Análisis del patrón de carrera en jugadoras de fútbol femenino en césped artificial y natural (Sprint pattern analysis of professional female soccer players on artificial and natural turf)

Introduction: There is few evidence that details the behavior of each spatiotemporal variable of the running pattern of female soccer players using different surfaces. Objective: To describe the spatiotemporal variables of the sprint pattern developed on natural and artificial turf by professional female soccer players. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on nineteen (n=19) professional athletes with an average age of 22.3 years, who´s sprint spatiotemporal variables were evaluated in a natural (Bermuda 419) and artificial (Star 2) playing field through an optical measurement system (Opto Gait, Italy). The analysis of the differences of the space and time variables by turf was done with the Wilcoxon test for paired data and the differences in speed and acceleration by playing position was done using the Kruskal–Wallis test. The Spearman test was used to compare the correlation between speed, acceleration and anthropometric variables. Finally, an alpha level of 5% was considered for the whole analysis. Results: On the natural turf, the speed and cadence of the players were higher; on the artificial turf, the energy, flight time, contact phase and step angle were higher (p