Effects of Two Competitive Soccer Matches on Landing Biomechanics in Female Division I Soccer Players

Abstract

Fatigue has been proposed to increase the risk of knee injury. This study tracked countermovement jump, knee isometric strength, and kinetics and kinematics in 8 female soccer players (experimental group) during an anticipated sidestep maneuver before and after two matches played over a 43-h period. Time points were: Before and after match 1 (T0 and T1), 12 h after the first match (T2), and immediately after the second match (T3). A control group participated only in practice sessions. Isometric knee extension strength decreased by 14.8% at T2 (p = 0.003), but knee flexion was not affected until T3, declining by 12.6% (p = 0.018). During the sidestep maneuver, knee joint degrees of flexion at initial contact was increased by 17.1% at T3, but maximum knee and hip angle at initial contact were unchanged. Peak resultant ground reaction force (GRF) increased by 12.6% (p = 0.047) at T3 (3.03 xBW) from 2.69 xBW at T0, while posterior GRF was significantly higher than T0 at all three subsequent time points (T1 = 0.82 ± 0.23 xBW, T2 = 0.87 ± 0.22 xBW, T3 = 0.89 ± 0.22 xBW). Anterior tibial shear force increased significantly (p = 0.020) at T3 (1.24 ± 0.12 xBW) compared to T1 (1.15 ± 0.13 xBW), an 8.8% increase. Lateral tibial shear force was significantly higher at both T1 (0.95 ± 0.20 xBW) and T3 (1.15 ± 0.38 xBW) compared to T0 (0.67 ± 0.25 xBW). These findings suggest that participation in a soccer match has significant effects on both physical performance parameters and kinetics/kinematics during a sidestep cut, but these can be more pronounced after a second match with short rest.

Injury Profile in Women’s Football: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…As expected, the incidence rate during international matches (8.8 injuries per 1000 hours of exposure) was higher than during national matches (5.7 injuries per 1000 hours of exposure). Similar to that which has been found for male football players, the higher density of matches played, the mental stress and anxiety generated in the players, and the fact that international competitions are usually played during summer periods (at the end of a long season where accumulated fatigue may play a part) may be contributing factors for this difference [123,124].…”

Effects of Consecutive Matches on Isometric Hamstring Strength, Flexibility Values and Neuromuscular Performance in Female Field Hockey Players. A Prospective, Observational Study

“…The CMJ showed a pattern of increasing successively over the games. The increase in values is contrary to previously published literature in different sports [5,50,51]. This finding could be explained by a couple of reasons.…”

“…During official field hockey competitions, teams often play two consecutive games in less than twenty-four hours. This imposes high physical demands on an athlete, limiting physical performance in subsequent matches due to an insufficient recovery [5]. In other intermittent team sports such as soccer, research has shown that the demands of a single match can induce muscle damage and post-match fatigue that can last up to seventy-two hours [6].…”

Physiological Characteristics of Female Soccer Players and Health and Performance Considerations: A Narrative Review

“…sprinting, sportspecific movements and strength), biochemical markers in the blood (e.g. creatine kinase) and muscle soreness are all altered following competition [27][28][29]. This would seem to suggest that even for well-trained players, the demands of the game exceed those associated with training and that this stress results in a temporal disruption that limits relevant aspects of physiological function [30].…”