Comparative Effects of Moderate Intensity Circuit Training and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training in Soccer Players

Comparative Effects of Moderate Intensity Circuit Training and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training on Heart Rate Recovery, VO2 Max, Power and Agility in Soccer Players

This study will compare the effects of Moderate-Intensity Circuit Training (MICT) and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training (MICT) on Heart rate recovery, VO₂ max, power, and agility in 40 male soccer players aged 18-25. Participants will be randomly assigned to either group, with two 45-minute sessions per week over 8 weeks. Pre- and post-intervention assessments will include heart rate recovery, VO₂ max, 5 Jump Test, and T-Test for agility. Statistical analyses will compare within- and between-group changes using paired t-tests and ANOVA. The goal is to determine which training method is more effective for enhancing athletic performance.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Sports Physical Therapy
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Moderate-intensity continuous Training; Other: Moderate-Intensity Circuit Training

Detailed Description

Study design: Randomized clinical trial Sample Size: To be calculated

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male soccer players aged 18-35 years.
• Players with at least two years of competitive soccer experience and are in practice season.
• Players with a body mass index (BMI) within the range of 18.5 to 30 kg/m².
• Availability to attend all training sessions and assessments.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants with medical conditions that contraindicate exercise.
• Athletes currently involved in other Moderate-Intensity continuous training programs.
• Presence of cardiovascular, neuromuscular, orthopedic, or neurologic conditions.
• Individuals who have undergone any surgery in the past six months.
• Those who do not provide written informed consent.
• Players taking any nutritional supplements, drugs, nicotine and alcohol.
• Athletes with known sleep disorders.

Sampling Technique:

Non probability purposive sampling technique.

Tools:

1. Heart Rate Recovery (HRR) Assessment
2. VO2 Max - Multistage Fitness Test (MSFT)
3. Power Assessment: 5 Jump Test
4. Agility Assessment: T-Test

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 56
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Punjab Province
    • Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 54000
      • Model Town Sports club

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male soccer players aged 18-35 years.
• Players with at least two years of competitive soccer experience and are in practice season.
• Players with a body mass index (BMI) within the range of 18.5 to 30 kg/m².
• Availability to attend all training sessions and assessments

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants with medical conditions that contraindicate exercise.
• Athletes currently involved in other Moderate-Intensity continuous training programs.
• Presence of cardiovascular, neuromuscular, orthopedic, or neurologic conditions.
• Individuals who have undergone any surgery in the past six months.
• Those who do not provide written informed consent.
• Players taking any nutritional supplements, drugs, nicotine and alcohol.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Group A (MICT); Group A was administered Moderate-intensity continuous Training protocol along with the baseline warm-up regime	Other: Moderate-intensity continuous Training; Group A: Experimental Group (MICT) Frequency: 2 times/week Duration: 45 minutes/session Structure: Warm-Up (10 minutes): Stationary Marching, Toe Touches, Leg/Arm Swings, Rotations, Push-Ups, Lunges, Bodyweight Squats. Primary Exercise (25 minutes): MICT Protocol: 8 sets of 4 minutes each (20s all-out effort, 10s rest) at 60-70% of HRmax. Exercises: Forward Lunges, Jump Squats, Burpees, Spider Crawls, Planks, Mountain Climbers, Ab Crunches. (At moderate intensity and controlled pace) Cool-Down (10 minutes): Static Stretching (Hamstring, Quad, Shoulder, Child's Pose).
Experimental: Group B (MICT-CT); Group B was administered Moderate-intensity circuit training protocol along with the baseline warm-up regime.	Other: Moderate-Intensity Circuit Training; Group B: Contrast Group (Circuit Training of Moderate intensity) Frequency: 2 times/week Duration: 45 minutes/session Structure: Warm-Up (10 minutes): Same as Group A. Primary Exercise (25 minutes): Circuit: 30s per exercise, 15s rest, 3 sets with 45s rest between sets. Exercises: Jump Rope, Butterfly Sit-Ups, Hurdle Hop, Push-Ups, Jack-Knife, Squats, Inverse Sit-Ups. Cool-Down (10 minutes): Same as Group A.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Heart Rate Recovery	Heart Rate Recovery (HRR) measures how quickly the heart rate decreases after exercise, reflecting cardiovascular efficiency. Participants perform a 5-minute warm-up followed by a 3-minute step test using a 16.25-inch bench at a pace of 96 beats per minute. After completing the test, participants stand still, and heart rate is measured at the carotid pulse exactly 60 seconds post-exercise using a pulse oximeter. HRR is calculated as the difference between peak heart rate during exercise and heart rate after one minute. This test is used to assess cardiovascular recovery responses in soccer players following different training methods.	8 weeks
VO2 Max - Multistage Fitness Test (MSFT)	VO₂max represents aerobic capacity and overall cardiovascular fitness. It is estimated using the Multistage Fitness Test conducted on a 20-meter shuttle course. Participants run back and forth between two markers, starting at 8.5 km/h, with speed increasing by 0.5 km/h each minute, guided by audio beeps. The test ends when participants can no longer maintain the required pace. VO₂max is calculated using a standardized formula based on total running time, age, and number of shuttles completed, allowing comparison of aerobic capacity between training groups.	8 weeks
Power Assessment: 5 Jump Test	The 5 Jump Test assesses lower-body explosive power. Athletes begin behind a starting line and perform five continuous forward jumps, landing on both feet and immediately rebounding into the next jump without pausing. The total distance covered from the starting line to the final landing point is measured in centimeters. Adequate rest is provided between trials to ensure consistency. This test evaluates lower-limb power, which is essential for soccer performance.	8 weeks
4. Agility Assessment: T-Test	The T-Test measures agility by assessing rapid acceleration, deceleration, and directional changes. Cones are set in a T-shaped layout, with participants sprinting forward, shuffling laterally to both sides, and sprinting back to the start. Time is recorded from the initial movement to crossing the finish line. Lower completion times indicate better agility. This test is widely used to evaluate movement efficiency in soccer players.	8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Riphah International University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ammar Hameed, MS SPT, Riphah International University; Principal Investigator: Maham Riaz, DPT, Riphah International University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Ramos-Campo DJ, Andreu Caravaca L, Martinez-Rodriguez A, Rubio-Arias JA. Effects of Resistance Circuit-Based Training on Body Composition, Strength and Cardiorespiratory Fitness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Biology (Basel). 2021 Apr 28;10(5):377. doi: 10.3390/biology10050377.
• Martinho DV, Field A, Rebelo A, Gouveia ER, Sarmento H. A Systematic Review of the Physical, Physiological, Nutritional and Anthropometric Profiles of Soccer Referees. Sports Med Open. 2023 Aug 10;9(1):72. doi: 10.1186/s40798-023-00610-7.
• Atakan MM, Li Y, Kosar SN, Turnagol HH, Yan X. Evidence-Based Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training on Exercise Capacity and Health: A Review with Historical Perspective. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jul 5;18(13):7201. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18137201.
• Fang B, Kim Y, Choi M. Effect of Cycle-Based High-Intensity Interval Training and Moderate to Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training in Adolescent Soccer Players. Healthcare (Basel). 2021 Nov 25;9(12):1628. doi: 10.3390/healthcare9121628.
• McQuilliam SJ, Clark DR, Erskine RM, Brownlee TE. Effect of High-Intensity vs. Moderate-Intensity Resistance Training on Strength, Power, and Muscle Soreness in Male Academy Soccer Players. J Strength Cond Res. 2023 Jun 1;37(6):1250-1258. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004387. Epub 2023 Jan 18.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 21, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 2, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): November 2, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 29, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 29, 2025
• First Posted (Estimated): January 12, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): January 12, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 29, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Soccer players; Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training; Moderate intensity Circuit Training
• Other Study ID Numbers: REC/RCR & AHS/24/0476

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No