Anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness in elite futsal male players. A systematic review

The purpose of the study was to summarize scientific literature on anthropometric characteristics and physical condition in high-level futsal male players. Potentially relevant publications were identified by searching electronic databases from inception to September 2019. Selected studies were independently reviewed for methodological quality and assigned a level of evidence. A total of 10 articles comprised this review, all of them being observational designs. Physical fitness studies included power, speed, agility, flexibility, and functional tests, maximum oxygen consumption (VO 2 max) and ventilatory threshold (VT) testing. PEDro scale values ranged from 4 to 7, with an average of 5.7 and low/moderate to moderate/strong methodological quality. Futsal players tend to show different physical profiles depending on their position. In general, field futsal players present higher VO 2 max, VT, and heart rate values than goalkeepers. Together with these findings, more interventional studies are needed for the purpose of defining proper physiological and anthropometric profile in high-level futsal.