Monitoring the Athlete Match Response: Can External Load Variables Predict Post-match Acute and Residual Fatigue in Soccer? A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis

Abstract

BackgroundMonitoring athletes’ external load during a soccer match may be useful to predict post-match acute and residual fatigue. This estimation would allow individual adjustments to training programs to minimize injury risk, improve well-being, and restore players’ physical performance and inform the recovery process.MethodsUsing a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature, the aim is to determine which monitoring variables would be the strongest predictors of acute (immediately) and residual (up to 72 h) fatigue states in soccer. PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science databases were searched (until September 2018). Studies concurrently examining soccer match-related external load metrics and subjective and/or objective measures were selected to determine pooled correlations () with confidence intervals (CI). The quality and strength of the findings of each study were evaluated to identify overall levels of evidence.ResultsEleven studies were included (n = 165 athletes). Acute ( = 0.67; 95% CI = [0.40, 0.94]) and residual (24 h post-match, = 0.54; 95% CI = [0.35, 0.65]) changes in muscle damage markers and countermovement jump peak power output (CMJPPO) were, with moderate to strong evidence, largely correlated with running distance above 5.5 m s−1. No other external load metric was largely correlated with both biochemical and neuromuscular markers. For every 100-m run above 5.5 m·s−1, CK activity measured 24 h post-match increased by 30% and CMJPPO decreased by 0.5%. Conversely, the total distance covered did not present any evidence of a clear relationship with any fatigue-related marker at any time-point.ConclusionsRunning distance above 5.5 m·s−1 represents the most sensitive monitoring variable characterizing biochemical and neuromuscular responses, at least when assessed during the initial 24 h (not at 48 h/72 h) post-match recovery period. In addition, total distance covered is not sensitive enough to inform decision-making during the fatigue monitoring process.

How to Use Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Data to Monitor Training Load in the “Real World” of Elite Soccer

“…Monthly, a submaximal aerobic test (e.g., 4 min at 12 km/h) and countermovement jumps provide information about the aerobic and neuromuscular performance status of the players (Halson, 2014 ; Buchheit et al, in press ). Weekly at game day +3, heart rate variability during an orthostatic stand test (Ravé and Fortrat, 2016 ; Ravé et al, 2020 ), and blood creatine kinase (Hader et al, 2019 ) provide information about recovery from games. Daily, before the training a wellbeing questionnaire (e.g., muscular damage, fatigue, sleep quality) (Malone et al, 2018b ) and after the training, the session rating of perceived exertion [e.g., CR-10 Borg scale; (Malone et al, 2018b )] provide information on how each player perceives strain and adaptation of each training session.…”

Monitoring Accumulated Training and Match Load in Football: A Systematic Review

“…Currently, a growing number of articles have been published on training load. Recent reviews and meta-analysis focused on team sports aimed to evaluate the association between loading and performance [19,20], intensity [21], training outcomes [22], acute/residual fatigue [23,24], and injury, illness, and soreness [24]. The use of microtechnology to collect and interpret training load has been largely revised in team sports [25,26] and particularly in professional football [27].…”

Gaelic Football Match-Play: Performance Attenuation and Timeline of Recovery

“…The correlations between high intensity running indices and post-match disturbances in the current analysis may be explained by the large mechanical loads and rapid transitions from eccentric to concentric actions involved in sprinting and accelerations, which have previously been associated with greater muscle damage [ 18 , 38 ]. In addition, the intense eccentric actions during the landing phase of sprinting movements have been hypothesised to be a key contributor to the elevation of CK throughout the post-match recovery timeline [ 15 , 19 , 20 ]. Such associations between in-game workloads and post-match fatigue have also been correlated to players’ characteristics of fitness in team sport, which could be a factor in the present analysis [ 51 , 52 ] and may warrant future research.…”

“…Previous discrepancies observed between objective neuromuscular and biochemical markers and subjective perceptual responses (PR) have provided rationale for the inclusion of a perceptual questionnaire to extensively illustrate the early warning signs of fatigue, overtraining and post-match recovery kinetics [ 9 , 17 ]. Furthermore, in-game workload measures, such as high speed running distance and sprint frequency, have also been reported to be highly sensitive monitoring tools when characterizing post-match neuromuscular and biochemical disturbances [ 18 , 19 ]. Subsequently, in order to accurately evaluate the impact of Gaelic football match-play, a multifactorial testing approach may be required to comprehensively assess players’ responses and post-match recovery profiles [ 10 ].…”