@article{KasmiZouhalHammamietal.2021,
  author    = {Kasmi, Sofien and Zouhal, Hassane and Hammami, Raouf and Clark, Cain Craig Truman and Hackney, Anthony C. and Hammami, Amri and Chtara, Moktar and Chortane, Sabri Gaied and Ben Salah, Fatma Zohra and Granacher, Urs and Ben Ounis, Omar},
  title     = {The Effects of Eccentric and Plyometric Training Programs and Their Combination on Stability and the Functional Performance in the Post-ACL-Surgical Rehabilitation Period of Elite Female Athletes},
  series = {Frontiers in physiology},
  volume    = {12},
  journal   = {Frontiers in physiology},
  publisher = {Frontiers Research Foundation},
  address   = {Lausanne, Schweiz},
  issn      = {1664-042X},
  doi       = {10.3389/fphys.2021.688385},
  pages     = {1 -- 11},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Background: The standard method to treat physically active patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is ligament reconstruction surgery. The rehabilitation training program is very important to improve functional performance in recreational athletes following ACL reconstruction. Objectives: The aims of this study were to compare the effects of three different training programs, eccentric training (ECC), plyometric training (PLYO), or combined eccentric and plyometric training (COMB), on dynamic balance (Y-BAL), the Lysholm Knee Scale (LKS), the return to sport index (RSI), and the leg symmetry index (LSI) for the single leg hop test for distance in elite female athletes after ACL surgery. Materials and Methods: Fourteen weeks after rehabilitation from surgery, 40 elite female athletes (20.3 ± 3.2 years), who had undergone an ACL reconstruction, participated in a short-term (6 weeks; two times a week) training study. All participants received the same rehabilitation protocol prior to the training study. Athletes were randomly assigned to three experimental groups, ECC (n = 10), PLYO (n = 10), and COMB (n = 10), and to a control group (CON: n = 10). Testing was conducted before and after the 6-week training programs and included the Y-BAL, LKS, and RSI. LSI was assessed after the 6-week training programs only. Results: Adherence rate was 100\% across all groups and no training or test-related injuries were reported. No significant between-group baseline differences (pre-6-week training) were observed for any of the parameters. Significant group-by-time interactions were found for Y-BAL (p < 0.001, ES = 1.73), LKS (p < 0.001, ES = 0.76), and RSI (p < 0.001, ES = 1.39). Contrast analysis demonstrated that COMB yielded significantly greater improvements in Y-BAL, LKS, and RSI (all p < 0.001), in addition to significantly better performances in LSI (all p < 0.001), than CON, PLYO, and ECC, respectively. Conclusion: In conclusion, combined (eccentric/plyometric) training seems to represent the most effective training method as it exerts positive effects on both stability and functional performance in the post-ACL-surgical rehabilitation period of elite female athletes.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SariatiHammamiZouhaletal.2021,
  author    = {Sariati, Dorsaf and Hammami, Raouf and Zouhal, Hassane and Clark, Cain Craig Truman and Nebigh, Ammar and Chtara, Moktar and Chortane, Sabri Gaied and Hackney, Anthony C. and Souissi, Nizar and Granacher, Urs and Ben Ounis, Omar},
  title     = {Improvement of Physical Performance Following a 6 Week Change-of-Direction Training Program in Elite Youth Soccer Players of Different Maturity Levels},
  series = {Frontiers in physiology},
  volume    = {12},
  journal   = {Frontiers in physiology},
  editor    = {Trecroci, Athos},
  publisher = {Frontiers Research Foundation},
  address   = {Lausanne, Schweiz},
  issn      = {1664-042X},
  doi       = {10.3389/fphys.2021.668437},
  pages     = {1 -- 8},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Background: Change-of-direction (CoD) is a necessary physical ability of a field sport and may vary in youth players according to their maturation status. Objectives: The aim of this study is: to compare the effectiveness of a 6-week CoD training intervention on dynamic balance (CS-YBT), horizontal jump (5JT), speed (10 and 30-m linear sprint times), CoD with (15 m-CoD + B) and without (15 m-CoD) the ball, in youth male soccer players at different levels of maturity [pre- and post-peak height velocity (PHV)]. Materials and Methods: Thirty elite male youth soccer players aged 10-17 years from the Tunisian first division participated in this study. The players were divided into pre- (G1, n = 15) and post-PHV (G2, n = 15) groups. Both groups completed a similar 6-week training program with two sessions per week of four CoD exercises. All players completed the following tests before and after intervention: CS-YBT; 5 JT; 10, 30, and 15 m-CoD; and 15 m-CoD + B, and data were analyzed using ANCOVA. Results: All 30 players completed the study according to the study design and methodology. Adherence rate was 100\% across all groups, and no training or test-related injuries were reported. Pre-PHV and post-PHV groups showed significant amelioration post-intervention for all dependent variables (after test > before test; p < 0.01, d = 0.09-1.51). ANOVA revealed a significant group × time interaction only for CS-YBT (F = 4.45; p < 0.04; η2 = 0.14), 5JT (F = 6.39; p < 0.02; η2 = 0.18), and 15 m-CoD (F = 7.88; p < 0.01; η2 = 0.22). CS-YBT, 5JT, and 15 m-CoD improved significantly in the post-PHV group (+ 4.56\%, effect size = 1.51; + 4.51\%, effect size = 1.05; and -3.08\%, effect size = 0.51, respectively), more than the pre-PHV group (+ 2.77\%, effect size = 0.85; + 2.91\%, effect size = 0.54; and -1.56\%, effect size = 0.20, respectively). Conclusion: The CoD training program improved balance, horizontal jump, and CoD without the ball in male preadolescent and adolescent soccer players, and this improvement was greater in the post-PHV players. The maturity status of the athletes should be considered when programming CoD training for soccer players.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{BouamraZouhalRateletal.2022,
  author    = {Bouamra, Marwa and Zouhal, Hassane and Ratel, S{\´e}bastien and Makhlouf, Issam and Bezrati, Ikram and Chtara, Moktar and Behm, David George and Granacher, Urs and Chaouachi, Anis},
  title     = {Concurrent Training Promotes Greater Gains on Body Composition and Components of Physical Fitness Than Single-Mode Training (Endurance or Resistance) in Youth With Obesity},
  series = {Frontiers in Physiology},
  volume    = {13},
  journal   = {Frontiers in Physiology},
  publisher = {Frontiers},
  address   = {Lausanne, Schweiz},
  issn      = {1664-042X},
  doi       = {10.3389/fphys.2022.869063},
  pages     = {1 -- 16},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {The prevalence of obesity in the pediatric population has become a major public health issue. Indeed, the dramatic increase of this epidemic causes multiple and harmful consequences, Physical activity, particularly physical exercise, remains to be the cornerstone of interventions against childhood obesity. Given the conflicting findings with reference to the relevant literature addressing the effects of exercise on adiposity and physical fitness outcomes in obese children and adolescents, the effect of duration-matched concurrent training (CT) [50\% resistance (RT) and 50\% high-intensity-interval-training (HIIT)] on body composition and physical fitness in obese youth remains to be elucidated. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 9-weeks of CT compared to RT or HIIT alone, on body composition and selected physical fitness components in healthy sedentary obese youth. Out of 73 participants, only 37; [14 males and 23 females; age 13.4 ± 0.9 years; body-mass-index (BMI): 31.2 ± 4.8 kg·m-2] were eligible and randomized into three groups: HIIT (n = 12): 3-4 sets×12 runs at 80-110\% peak velocity, with 10-s passive recovery between bouts; RT (n = 12): 6 exercises; 3-4 sets × 10 repetition maximum (RM) and CT (n = 13): 50\% serial completion of RT and HIIT. CT promoted significant greater gains compared to HIIT and RT on body composition (p < 0.01, d = large), 6-min-walking test distance (6 MWT-distance) and on 6 MWT-VO2max (p < 0.03, d = large). In addition, CT showed substantially greater improvements than HIIT in the medicine ball throw test (20.2 vs. 13.6\%, p < 0.04, d = large). On the other hand, RT exhibited significantly greater gains in relative hand grip strength (p < 0.03, d = large) and CMJ (p < 0.01, d = large) than HIIT and CT. CT promoted greater benefits for fat, body mass loss and cardiorespiratory fitness than HIIT or RT modalities. This study provides important information for practitioners and therapists on the application of effective exercise regimes with obese youth to induce significant and beneficial body composition changes. The applied CT program and the respective programming parameters in terms of exercise intensity and volume can be used by practitioners as an effective exercise treatment to fight the pandemic overweight and obesity in youth.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SariatiZouhalHammamietal.2021,
  author    = {Sariati, Dorsaf and Zouhal, Hassane and Hammami, Raouf and Clark, Cain Craig Truman and Nebigh, Ammar and Chtara, Moktar and Hackney, Anthony C. and Souissi, Nizar and Granacher, Urs and Ben Ounis, Omar},
  title     = {Association Between Mental Imagery and Change of Direction Performance in Young Elite Soccer Players of Different Maturity Status},
  series = {Frontiers in Psychology},
  volume    = {12},
  journal   = {Frontiers in Psychology},
  publisher = {Frontiers Research Foundation},
  address   = {Lausanne, Schweiz},
  issn      = {1664-1078},
  doi       = {10.3389/fpsyg.2021.665508},
  pages     = {1 -- 9},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Previous studies have not considered the potential influence of maturity status on the relationship between mental imagery and change of direction (CoD) speed in youth soccer. Accordingly, this cross-sectional study examined the association between mental imagery and CoD performance in young elite soccer players of different maturity status. Forty young male soccer players, aged 10-17 years, were assigned into two groups according to their predicted age at peak height velocity (PHV) (Pre-PHV; n = 20 and Post-PHV; n = 20). Participants were evaluated on soccer-specific tests of CoD with (CoDBall-15m) and without (CoD-15m) the ball. Participants completed the movement imagery questionnaire (MIQ) with the three- dimensional structure, internal visual imagery (IVI), external visual imagery (EVI), as well as kinesthetic imagery (KI). The Post-PHV players achieved significantly better results than Pre-PHV in EVI (ES = 1.58, large; p < 0.001), CoD-15m (ES = 2.09, very large; p < 0.001) and CoDBall-15m (ES = 1.60, large; p < 0.001). Correlations were significantly different between maturity groups, where, for the pre-PHV group, a negative very large correlation was observed between CoDBall-15m and KI (r = -0.73, p = 0.001). For the post-PHV group, large negative correlations were observed between CoD-15m and IVI (r = -0.55, p = 0.011), EVI (r = -062, p = 0.003), and KI (r = -0.52, p = 0.020). A large negative correlation of CoDBall-15m with EVI (r = -0.55, p = 0.012) and very large correlation with KI (r = -0.79, p = 0.001) were also observed. This study provides evidence of the theoretical and practical use for the CoD tasks stimulus with imagery. We recommend that sport psychology specialists, coaches, and athletes integrated imagery for CoD tasks in pre-pubertal soccer players to further improve CoD related performance.},
  language  = {en}
}