Background This study aimed to analyze the extent of fatigue responses after female soccer matches and the ensuing recovery time course of performance, physiological, and perceptual responses. Methods Three databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus) were searched in October 2020 and updated in November 2021. Studies were included when participants were female soccer players, regardless of their ability level. Further, the intervention was an official soccer match with performance, physiological, or perceptual parameters collected pre- and post-match (immediately, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, or 72 h-post). Results A total of 26 studies (n = 465 players) were included for meta-analysis. Most performance parameters showed some immediate post-match reduction (effect size [ES] = − 0.72 to − 1.80), apart from countermovement jump (CMJ; ES = − 0.04). Reduced CMJ performance occurred at 12 h (ES = − 0.38) and 24 h (ES = − 0.42) and sprint at 48 h post-match (ES = − 0.75). Inflammatory and immunological parameters responded acutely with moderate-to-large increases (ES = 0.58–2.75) immediately post-match. Creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase alterations persisted at 72 h post-match (ES = 3.79 and 7.46, respectively). Small-to-moderate effects were observed for increased cortisol (ES = 0.75) and reduced testosterone/cortisol ratio (ES = -0.47) immediately post-match, while negligible to small effects existed for testosterone (ES = 0.14) and estradiol (ES = 0.34). Large effects were observed for perceptual variables, with increased fatigue (ES = 1.79) and reduced vigor (ES = − 0.97) at 12 h post-match, while muscle soreness was increased immediately post (ES = 1.63) and at 24 h post-match (ES = 1.00). Conclusions Acute fatigue exists following female soccer matches, and the performance, physiological, and perceptual parameters showed distinctive recovery timelines. Importantly, physical performance was recovered at 72 h post-match, whereas muscle damage markers were still increased at this time point. These timelines should be considered when planning training and match schedules. However, some caution should be advised given the small number of studies available on this population. Registration The protocol for this systematic review was pre-registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO, Registration Number: CRD42021237857).
This study examined the effects of resistance training (RT) performed at 24 or 48h post-match on the 72h post-match recovery timeline in female soccer players. In a randomized cross-over design, ten professional female soccer players undertook competitive matches followed by three conditions: Control (no RT), RT-24h and RT-48h post-match. RT was a high-speed and low-load session, consisting of 3 sets of 6 repetitions of lower-body exercises at 50% 1RM. During training, one exercise (half-squat) was performed on a force platform to determine mean and peak forces. Testing for recovery status was undertaken pre and 24, 48 and 72h post-match including countermovement jump (CMJ), 20m sprint, C-reactive protein (CRP) and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Twoway (3x4) repeated-measures ANOVA and Effect size (ES) analyses compared the time-course of recovery. No significant interaction and no significant main effect for condition were evident (p>0.05).A main effect for time was observed, with DOMS increased and CMJ performance reduced at 24h post-match, while 20m sprint time was slower up to 72h for all conditions. Despite no significant differences between conditions, ES for changes from pre to 72h were larger for CMJ, 10 and 20m sprint time, and DOMS in RT48h (ES=0.38-2.13) than in RT24h (ES=0.08-0.66) and in Control (ES=0.09-0.36). No differences in mean or peak forces of half-squat exercise existed between conditions (p>0.05; ES=0.05-0.06). In conclusion, the trend for suppressed recovery of speed, power and perceptual responses at 72h post-match suggests RT48h is less ideal in female soccer players, particularly during congested micro-cycles.
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