Plasma Volume Variations in Professional Soccer Players: Difference Between Pre- and Competitive Season

Background: Variations in plasma volume and hematological parameters occur before and after training in soccer players. However, there are no reports on changes in hematological parameters resulting from a half-season of training in professional soccer players. Objectives: To investigate the effects of training load on plasma volume variations in elite soccer players. Methods: Twenty soccer players from the 1st French division soccer league (Ligue 1) were included in the study. The training load was evaluated using the rating of perceived exertion (RPE, 10- Borg scale) after each training session and each match. Anthropometrics characteristics, hematocrit (Ht), hemoglobin (Hb) and plasma volume variations (PVV) were assessed at 3 different times: T1: Baseline (before the first week of pre-season), T2: At the end of pre-season (after 8 weeks of training) and T3: At the end of the first competitive period (after 26 weeks of training and at halfway of the competitive season). Results: Values of Ht and lean body mass (LBM) increased during the first competitive period from T1 to T3 (Ht: ∆↑8%, P = 0.037, effect sizes (ES) = 1.0; LBM: ∆↑4%, P = 0.041, ES = 0.83) and from T2 to T3 (LBM: (∆↑2%; P = 0.05; ES = 0.77). Moreover, PVV decreased from T2 to T3 (P = 0.002, ES = 0.5) and from T1 to T3 (P < 0.05; ES = 1.26). There were no differences in Hb at T1, T2 or T3. Conclusions: Changes in body weights, PVV and Ht during preparatory and competitive phases were affected by the training load and competitive play.