The aim of the present study was to determine if 4 weeks of training cessation (detraining) followed by a 4-week strength training program can affect the isokinetic strength of elite youth soccer players. There were 13 players who participated in the study. The players performed anthropometric measurements and lower limb isokinetic strength mea-surements 3 times, before the training cessation, after the training ces-sation and after the 4-week strength training program. No significant differences were observed in the anthropometric and strength mea-surements (P>0.05) after the detraining period and after the training program (P>0.05). These results indicate that 4 weeks of detraining in elite youth soccer players does not have any significant effects accord-ing to their anthropometric characteristics and isokinetic strength of their lower limbs. Furthermore, neither the 4-week training program af-fected the parameters above. Perhaps, youth players can maintain the benefits of training better than adults due to their neural adaptations. The duration of the strength training program could be the reason of the lack of adaptations.
Samolis Vassilis [ Laboratory of Evaluation of Human Biological Performance, Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ]
Michailidis Yiannis [ Laboratory of Evaluation of Human Biological Performance, Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ]
Corresponding Author
Mandroukas Athanasios [ Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic ]
Mikikis Dimitrios [ Laboratory of Evaluation of Human Biological Performance, Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ]
Gissis Ioannis [ Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Serres, Greece ]
Metaxas Thomas [ Laboratory of Evaluation of Human Biological Performance, Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ]