can be safely implemented during the competitive season in young female soccer players without overreaching or overtraining.
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  • Article
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  • In Copyright
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  • Attribution 4.0 International
Journal title
  • Sports
Journal volume
  • 14
Journal issue
  • 4
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  • English
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  • 2075-4663
Publisher
  • Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute

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