Physiological characterization using standardized submaximal treadmill responses in professional male soccer players
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objectives Submaximal treadmill variables are increasingly used in professional soccer, but their practical interpretation remains limited. Therefore, we aimed to determine whether standardized submaximal treadmill-derived variables provide a more informative characterization of positional differences than maximal exercise variables and to examine their associations with maximal exercise performance. Methods In this retrospective cross-sectional study, professional adult male soccer players ( n = 206), including midfielders, defenders, and forwards performed an incremental treadmill test until exhaustion, with enhanced speed-dosing above 4 mmol·L⁻ 1 blood lactate (4L). Absolute and relative heart rate (HR) and speed variables at 4L and exhaustion, together with their associations were analysed during this incremental treadmill test. Results Midfielders reached the highest 4L-related values, including speed (V 4L : 15.6 ± 1.3 km/h, p < 0.005 vs others), HR (HR 4L : 177.2 ± 9.0/min, p < 0.05 vs others), V 4L as % of maximal speed (V 4L/Max ratio: 77.6 ± 4.9%, p < 0.005 vs. forwards), and HR 4L as % of HR reserve (HR 4L/Res ratio: 87.1 ± 4.9%, p < 0.05 vs. others). Positional differences at maximal exercise were inconsistent. V 4L correlated moderately with HR 4L in all players ( r = 0.364, p < 0.001), largely with HR 4L/Res ratio ( r = 0.609, p < 0.001) and while HR 4L/Res ratio correlated very largely with V 4L/Max ratio ( r = 0.795, p < 0.001), without positional differences. Between 4L and exhaustion, correlations were larger for HR, than for speed, being very large for HR in all ( r = 0.739, p < 0.001), while large in forwards ( r = 0.661, p < 0.001), and for speed large in all ( r = 0.575, p < 0.001), across playing positions. After adjustment for age, BMI, club, competitive division, testing phase, and testing year, positional effects remained significant for V 4L ( p = 0.003) and HR 4L ( p = 0.007), but not for V Max ( p = 0.077) or HR Max ( p = 0.147). Conclusions Submaximal treadmill-derived variables differentiated playing positions more consistently than maximal exercise variables, while remaining strongly associated with maximal treadmill performance. These findings highlight 4L-related heart rate and running speed variables as informative submaximal markers for the physiological characterization of professional soccer players.
Language: English
Subfield: Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,353
OpenAlex ID: W7221836021