Acute effects of FIFA 11+ warm-up on skin temperature in male and female amateur soccer players

Abstract Objective . Warm-up is a fundamental part of the training session and competition preparation, improving performance and reducing sports injuries. The FIFA 11+ is a specific evidence-based routine created to enhance neuromuscular performance and prevent lower-limb injuries. Infrared thermography (IRT) is a non-invasive tool for monitoring tissue state and thermoregulation responses. This study examined the acute effects of the FIFA 11+ warm-up on skin surface temperature (Tsk) patterns of the dominant lower limb in amateur football players using IRT. Approach . A pre-post observational design was applied to 120 amateur players (60 men, 60 women) before a match. Baseline and post-intervention Tsk measurements were acquired with a FLIR T540-EST camera following the TERMOINEF protocol. Main results . Significant post-warm-up Tsk reductions were detected in proximal muscle regions, particularly in quadriceps and adductors, with a reduction of −1.9 to −2.4 °C (ES = − 1.63 to −1.92, large) in women and −0.7 to −1.2 °C (ES = − 0.66 to −1.07, moderate) in men. Conversely, distal regions such as the anterior plantar arch showed marked Tsk increases of +2.6 °C (ES = 1.83, large) in women; +2.1 °C (ES = 1.42, large) in men. Men exhibited higher absolute Tsk values overall ( η 2 ≈ 0.17-0.26), whereas women displayed greater relative percentage changes, including sex-specific Achilles tendon response (a decrease in women versus a slight increase in men). Significance . FIFA 11+ induces heterogeneous, region- and sex- dependent thermal adaptations, supporting the use of IRT as a valid tool for individualized warm-up monitoring and optimization in football.