Relationship between respiratory muscles ultrasound parameters and running tests performance in adolescent football players. A pilot study

PURPOSE: Assessing the relationship between ultrasound imaging of respiratory muscles during tidal breathing and running tests (endurance and speed) in adolescent football players. METHODS: Ultrasound parameters of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles (shear modulus, thickness, excursion, and velocity), speed (30-m distance), and endurance parameters (multi-stage 20-m shuttle run test) were measured in 22 male adolescent football players. The relation between ultrasound and running tests were analysed by Spearman’s correlation. RESULTS: Diaphragm shear modulus at the end of tidal inspiration was moderately negatively (R = − 0.49; p = 0.2) correlated with the speed score at 10 m. The diaphragm and intercostal muscle shear modulus ratio was moderately to strongly negatively correlated with the speed score at 10 m and 30 m (about R = − 0.48; p = 0.03). Diaphragm excursion was positively correlated with the speed score at 5 m (R = 0.46; p = 0.04) and 10 m (R = 0.52; p = 0.02). Diaphragm velocity was moderately positively correlated with the speed score at 5 m (R = 0.42; p = 0.06) and 30 m (R = 0.42; p = 0.07). Ultrasound parameters were not significantly related to all endurance parameters (R ≤ 0.36; p ≥ 0.11). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound parameters of the respiratory muscles are related to speed score in adolescent football players. The current state of knowledge does not allow us to clearly define how important the respiratory muscles’ ultrasound parameters can be in predicting some performance parameters in adolescent athletes.