In search of optimal athletic performance, in the last ten years the influence of innovation has grown exponentially within the professional and amateur sports market. Modern GPS measurement devices now show how athletes perform significantly greater high-intensity explosive actions, which include acceleration, deceleration, direction changes and high-speed running, and we understand how vital these actions are to sporting success.
The collaboration with The Total Player, a real leader in athletic training in the football field of professional players, has allowed us to analyze through specific tests, the potential benefits that SOXPro anti-friction socks can have on the acceleration, agility and reaction performance of professional footballers of both genders: masculine and feminine.
SPRINT PERFORMANCE STUDY
Protocol – Numerous studies confirm that the average distance of the sprint carried out in a professional football match is between 18 and 20 meters. The 20-meter sprint was therefore chosen as the appropriate means to accurately examine the acceleration of the players’ performance.
Champion – The 23 athletes who took part in the test were a mix of professional players, men and women, currently serving in various clubs in the professional divisions of European football. With an age between 18 and 27 (average age of 22).
Equipment – The equipment used for this test consists of a high-precision “Photocell Timing Gates” by Exsurgo Technologies – Gsprint. Exsurgo’s accompanying software EPS (Exsurgo Performance System) was used to monitor the athletes’ performance and record data. Additionally, Catapults’ GPS One sensors were used on all athletes to accurately measure the highest speed recorded in the 20m.
Test – The athletes, after familiarizing themselves with the test protocol, were given three attempts to run their fastest time (without the use of SOXPro socks). The athletes were given 3 minutes between one test and the next, for a large recovery of the dominant energy system. After that, they received the SOXPro socks and were instructed to repeat three more trials at maximum effort to record the fastest possible time.
The results of the “Sprint Performance Study” test show that the average acceleration time in 20 meters without the use of SOXPro socks was 3.13. With the use of SOXPro socks, however, it is 3.07. A consistent and significant improvement, of 6 hundredths of a second, for such a short anaerobic test. SOXPro socks, therefore, play an important role in reducing excessive movement of the foot inside the football boot and consequently improve contact with the foot (increase in reactivity).
AGILITY PERFORMANCE STUDY
Protocol – The 5-10-5 Pro Agility Test was used for this study, also used by the NFL and NHL to measure athletes’ agility. This short test measures the athlete’s ability to accelerate, decelerate and change direction. The athlete is positioned on a central signaling cone, and has two other signaling cones to his left and right 5 meters away from each other. The athlete begins the exercise with a sprint of 5 meters to the right of him; after touching the first signaling cone he must turn and accelerate in the opposite direction, covering 10 meters to touch the other cone; finally he turns around and returns to the starting point. he limitation of this protocol is that it does not effectively determine reactive capacity, a fundamental component of agility. The test is therefore more suitable for analyzing the athlete’s ability to change direction.
Champion – The 23 athletes who took part in the test were a mix of professional players, men and women, currently serving in various clubs in the professional divisions of European football. With an age between 18 and 27 (average age of 22).
Equipment – Blazepods were used to conduct the Pro-Agility-test. BlazePods are specifically designed to glow with bright LED lights, generating vibrant visual cues. Athletes had to touch each Pod (capsule) at each change of direction; if they didn’t, the test would be repeated.
Test – The 23 athletes were informed of the test protocol and each made one test attempt. They were then subjected to three attempts of the 5-10-5 pro agility test (without the use of SOXPro socks) and the best of the three times was taken. The athletes were given three minutes of rest between trials. They were then instructed to repeat the test protocol three more times with the SOXPro socks, following the same procedure.
The results of the “Agility Perfomance Study” test show that the average time of the 5-10-5 pro agility test with non-SOXPro socks was 4.88 seconds, while the average time recorded with the use of SOXPro socks was state of 4.82 seconds. An average improvement of 6 hundredths of a second. While this may seem like a relatively small improvement, considering the test protocol, this is an important result. A small but substantial improvement in a short protocol such as the agility test could equate to a more noticeable and significant improvement in the change of direction over longer distances.
REACTION PERFORMANCE STUDY
Protocol – To accurately measure how SOXPro socks can affect a football player’s ability to react, the “Quick Feet” exercise was used with the Blazepods. Four pods (capsules) were placed in line on the ground 30 cm apart. The athlete is positioned in front of the pods (capsules) about 30 cm apart. When one of the four pods (capsules) lights up at random, the athlete must react and turn off the light with the nearest foot. The athlete’s goal is to turn off as many pods as possible and record the highest score within 30 seconds.
Champion – The 23 athletes who took part in the test were a mix of professional players, men and women, currently serving in various clubs in the professional divisions of European football. With an age between 18 and 27 (average age of 22).
Equipment – Blazepods were used to conduct the “Fast Feet” exercise. BlazePods are specifically designed to glow with bright LED lights, generating vibrant visual cues.
Test – Once the athletes were familiar with the test protocol, they were subjected to an attempted “Fast Feet” exercise with the Blazepods. They were then subjected to three tests (without the use of SOXPro socks) to record their highest score, with a 3-minute break between the tests. They were then instructed to repeat the test protocol three more times with the SOXPro socks, following the same procedure.
The results of the “Reaction Performance Study” test show that the average score in the “Fast Feet” exercise with SOXPro socks was 36, with an average reaction time of 0.532. While the average score in exercise without the use of SOXPro socks is 35.26 with an average reaction time of 0.542. A standard decrease in the reaction time of one hundredth of a second, which denotes in the complexity of the test an improvement in the ability to react due to the use of the SOXPro socks.