Body composition, strength and muscle power indices at the different competitive levels of Futsal

doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3982583/v1

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Body composition, strength and muscle power indices at the different competitive levels of Futsal

https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3982583/v1

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Background: The aim was to verify the differences in physical condition (body composition, power and muscle strength) in futsal players from three competitive levels.

Methods: Sixty-eight (24.26 ± 4.63 years) Portuguese futsal players participated in the study, divided into: elite, sub-elite and amateur. We used the Inbody270, the counter movement jump and the isokinetic dynamometer to assess physical condition, and the Kruskal-Wallis test to compare variables between groups.

Results: There were no differences in body composition between groups. Elite players had higher countermovement jump heights than amateur players (p < 0.001). There were significant differences in the isokinetic muscle strength of the knee flexors, with the elite players showing more strength than the amateur players (p = 0.047).

Conclusions: The elite players had higher physical condition parameters (more lower limb power and more flexor muscle strength) compared to the amateur players. We would point out that all groups had a high probability of lower limb muscle injury (H/Q ratio < 60%) at this stage of the sports season, alerting training professionals to the importance of individualised physical condition analysis.

Physical Condition

Body Composition

Muscle Power

Muscle Strength

Futsal

Futsal is a high-intensity team sport whose players must constantly perform offensive and defensive tasks at a substantially high intermittent rate (1). In recent decades, the sport has grown exponentially, allowing us to increase our knowledge of the de-mands placed on its players, particularly in terms of characterising the internal load and external load (2). In general, futsal players cover an average of 4km per game and perform low-intensity efforts every 14 seconds, medium-intensity efforts every 37 seconds, high-intensity efforts every 43 seconds and, finally, maximum-intensity efforts every 56 seconds (3, 4). In addition, the players reach average and maximum VO2 values that correspond to 76% and 99% of VO2max respectively and, in this sense, various studies point to the importance of the efficient development of aerobic and anaerobic energy systems in futsal players (4). For this reason, this sport values the physical condition of its players to respond to the demands imposed by the game and the opponent, such as kicking, changing direction, accelerating, and turning, among others (5).

According to the evidence in the literature, as it is a sport with a high level of physical intensity, sports professionals need to have detailed knowledge of the demands of the sport and its relationship with the players' physical condition in order to prescribe training better (6, 7). However, although it is a growing sport, some authors point out that there is still little research into the physical condition, particularly the muscle strength, muscle power and anthropometric characteristics of players in this sport, and at different competitive levels (5, 6, 8). In particular, Arraya et al. (8) highlight the need to develop studies to analyse whether there are differences in the physical condition of futsal players depending on the level of competition.

Given the very pronounced evolution that futsal has undergone in the last decade, its players should be encouraged to work very close to their limits, especially given the increasing physical, tactical, technical and psychological demands (9). For this reason, it would be essential for the development of futsal to understand the physical requirements of this sport in detail. It is known that identifying the key aspects of physical condition is important because it can affect various aspects of the game, including training methods (10).

Body composition is essential for any athlete, since its parameters can positively or negatively influence their sport performance and thus represent a highly informative predictor for training methodology (11). In the same context, in terms of physical skills, strength and power are determining abilities for better performance, with strength being related to the muscle's ability to counter a given resistance and power being associated with the neuromuscular system's ability to generate maximum force in the shortest possible time (12, 13). In previous studies, lower limb power is commonly assessed indirectly through the Counter Movement Jump (CMJ), using a jumping platform, and according to these studies, futsal players achieved values between 35 and 52 cm (14, 15).

Intuitively, excess body fat represents an inert load that can impair physical and sports performance and subsequently predispose the player to an increased risk of injury (16). On the other hand, lean muscle mass plays a fundamental role in optimising strength and power, and is another essential component of a player's physical condition (17). In this sense, assessing the physical condition of futsal players and verifying the differences between competitive levels is pertinent, making it a regular practice to improve the planning and prescription of training and subsequently obtain better results (18).

Other studies comparing competitive levels indicate that sub-elite or amateur players need a substantially higher volume of training and intensity to achieve the same physical condition and body composition as elite athletes (19, 20). In turn, although the importance of assessing body composition is recognised, there are no reference values for futsal players using bioimpedance (21) and, in the context of strength and power, there is not much literature available relating them to futsal (22). In this respect, this study aimed to verify the differences between the various competitive levels of futsal in terms of body composition, power and muscle strength. According to the existing literature, we expect to find better results in body composition, lower limb strength and power at the elite level of futsal, compared to the sub-elite and amateur groups (8, 20).

With this study, we hope to highlight the importance of assessing physical condition, which is a valuable step in athletic success, as it allows professionals associated with training and physical preparation to identify players' individual needs and health professionals to identify modifiable risk factors that potentially reduce the risk of injury (23).

Study Design

This research is part of a quantitative approach, considered a cross sectional study. With regard to the nature of the sample, we can say that it was selected intentionally and conveniently, as it suited the type of study in question and we classified it as non-probabilistic, as it was based on the researcher's subjective criteria and in accordance with the study's specific objectives (24).

Participants

This study involved 68 futsal players (24.26 ± 4.63 years old) divided into three groups: elite (N = 13, 23.77 ± 4.38 years old), sub-elite (N = 39, 25.36 ± 4.83 years old) and amateur (N = 16, 22 ± 3.55 years old). The elite players compete in Portugal's first league, the sub-elite players compete in Portugal's second and third leagues and the amateur players compete in the district league. The groups ' anthropometric characteristics (age, weight, and height) are presented in Table 1.

Table 1

Characteristics of subjects.
Group	N	Age (years)	Weight (kg)	Height (m)
Elite	13	23,77 ± 4,38	73,32 ± 6,23	1,75 ± 0,05
Sub-Elite	39	25,36 ± 4,83	72,56 ± 7,99	1,73 ± 0,05
Amateur	16	22,01 ± 3,55	72,96 ± 15,61	1,76 ± 0,07

Insert Table 1 here

For the sample selection, the inclusion criteria were all senior male players from the respective teams accordingly registered with the club, and the exclusion criteria were the existence of an injury at the time of the assessment.

Instruments

To assess body composition we used a bioimpedance scale (InBody 270, Biospace, California, USA) with a tetrapolar electrode system with eight electrodes and frequencies of 20 and 100 kHz, which allowed us to measure muscle mass, fat mass and body fat percentage (%BF), and a portable stadiometer to identify and enter height on the scale. The CMJ was used to estimate lower limb power using a jump platform (ChronoJump Boscosystem). An isokinetic dynamometer (System 4, Biodex Medical Systems, Shirley, New York, USA) was used to assess lower limb muscle strength.

Procedures

Primarily, formal and institutional contact was made with the clubs, presenting the objects and asking for their cooperation, after which the participants were given a questionnaire and an informed consent form. Next, all the players were explained, within the defined inclusion criteria, the evaluation procedures and purposes of the study, which respect and preserve all the ethical principles, norms and international standards that concern the Declaration of Helsinki and the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine.

All the evaluations were carried out over three days, starting at 9 a.m. and finishing at 11.30 a.m., for approximately 45 minutes per participant, in a specific laboratory, following a particular sequence:

Firstly, body composition was assessed using a bioimpedance scale (InBody 270), in which the player climbs onto the device by placing their feet in a specific place; at the indication of the device, they take the two electrodes for their hands and move their arms away from their torso, maintaining this position for 60 seconds, while the device performs the test, in order not to compromise the results of the analysis, the participants were informed of some previous precautions, such as: fasting 4 hours before the test; abstaining from intense physical activity 24 hours before the test; empty bladder and bowels before the test (25). The evaluation took 1 minute per player.

Secondly, lower limb power was assessed using the CMJ, asking the athletes to keep their hands on their hips to minimise the influence of the upper limbs on jumping and coordination, followed by the instruction to perform a squat up to approximately 90°, involving flexion of the knees and hips, followed immediately by extension of the limbs to jump as high as possible, according to the method proposed by Bosco et al. (26) by jumping with both feet, without pausing at the base of the squat. Each athlete performed three CMJ from the bipedal position, with a brief recovery interval between repetitions (10 to 20 seconds), until they were ready to perform the next jump, and the maximum height obtained from the best of the three jumps was recorded. The CMJ procedure took approximately 3 to 4 minutes per participant.

Thirdly, the muscle strength of the quadriceps and hamstrings was assessed using concentric isokinetic tests on the dominant and non-dominant limb, following the protocol used in other studies (27). Knee dominance was determined by asking the participants which limb they preferred to use when kicking a ball (28). Initially, the players warmed up on a cycle ergometer for 10 minutes at a low speed; then they were positioned correctly on the dynamometer, with the knee and hip at 90°, the knee flexion angle was set at 110° and 0° in extension. The weight of the limb was used to correct for the effects of gravity. Three straps were used to secure the thoracic region, the hip and the knee to prevent undesired movements. Afterwards, the athletes were asked to perform five repetitions of knee extension and flexion at 60°/s, this being the recommended angular velocity to recruit the greatest number of motor units (29). The athletes were verbally encouraged to perform maximum strength during the tests. We recorded the peak concentric torque of the knee joint’s extensors and flexors. The H/Q ratio was calculated by dividing the peak concentric torque of the hamstrings by that of the quadriceps during the same contraction speed. This procedure took a total of 30 minutes per participant.

All the data was collected by the same research team, using a record sheet set up for the purpose. At the end of the data collection, those were made available to the respective technical teams so that they were aware of their players' abilities.

Statistical Analyses

The data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) (v.23.0). All the data collected was gathered and descriptive statistics were used to calculate means, standard deviation, minimums and maximums. The Shapiro-Wilk test is used to verify the normality of the data distribution (p < 0,05). We then used the non-parametric Krushkal-Wallis test to see if there were any differences between the three competitive levels of the sport and a post hoc comparison with Bonferroni correction to compare the results of the groups between pairs. The significance level for these tests was set at 5%. Inferences were also made based on the magnitude of the effects using the following scale (Cohen's d): 0-0.2, trivial; 0.21–0.6, small; 0.61–1.2, moderate; 1.21-2.0, large; ≥2.0, very large (30).

Table 2 shows the body composition analysis results, based on muscle mass, fat mass and %BF at the different competitive levels of futsal. There were no statistically significant differences between groups when comparing the body composition variables.

Table 2

Comparisons of groups according to level of competition in relation to body composition variables
Dependent Variable	Group	N	M ± SD	Effect Size	p ^*
Muscle mass (Kg)	Elite Sub-Elite	13	35,7 ± 3,3	0,22	0,609
	Elite Sub-Elite	39	34,9 ± 3,8	0,22
	Elite Amateur	13	35,7 ± 3,3	0,39
	Elite Amateur	16	34,1 ± 4,7	0,39
	Sub-Elite Amateur	39	34,9 ± 3,8	0,19
	Sub-Elite Amateur	16	34,1 ± 4,7	0,19
Fat mass (Kg)	Elite Sub-Elite	13	11,2 ± 3,1	0,03	0,826
	Elite Sub-Elite	39	11,3 ± 3,8	0,03
	Elite Amateur	13	11,2 ± 3,1	0,22
	Elite Amateur	16	12,8 ± 9,9	0,22
	Sub-Elite Amateur	39	11,3 ± 3,8	0,20
	Sub-Elite Amateur	16	12,8 ± 9,9	0,20
Body fat (%)	Elite Sub-Elite	13	14,9 ± 3,6	0,97	0,925
	Elite Sub-Elite	39	15,3 ± 4,2	0,97
	Elite Amateur	13	14,9 ± 3,6	0,23
	Elite Amateur	16	16,3 ± 7,7	0,23
	Sub-Elite Amateur	39	15,3 ± 4,2	0,16
	Sub-Elite Amateur	16	16,3 ± 7,7	0,16
^{* p ≤ 0.05 used in the Kruskal Wallis test; N− Number of Subjects; M− Mean; SD− Standard Deviation}

Insert Table 2 here

Table 3 shows the analysis of lower limb power at the different competitive levels of futsal using the CMJ. In the comparisons between groups, there were only statistically significant differences between the elite and amateur groups, with the elite group showing better performance in the CMJ, expressed by jump height, compared to the amateur group (28.9cm ± 3.2 vs 23.6cm ± 3.9). However, it is important to note that the elite group showed the greatest power in the lower limbs, followed by the sub-elite group, and with the least power, the amateur group.

Table 3

Comparisons of groups according to level of competition in relation to performance in the CMJ
Dependent Variable	Group	N	M ± SD	Effect Size	p^*
CMJ (cm)	Elite Sub-Elite	13	28,9 ± 3,2	0,47	0,188
	Elite Sub-Elite	39	26,6 ± 6,2	0,47	0,188
	Elite Amateur	13	28,9 ± 3,2	1,49	< 0,001
	Elite Amateur	16	23,6 ± 3,9	1,49	< 0,001
	Sub-Elite Amateur	39	26,6 ± 6,2	0,58	0,211
	Sub-Elite Amateur	16	23,6 ± 3,9	0,58	0,211
^{* p ≤ 0.05 used in the Kruskal Wallis test; significant values and their associated effects are shown in bold; N− Number of Subjects; M− Mean; SD− Standard Deviation; CMJ−counter movement jump}

Insert Table 3 here

Finally, Table 4 shows the values obtained by analysing the muscle strength of the lower limbs, based on the maximum moment of force (peak torque) of each muscle group and the ratio between knee extensors and flexors (H/Q ratio), at the different competitive levels. In this sense, we can see that the dominant lower limb recorded, on average, higher strength values in both the extensors and flexors, at all three competitive levels. The elite group had the highest peak maximum strength in both muscle groups, followed by the sub-elite group and the amateur group with the lowest peak maximum strength. However, there were only statistically significant differences between the elite and amateur groups (p = 0.047; d = 0.8) in the flexors of the non-dominant lower limb, with the elite group showing greater strength than the amateur group.

Table 4

Comparisons of groups according to level of competition regarding performance in the isokinetic test for maximum strength values.
Group Isokinetics	Elite (N = 13)		Sub-Elite (N = 39)		Amateur (N = 16)
Group Isokinetics	Dominant	Non-Dominant	Dominant	Non-Dominant	Dominant	Non-Dominant
Extensors	M ± SD
Peak Torque (Nm)	254,5 ± 27,8 (198–306,8)	249,9 ± 38,7 (193,4–355)	234,7 ± 41,7 (149,1–367,8)	234,1 ± 35,6 (137,5–296,8)	229,7 ± 45,1 (124,1–314,4)	227,3 ± 53,9 (123,2–317,3)
Flexors	M ± SD
Peak Torque (Nm)	138,8 ± 19,7 (109,5–189,1)	136,7 ± 18,4^* (106,7–177,1)	133,2 ± 22,5 (89,2–181)	129,9 ± 18 (97,5–163,5)	127,5 ± 32,7 (73,8–198,5)	114,7 ± 35,3^* (65,8–195,5)
H/Q ratio (%)	54,9 ± 8,2	55,3 ± 7,9	57,2 ± 7,2	56,3 ± 9,3	55,5 ± 8,9	50,7 ± 9,5
^{* p ≤ 0.05 used in the Kruskal Wallis test; significant values and their associated effects are shown in bold. N−Number of Subjects; M−Median; SD−Standard Deviation;(min−máx); H/Q ratio= knee hamstring/quadriceps strength ratio}

The table shows that the average H/Q ratio values (%) for all limbs and all competitive levels (< 60%) indicate a high probability of injury.

Insert Table 4 here

Futsal is a sport that depends, to a large extent, among other things, on the adequate physical condition of its players (14). Therefore, this study aimed to verify the differences in physical condition in futsal players according to their competitive level. The main conclusion of this research was that the physical condition of futsal players, as measured by body composition, lower limb power and muscle strength, was significantly higher in elite players than in lower-level players.

According to the literature, body composition parameters play a fundamental role in the athletic performance of futsal players (31). However, as in previous studies, the body composition of futsal players was not significantly different between competitive levels (8, 21, 32), which indicates that these characteristics are somewhat similar in futsal players, regardless of the level of competition in which they participate, as was the case in the studies by López-Fernández et al. (21) who found no differences in anthropometric characteristics between elite and sub-elite futsal players and Pedro et al. (32) who found no differences between professional and semi-professional futsal players. Nevertheless, in the study by Ayarra et al. (8), although there were no significant differences between players in the second and third Spanish leagues, there were differences between the players with the highest competitive level (second league) and the group with the lowest competitive level (juniors).

The average age of the players varied between 22.01 and 23.77 years, height between 1.73 and 1.76 m and weight between 72.56 and 73.32 kg; similar values have been recorded in other studies (3). In our study, elite futsal players had a lower body fat percentage, which is in line with the study by Sekulic et al. (33). In terms of muscle mass, elite players had higher average values and, similarly, a study of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Division futsal players in Portugal had already shown that elite athletes had higher average muscle mass values (34).

Lower limb muscle power is an essential and indispensable capacity for futsal players who perform numerous explosive actions during the game (5, 15). Our study used an indirect analysis of muscle power obtained by measuring the maximum height reached on the CMJ (3). Elite futsal players performed better on the CMJ compared to lower-level players, and the differences between elite and amateur leves were significant. Corroborating our results, in the study by García-Unanue et al. (35), elite players also performed better than amateur players. At the same time, Naser & Ali (15) found no significant differences in CMJ between the different competitive levels. The average height of the CMJ of the elite players in this study was substantially lower than that found in other previous studies (5, 15, 36, 37).

The muscle balance between the flexors and extensors of the knee joint is fundamental, with the quadriceps muscle group playing a decisive role in kicking and jumping. At the same time, the hamstrings control running and provide a protective mechanism for the knee during changes of direction and tackles (28). In our study, elite futsal players (136.7 ± 18.4 Nm) showed significant differences in the strength of the hamstrings of the non-dominant limb compared to amateur futsal players (114.7 ± 35.3 Nm). Similarly, Cometti et al. (38) also found that elite soccer players had greater hamstring strength than amateur players. According to Spyrou et al. (4), the dominant limb seems to be stronger, reaching higher maximum strength values, as was the case in our study; at all competitive levels, it was in the dominant limb that higher maximum strength values were recorded; both in extensors and flexors.

In recent literature, isokinetic assessment is one of the most discussed and requested methods for assessing the risk of injury, with the H/Q ratio being the leading indicator of lower limb injury recorded during the isokinetic test (39). This ratio is crucial to the stability of the knee joint, reflecting the muscle balance between the extensors and flexors and the results obtained in our study are similar to those of Lira et al. (28), in which the average values of the H/Q ratio (%) in both limbs and at all competitive levels indicate a high probability of injury, since according to Aagaard et al. (40) values of less than 60%, as in our case, increase the susceptibility to injury. Ferreira et al. (23) also suggest that injury prevention strategies should focus on the normative value of 60% at an angular velocity of 60º/s (as in our case). Croisier et al. (39) indicated that muscle strength imbalances put a player at an average 4.6 times greater risk of developing a hamstring injury, so our results warn of this possibility in the players assessed.

As for the limitations of this study, the size of the sample, particularly in the Elite and Amateur groups, does not allow us to draw generalised conclusions for the other teams participating at these competitive levels, as well as the fact that the evaluation was carried out at the start of a season, when the players are after their longest competitive break and have not yet undergone the positive changes of the demands of their competition, as well as the lack of research in the area that allows a comparative link in terms of results. Future studies are suggested to replicate the study with a larger number of players and more teams at different competitive levels and distinct stages of the season.

In conclusion, the elite players had more lower limb power and knee flexor muscle strength than the amateur players. We found no differences in body composition between groups in this sample.

The results highlight an alarming risk of lower limb injuries at all competitive levels (H/Q ratio < 60%), emphasising the importance of individualised analysis of physical condition and injury predictors at this stage of the season and highlighting the need for more research into this emerging topic in futsal.

Practical implications

This study shows that there are no differences in body composition between futsal players of different competitive levels.
Elite futsal players have more power and muscle strength in the lower limbs.
Based on the H/Q ratio values, all groups had a high probability of lower limb injury.
This study demonstrates the importance of individualised analysis of physical condition and, above all, of predictive indicators of injury.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and approved by the Institutional Review Board (or Ethics Committee) of Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco (134/CE-IPCB/2023). Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.

Consent for publication

Not applicable as the manuscript does not contain any data from any individual person.

Data Availability Statement

The data presented in this study are only available upon request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy issues.

Competing Interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Authors’ Contributions

C.M. worked on Conceptualization, Formal Analysis, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. M.R. worked on Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal Analysis, Methodology, Supervision, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. R.C. worked on Conceptualization, Data curation, Methodology, Supervision, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. M.B. worked on Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal Analysis, Methodology, Supervision, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. R.P. worked on Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal Analysis, Methodology, Supervision, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. P.D-M worked on Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology. S.H. worked on: Project administration, Resources. J.S. worked on Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing.

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No competing interests reported.

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Body composition, strength and muscle power indices at the different competitive levels of Futsal

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