Performance and Muscle Architecture Comparisons Between Starters and Nonstarters in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Women's Soccer

• DOI: 10.1519/jsc.0b013e31829bd7c5
• Publication Date: 2013-05-29T16:57:47Z
• Authors: Adam R. Jajtner; Jay R. Hoffman; Tyler C. Scanlon; Adam J. Wells; Jeremy R. Townsend; Kyle S. Beyer; Gerald T. Mangine; William P. McCormack; Jonathan D. Bohner; Maren S. Fragala; Jeffery R. Stout
• Keywords: Muscle architecture; Vertical jump

Jajtner, AR, Hoffman, JR, Scanlon, TC, Wells, AJ, Townsend, Beyer, KS, Mangine, GT, McCormack, WP, Bohner, JD, Fragala, MS, and Stout, JR. Performance muscle architecture comparisons between starters nonstarters in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I women's soccer. J Strength Cond Res 27(9): 2355–2365, 2013—This study compared performance (MA) changes (S) (NS) during a soccer season. Twenty-eight women (19.9 ± 1.1 years; 1.71 0.08 m; 64.7 6.4 kg) were monitored for vertical jump power (VJP), repeated line drills (LDs), 3-dimensional multiple object tracking (3D-MOT), reaction time (RT) at preseason, midseason, postseason. Muscle using ultrasonography assessed preseason Comparisons S (n = 11; 70.0 14.6 min per game) NS 17; 8.4 8.0 performed to make magnitude-based inferences. No differences seen VJP the season either group. Starters more likely (81.1%) decrease LD than NS, with no fatigue rate. improved 3D-MOT (1.14 0.41 1.55 0.43) RT (0.37 0.05 0.34 0.33 seconds), groups. Rectus femoris (RF) echo intensity (65.57 1.50 61.26 1.59) both groups, interactions observed. Cross-sectional area (20.84 3.58 21.46 3.66 cm2) increased pennation angle (PANG) (12.58 2.56 11.78 2.03°) decreased groups vastus lateralis (VL). revealed VL thickness (MT) PANG (81.6 79.4%, respectively) possibly RF MT (65.7 59.4%, when NS. Results indicate that rate are not changed competitive season, but become faster Three-dimensional improve regardless of playing time. Changes MA practices alone provide sufficient stimulus improving quality