Bruno Mendes

Fulham

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209393.].

Background: The aims of this study were to describe the variations of training monotony (TM), training strain (TS), and acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR) through Hooper Index categories (fatigue, stress, DOMS, and sleep quality) and to compare those variations between player status and player positions. Methods: Seventeen male professional soccer...

The primary aim of the investigation was to determine the daily load variations between the microcycles of an entire season of an elite group of professional soccer players. The second aim of this study was to determine the relationships between Foster’s rating of perceived exertion (RPE), the Hooper index (HI) and CK levels over the weekly microcy...

Background The interpretation of the load variations across a period seems important to control the weekly progression or variation of the load, or to identify within- micro and mesocycle variations. Thus, the aim of this study was to describe the in-season variations of training monotony, training strain, and acute: chronic workload ratio (ACWR) t...

The aim of this study was two-fold: (a) to describe the in-season variations of training monotony (TM), training strain (TS), and acute: chronic workload ratio (ACWR) through fatigue, stress, muscle soreness and sleep quality; (b) to compare those variations between player status and player positions. Seventeen professional players from an Euro...

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze within-week and within-match external load variations in male soccer players over three consecutive matches during a congested week. Methods: The study cohort included nineteen elite professional male players (age: 26.5 ± 4.3 years) from a European First League team. Players were monitored daily over a f...

Background and Objectives: Interpretation of the load variations across a period seems important to control the weekly progression or variation of the load, or to identify in-micro- and mesocycle variations. Thus, the aims of this study were twofold: (a) to describe the in-season variations of training monotony, training strain and acute:chronic wo...

Background: The purpose of this study is to compare training load (TL) preceding a home versus away match in a top-class elite European team during the 2015-2016 season. Methods: Twenty elite outfield soccer players with a mean ± SD age, height and body mass of 25.9 ± 4.6 years, 183.1 ± 6.6 cm and 78.6 ± 6.6 kg, respectively, participated in thi...

The aim of this study is to analyse effects of match location, match result and level of opponents in training load on the two following days of the match (MD+1; MD+2) in a top-class elite soccer European team. Nine players participated in this study. Total distance covered, distances of different exercise training zones (1–5) and average speed (A...

This study sought to examine the active stiffness of semitendinosus (ST) and biceps femoris long head (BFlh) during a knee flexor isometric contraction at 20% of maximal voluntary isometric contraction until failure in elite footballers ( n = 50, age: 22.3 ± 5.3 years; height: 1.82 ± 0.08 m; body mass: 74.7 ± 9.0 kg). Active stiffness was assessed...

The aims of this study were: (i) to describe weekly variations of acute load (AL), acute:chronic workload ratio, delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and fatigue; (ii) to analyze variations of weekly workload and well-being in three periods of the season (P1, P2, and P3); and (iii) to analyze the relationships between workload and well-being measu...

The aim of this study was to analyze the variations of acute load (AL), acute: chronic workload ratio (ACWR), training monotony (TM), and training strain (TS) of accelerometry-based GPS measures in players who started in three matches (S3M), two matches (S2M), and one match (S1M) during congested weeks. Nineteen elite professional male players from...

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationships between well-being variables in elite volleyball players over a full season. Thirteen elite volleyball players (age: 31.0±5.0 years) from the 1st Portuguese division were daily monitored over a season. The Hooper questionnaire (7-point scale) were applied individually every morning before t...

This study aimed to determine the relative contribution of workload, creatine kinase (CK) and perceived fatigue to explain the variation of muscle soreness (DOMS) in soccer players. Thirty-five elite men soccer players from the first Portuguese league (age: 25.7±5.0 years) were daily monitored for training load, well-being and creatine kinase level...

The single leg bridge test (SLBT) is an easy to use clinical field test for screening purposes in elite level athletes. This test is believed to provide relevant information regarding the athlete's readiness while returning to practice after an injury, in particular about the hamstring strength endurance. However, the semitendinosus and biceps femo...

This study examined whether a knee flexor isometric contraction at 20% of maximal voluntary isometric contraction until exhaustion would alter the biceps femoris long head (BFlh) and semitendinosus (ST) active stiffness, assessed using ultrasound-based shear wave elastography. Twelve healthy individuals participated in 2 sessions separated by 7 day...

The aim of this study was to compare distance-based workload indices during congested fixture periods among different levels of participation in matches. Nineteen elite professional male players (age: 26.5 ± 4.3 years) from a European First League team were monitored daily over a full season using global positioning measurements. Distance-based mea...

Purpose The aim of the study was to compare training load (TL) of the days preceding a win, draw or defeat in a sample of elite professional soccer players across the in-season 2015/16. Methods Twenty elite soccer players participated in this study. Total distance covered, high-speed running distance (HSRD), average speed, session rate of perceive...

The aim of this study was to provide reference data of variation in external training loads for weekly periods within the annual season. Specifically, we aimed to compare the weekly acute load, monotony, and training strain of accelerometry-based measures across a professional soccer season (pre-season, first and second halves of the season) accord...

This study aimed to determine the relationships between internal training load (session-RPE) and wellness status (delayed onset muscle soreness-DOMS, stress, fatigue, and sleep quality) on both daily and weekly bases over a basketball season. Fifteen professional basketball players provided their wellness status and perceived training load for all...

The aim of this study was twofold: (1) to analyze the variations of acute load, training monotony, and training strain among early (pre-season), mid (first half of season), and end season (second half of season) periods; (2) to compare these training indicators for playing positions in different moments of the season. Nineteen professional players...

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to (1) analyze the variations of acute and chronic training load and well-being measures during 3 periods of the season (early, mid, and end) and (2) test the associations between weekly training load and well-being measures during different periods of the season. Methods: Thirteen professional volleyball...

The aims of this research were (i) to describe variations in the internal load and well-being between regular (one official match) and congested (two official matches) weeks in senior professional roller-hockey players and (ii) to analyse the variations of these determinants, within weeks, for an entire season. Ten professional roller-hockey player...

Objectives: Neurodynamic techniques are often used to treat people with sciatica pain, but their mechanical effects on the sciatic nerve are unknown. Shear wave elastography (SWE) has been shown to effectively estimate the stiffness of peripheral nerves in real time. The aim of this study was to use SWE to assess the effects of slump neurodynamics...

This study examined whether professional footballers with previous biceps femoris long head (BFLH) injury in the last 3-years present a smaller proximal aponeurosis (Apo-BFLH) size compared to footballers with no previous injury. We examined the Apo-BFLH and BFLH size using magnetic resonance imaging and tested the knee flexor maximal isometric str...

The aim of this investigation was to analyses differences between post-game biochemical responses in congested (CP, when two consecutive games were played within 4 days or less) vs. non-congested (NCP, when two consecutive games were played within 5 days or more) periods. Assessment of creatine kinase (CK) and salivary cortisol (sCort) and immunogl...

Objectives: Understanding movements and mechanical demands of elite soccer players during training and competitive stressors is important for the support provision of player performance. Continued appreciation to quantify and monitor training load (TL) is apparent, however reporting multi-modal approaches in-line with competitive match-play demands...

Elite soccer teams that participate in European competitions need to have players in the best physical and psychological status possible to play matches. As a consequence of congestive schedule, controlling the training load (TL) and thus the level of effort and fatigue of players to reach higher performances during the matches is therefore critica...

The purpose of this study was to analyze the day-to-day variance of a typical weekly external training workload of two professional soccer teams from different countries. Twenty-nine players from two professional teams from Portugal and the Netherlands participated in this study. The players’ external load was monitored for 7 weeks, by means of por...

The aim of this study was two-fold: (i) to analyze the variations of internal load (IL) and well-being between normal and congested weeks in professional futsal (also known as indoor soccer) players and (ii) to analyze variations in training days (MD-1, MD-2 and MD-3 [matchday −1, −2, and −3, respectively]) within weeks. Twenty male professional fu...

This study aimed to compare the perceived training load (session-RPE) and wellness status (muscle soreness, stress, fatigue, and sleep quality) within and between regular (one-match) and congested (two matches) weeks. Fifteen professional basketball players from a European First league club participated in this study. Wellness status (Hooper's ques...

The aim of the present investigation was to analyse the association between physical fitness profiles, playing positions and the profile relationships between training output amongst elite professional soccer players. Twenty professional players (height: 182.0 ± 3.2 cm, body mass:77.4 ± 6.1 kg, 25.7 ± 3.4 years) competing at UEFA Champions League l...

Elite soccer teams that participate in European competitions often have a difficult schedule, involving weeks in which they play up to three matches, which leads to acute and transient subjective, biochemical, metabolic and physical disturbances in players over the subsequent hours and days. Inadequate time recovery between matches can expose playe...

Top European soccer teams that play in UEFA competitions often participate in one, two- or three-games per week. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure optimal match-day performance and full recovery. The aim of this study was to quantify internal and external training load (TL) within five microcycles: M1 and M2 – one-game weeks; M3 and M4 – two-gam...

Purpose: To assess the stiffness of hamstring muscles during isometric contractions in healthy individuals, using ultrasound-based shear wave elastography, in order to (i) determine the intra- and inter-day assessment repeatability, (ii) characterize the stiffness of semitendinosus (ST) and biceps femoris long head (BFlh) along the contraction inte...

This study sought to examine the shear modulus (i.e., an force index) of three quadriceps muscles [i.e., vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), and rectus femoris (RF)] during passive stretching to determine whether epimuscular myofascial force transmission occurs across muscles. Secondly, this study compared the shear modulus between the qua...

The aim of this study was two-fold: (i) to analyze the variations in internal load and well-being in professional handball players between normal and congested weeks and (ii) to analyze the variations between training days within weeks. Twenty male players (26.5 ± 4.9 yo) were monitored during a full season. MD-1 (match day −1) revealed larger decr...

The study aimed to assess the changes in the perceived internal load and wellness status of volleyball players in preparatory, regular (i.e. uncongested), and congested weeks during a full season. Thirteen elite volleyball players were studied (237 training sessions and 37 official matches). Session-RPE, muscle soreness, stress, fatigue, sleep qual...

The hamstring muscle group is a common concern to sports science and health professionals, due to the high occurrence of hamstrings strain injury (HSI), and to its impact in physical performance. Among others, muscle volume looks to provide relevant practical and clinical information due to its relationship with muscle strength. However, no previou...

Objectives: People with chronic low back related leg pain (LBRLP) have changes in the sciatic nerve properties (e.g. cross-sectional area). However, there is no information about other mechanical properties of the sciatic nerve (i.e. stiffness) being altered in this population. The purpose of this study was to determine if sciatic nerve stiffness i...

Background: Monitoring training load is critical to minimize the risk of overreaching, injury or illness. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationships and variance between perceived internal load and wellness status of elite male volleyball. Methods: Thirteen elite volleyball players were studied during a full competitive season (ni...

The aim of this study was to quantify the prominence levels of elite and highly competitive young soccer players. This study also analyzed the variation in general network properties at different competitive levels and periods of the season. A total of 132 matches, played by 28 teams during the 2015/2016 season, were analyzed. The results revealed...

Analysis of the physical and technical aspects of professional soccer is well reported, however the tactical analysis of the elite level is still limited in its conception. The purpose of this exploratory study was to measure the spatial exploration index of elite professional soccer players during official matches inclusive of positional analysis...

RESUMO O estudo pretendeu analisar as situações de jogo que resultaram em golo, desde a recuperação de bola até à finalização, recorrendo à análise notacional e sequencial. Foram observados 236 golos-seniores A (n=86), seniores B (n=81) e juniores A (n=69). Para a codificação dos golos utilizamos o instrumento observacional SOGF e o programa LINCE®...

An increasing number of young football athletes are competing in elite senior level competitions. However, comparison of strength, power, and speed characteristics between young elite football athletes and their senior counterparts, while controlling for anthropometric parameters, is yet to be investigated. Knee extension concentric peak torque, ju...

The popularity of female soccer is increasing as well as the number of females playing soccer. Similarly, over the last twenty or so years, research in soccer has increased significantly, but a large disparity exists in the volume of studies involving male and female players. As a consequence of this, female players remain less well understood comp...

It is crucial to ensure an adequate nutritional support for young soccer players under high physical stress situations, including match days and high training load days. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the dietary intake of young male soccer players from a Portuguese first league soccer club, both on match day and on the highest training...

Submetido para publicação em 28 de julho de 2016 Os autores do artigo declaram que não existem conflitos de interesses. Resumo O estudo realizado pretende analisar os golos do Club Atlético de Madrid, equipa que na época 2013-14 foi finalista da Super Taça de Espanha, Liga dos Campeões e vencedor da Liga Espanhola, recorrendo à deteção de T-pattern...

Objectives: (1) To objectively monitor and describe sleeping patterns of elite football players after matches during a competitive season and (2) to describe the variability in sleeping patterns between these contexts. Methods: Actimetry was used to determine sleeping patterns of 25 elite players from 1 Portuguese First League (Liga NOS) club for a...

Objectives: (1) To objectively monitor and describe sleeping patterns of elite football players after matches during a competitive season and (2) to describe the variability in sleeping patterns between these contexts. Methods: Actimetry was used to determine sleeping patterns of 25 elite players from 1 Portuguese First League (Liga NOS) club for a...

Objective: To analyse shooting situations in elite football (soccer) by incorporating opponent positioning for shots from the same location. Methods: All attempts by foot during four seasons (2011–2012 until 2014–2015) of an elite team's home matches were analysed. Three locations with the highest density of shots (n = 21, 24, and 20) were identifi...

Ensuring adequate levels of training and recovery at the elite level of professional soccer to maximise player performance has continued to drive the necessity to monitor the training load (TL) and physical training output of soccer players. The aim of this investigation was to analyse a training mesocycle whilst quantifying positional demands impo...

Monitoring internal training load has been extensively used and described within team sport environments, however when compared to internal physiological measures such as heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE), the literature is sparse. The primary aim of this investigation study was to assess differences of playing position on ITL,...

Introdução e Objetivo: A observação e análise são fundamentais no estudo de equipas adversárias e da própria equipa, uma vez que fornecem informações pertinentes para a planificação dos treinadores. O objetivo desta investigação centrou-se na análise dos gols da equipa do Barcelona mediante técnicas de análise notacional, sequencial e detecção de T...

Background: Neurodynamics techniques aim to assess and improve neural mechanosensitivity. However, there is no in vivo evidence regarding the mechanical effects of these techniques in the nerve stiffness. This study examined the immediate effects of a slump neurodynamics technique in the sciatic nerve shear wave velocity (SWV. i.e. an index of sti...

Purpose: It is recognized that stretching is an effective method to chronically increase the joint range of motion. However, the effects of stretching training on the muscle-tendon structural properties remain unclear. This systematic review with meta-analysis aimed to determine whether chronic stretching alter the muscle-tendon structural propert...

Objectives: Understanding movements and mechanical demands of elite soccer players during training and competitive stressors is important for the support provision of player performance. Continued appreciation to quantify and monitor training load (TL) is apparent, however reporting multi-modal approaches in-line with competitive match-play demands...

The aim of the current investigation was to understand the impact of pre-training neuromuscular performance and creatine kinase status on subsequent training performance in elite soccer players. Thirty soccer players (age: 25.3 ± 3.1 years; height: 183 ± 7 cm; mass: 72 ± 7 kg) were involved in this observational study. Each morning prior to trainin...

Contemporary elite soccer features increased physical demands during match-play, as well as a larger number of matches per season. Now more than ever, aspects related to performance optimization are highly regarded by both players and soccer coaches. Here, nutrition takes a special role as most elite teams try to provide an adequate diet to guarant...

OUR AIM: To contribute to the understanding of the relation between chronotype, sleep and sports performance in elite football players.

Objectives: This study investigated the association between high-speed running (HSR) and sprint running (SR) and injuries within elite soccer players. The impact of intermittent aerobic fitness as measured by the end speed of the 30-15 intermittent fitness test (30-15VIFT) and high chronic workloads (average 21-day) as potential mediators of injur...

Objectives: The objective of the investigation was to observe the impact of player wellbeing on the training output of elite soccer players. Design: Prospective cohort design. Methods: Forty-eight soccer players (age: 25.3±3.1years; height: 183±7cm; mass: 72±7kg) were involved in this single season observational study across two teams. Each mo...

Two experiments (n=10) were conducted to determine the effects of roller massager on ankle plantar flexor muscle recovery after exercise induced muscle damage (EIMD). Experiment 1 examined both functional [i.e., ankle plantar flexion maximal isometric contraction and submaximal (30%) sustained force; ankle dorsiflexion maximal range of motion and r...

Apesar da importância de indicadores hematológicos no futebol, a sua compreensão e uso é umas das limitações mais comuns na modalidade. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo consiste em caracterizar hematologicamente os jogadores de uma equipa de elite de futebol da 1ª liga portuguesa ao longo do período de 1 ano. Vinte jogadores de elite de uma equipa de...

Objectives: To examine the association between combined sRPE measures and injury risk in elite professional soccer. Design: Observational Cohort Study Methods: Forty-eight professional soccer players (mean ± SD age of 25.3 ± 3.1 yr) from two elite European teams were involved within a one season study. Players completed a test of intermittent-aer...

Anaerobic alactic actions are different between different soccer elite age-groups.

Purpose A previous study observed a joint passive torque increase above baseline ~30 min after a high-intensity stretching. This study examined the effect of a high-intensity stretching on ankle dorsiflexion passive torque, medial gastrocnemius (MG) shear modulus, and plantar flexors maximal voluntary isometric force (MVIC). Method Participants (n...

Investigação que analisou os golos de equipas de diferentes Ligas Europeias.