By Joene Hendry

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The fast-paced game of soccer is characterized by intense running and repeated changes in direction, and study findings suggest soccer players may benefit from training that mimics these movements.

"Training exercises should reproduce movement patterns similar to those performed by the athletes during the game," Dr. Franco M. Impellizzeri told Reuters Health.

Impellizzeri, at Schulthess Clinic Neuromuscular Research Laboratory in Zurich, Switzerland, and colleagues compared the impact two different running exercise regimens had on 42 professional and high-level amateur soccer players.

One involved repeated shuttle-sprints -- all-out sprints for 40 meters (about 131 feet) that involve a 180 degree direction change every 10 or 20 meters. The other involved straight-line, high intensity interval running in sets of 4 minutes each.

The players, who were of similar age, height, and body weight, added the shuttle-sprints or the straight-line interval running sets to their regular season, 7-week training program.

According to a report of the study in the International Journal of Sports Medicine, the investigators saw similar aerobic power and capacity improvements among the athletes who completed baseline testing, the exercise interventions, and follow up testing.

However, only the soccer players who included repeated shuttle-sprint training improved their ability to repeat sprints with direction changes, Impellizzeri told Reuters Health. Follow up testing showed this group completed sprints at a faster speed, on average, he said.

The findings also suggest that sprint training that involves decreasing recovery time between sprints can help athletes improve their general aerobic capacity, Impellizzeri noted.

These findings highlight the benefits of training activities that reproduce the sport-specific movement patterns, Impellizzeri and colleagues conclude.

SOURCE: International Journal of Sports Medicine, September 2008

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