Effects of Ramadan on the diurnal variations of physical performance and perceived exertion in adolescent soccer players

摘要

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of Ramadan on the diurnal variations of physical performance and perceived exertion in adolescent soccer players. Twelve young male soccer players (age 13.3 ± 0.4 yrs; height 164.8 ± 2.9 cm; body mass 60.9 ± 6.5 kg) completed vertical jump tests and the multistage 20-m shuttle run test one week before Ramadan (BR) and during the fourth week of Ramadan (R4) in the morning and in the afternoon. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scores were obtained after the shuttle test. The results showed that squat jump and countermovement jump performances and predicted VO_2max were higher in the afternoon than the morning only BR (p < 0.001). Moreover, the afternoon values were lower during R4 than BR (p < 0.001). Furthermore, RPE scores were higher in the afternoon compared with the morning during R4 (p < 0.001), and during R4 compared with BR in the afternoon (p < 0.001). In conclusion, Ramadan leads to impairment in adolescent soccer players performances in the afternoon and affects their diurnal pattern observed BR.