Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Level 2 Test Performance and Leg Muscle Growth in a Six-month Period among Pubescent Soccer Players at Different Stages of Maturity

• Published in: International Journal of Sport and Health Science 2011, Vol.9, pp.105-112
• Main Authors: Chuman, Kentaro, Hoshikawa, Yoshihiro, Iida, Tomomi, Nishijima, Takahiko
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; jpn
• Subjects: aerobic fitness; growth and development; leg muscle power; maturity status; peak height velocity
• ISSN: 1348-1509; 1880-4012
• DOI: 10.5432/ijshs.201117

This study examined the relationships between longitudinal changes in data obtained in the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 2 test (Yo-Yo IR2), maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and leg muscle size and function in pubescent soccer players. Forty-four soccer players with a mean age of 12.8±0.2 years participated, and were classified into three maturational groups (Late, Average and Early) according to their peak height velocity age. The Yo-Yo IR2 and five-jump tests along with measurement of VO2max and thigh muscle volume were conducted on two occasions 6 months apart. Performances in the Yo-Yo IR2 for the Late, Average and Early groups were 311±61, 371±88 and 411±72 meters at the first measurement, and 389±73, 509±117 and 621±69 meters 6 months later. Consequently, two-way repeated-measures ANOVA revealed a significant interaction whereby the improvement in Yo-Yo IR2 performance was larger in the Early group (51.3%) than in the Late group (24.8%). Greater increases of thigh muscle volume and the result of the five-jump test were found in the Early group, and these were correlated significantly (r=0.52, p