The Impact of a Congested Match Schedule (Due to the COVID-19 Lockdown) on Creatine Kinase (CK) in Elite Football Players Using GPS Tracking Technology

Overview

Journal Sensors (Basel)

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Biotechnology

Date 2024 Nov 9

PMID 39517814

Authors

Jorge Garcia-Unanue

Antonio Hernandez-Martin

David Viejo-Romero

Samuel Manzano-Carrasco

Javier Sanchez-Sanchez

Leonor Gallardo

Jose Luis Felipe

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The aim was to analyse the consequences of a congested schedule (due to the COVID-19 lockdown) on creatine kinase (CK) in elite football players using GPS tracking technology. A total of 17 elite football players were monitored in training and competition with a global positioning system. Variables including total distance, high-intensity distance, and distance acceleration and deceleration were analysed. Different measurements of serum creatine kinase (CK) concentration were performed on match day (MD) and at 24 h (MD+1), 48 h (MD+2), and 72 h (MD+3) after each match to study the muscle damage of each individual player caused during the match. The results showed a significant increase in physical demands in training (in relative terms regarding the match) at MD+3 compared to MD+1 and MD+2. Furthermore, at +72 h, CK decreases to a value almost the same as that before MD. On the other hand, the players with lower demands for high-intensity actions in the match showed a higher reduction in the concentration of CK at MD+3 compared to MD+1 and MD+2 ( < 0.05). It became evident that players with high-intensity demand and a high number of accelerations and decelerations need more time to assimilate the match load and can remain in a state of muscle fatigue for up to 3 days. In addition, a congested schedule can lead to a state of chronic fatigue in elite football players, limiting physical performance and possibly increasing the potential risk of injury for football players.

References

Barnes C, Archer D, Hogg B, Bush M, Bradley P . The evolution of physical and technical performance parameters in the English Premier League. Int J Sports Med. 2014; 35(13):1095-100. DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1375695. View

Rollo I, Impellizzeri F, Zago M, Iaia F . Effects of 1 versus 2 games a week on physical and subjective scores of subelite soccer players. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2013; 9(3):425-31. DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2013-0288. View

McMahon S, Jenkins D . Factors affecting the rate of phosphocreatine resynthesis following intense exercise. Sports Med. 2002; 32(12):761-84. DOI: 10.2165/00007256-200232120-00002. View

Andersson H, Raastad T, Nilsson J, Paulsen G, Garthe I, Kadi F . Neuromuscular fatigue and recovery in elite female soccer: effects of active recovery. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008; 40(2):372-80. DOI: 10.1249/mss.0b013e31815b8497. View

Young W, Hepner J, Robbins D . Movement demands in Australian rules football as indicators of muscle damage. J Strength Cond Res. 2012; 26(2):492-6. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e318225a1c4. View

Ekstrand J, Walden M, Hagglund M . A congested football calendar and the wellbeing of players: correlation between match exposure of European footballers before the World Cup 2002 and their injuries and performances during that World Cup. Br J Sports Med. 2004; 38(4):493-7. PMC: 1724854. DOI: 10.1136/bjsm.2003.009134. View

Perez-Castillo I, Rueda R, Bouzamondo H, Lopez-Chicharro J, Mihic N . Biomarkers of post-match recovery in semi-professional and professional football (soccer). Front Physiol. 2023; 14:1167449. PMC: 10126523. DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1167449. View

Radziminski L, Jastrzebski Z, Lopez-Sanchez G, Szwarc A, Duda H, Stula A . Relationships between Training Loads and Selected Blood Parameters in Professional Soccer Players during a 12-Day Sports Camp. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020; 17(22). PMC: 7699258. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17228580. View

Russell M, Sparkes W, Northeast J, Cook C, Bracken R, Kilduff L . Relationships between match activities and peak power output and Creatine Kinase responses to professional reserve team soccer match-play. Hum Mov Sci. 2015; 45:96-101. DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2015.11.011. View

10.

Chen T, Hsieh S . The effects of repeated maximal voluntary isokinetic eccentric exercise on recovery from muscle damage. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2000; 71(3):260-6. DOI: 10.1080/02701367.2000.10608906. View

11.

Gabbett T, Mulvey M . Time-motion analysis of small-sided training games and competition in elite women soccer players. J Strength Cond Res. 2008; 22(2):543-52. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181635597. View

12.

Coutinho D, Goncalves B, Wong D, Travassos B, Coutts A, Sampaio J . Exploring the effects of mental and muscular fatigue in soccer players' performance. Hum Mov Sci. 2018; 58:287-296. DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2018.03.004. View

13.

Nedelec M, McCall A, Carling C, Legall F, Berthoin S, Dupont G . The influence of soccer playing actions on the recovery kinetics after a soccer match. J Strength Cond Res. 2013; 28(6):1517-23. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000000293. View

14.

Mohr M, Krustrup P, Bangsbo J . Fatigue in soccer: a brief review. J Sports Sci. 2005; 23(6):593-9. DOI: 10.1080/02640410400021286. View

15.

Owen A, Dunlop G, Rouissi M, Chtara M, Paul D, Zouhal H . The relationship between lower-limb strength and match-related muscle damage in elite level professional European soccer players. J Sports Sci. 2015; 33(20):2100-5. DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2015.1064155. View

16.

Akenhead R, Nassis G . Training Load and Player Monitoring in High-Level Football: Current Practice and Perceptions. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2015; 11(5):587-93. DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2015-0331. View

17.

Brancaccio P, Maffulli N, Limongelli F . Creatine kinase monitoring in sport medicine. Br Med Bull. 2007; 81-82:209-30. DOI: 10.1093/bmb/ldm014. View

18.

Lago-Penas C, Rey E, Lago-Ballesteros J, Casais L, Dominguez E . The influence of a congested calendar on physical performance in elite soccer. J Strength Cond Res. 2011; 25(8):2111-7. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181eccdd2. View

19.

Anderson L, Orme P, Di Michele R, Close G, Morgans R, Drust B . Quantification of training load during one-, two- and three-game week schedules in professional soccer players from the English Premier League: implications for carbohydrate periodisation. J Sports Sci. 2015; 34(13):1250-9. DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2015.1106574. View

20.

Martin-Garcia A, Gomez Diaz A, Bradley P, Morera F, Casamichana D . Quantification of a Professional Football Team's External Load Using a Microcycle Structure. J Strength Cond Res. 2018; 32(12):3511-3518. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000002816. View