The Temporal Pattern of Recovery in Directional Dynamic Stability Post Football-Specific Fatigue

Abstract

Background: Rising injury rates within football require further understanding of the etiological risk factors associated with lower-limb injury. Aim: To examine the temporal pattern of recovery of directional dynamic stability measures post football-specific fatigue. Methods: Eighteen male elite footballers completed baseline assessments of directional dynamic stability measures (Overall Stability Index, anterior–posterior stability [A-P], medial–lateral stability [M-L] on level 1 of the Biodex Stability System). Post Soccer-Specific Aerobic Field Test90 measures were repeated immediately, +24 hours, +48 hours, and +72 hours. The main effects for the recovery time and direction of stability were supplemented by regression modeling to describe the temporal pattern of recovery. Results: Significant main effects for time were identified for all directions of stability (Overall Stability Index, A-P, and M-L) up to +48 hours postexercise (P ≤ .05). The quadratic pattern of temporal recovery highlights a minimum of 37.55 to 38.67 hours and maximum of 75.09 to 77.33 hours. Additionally, a main effect for direction of stability was observed, with significant differences identified between A-P and M-L stability at all time points (P ≤ .001). Conclusions: Reductions in directional dynamic stability +48 hours postfatigue highlight implications for training design, recovery strategies, and injury management for performance practitioners. Interestingly, A-P stability has been highlighted as being significantly reduced compared with M-L stability at all time points, regardless of the fatigue exposure. Practitioners should consider the reduction of stability in this plane in relation to common mechanisms of injury in the knee to inform injury–risk-reduction strategies.

Simulated Soccer Game Protocols: A Systematic Review on Validated Protocols That Represent the Demands of the Game

“…The average methodological quality of the included articles was 0.61 6 0.09 (mean 6 SD) of 1, ranging from 0.43 to 0.73, with 1 article considered of low (#0.50) methodological quality (Table 2). All studies presented high risk of bias arising from the confounding variables, with the exception of Stone et al (40), Page et al (31), and Small et al (37) that were classified as unclear, because of the lack of information on the training time that the subjects performed per week, despite being semiprofessionals, and Rhodes et al (33) and Small et al (38) were classified as low risk. The remaining studies were marked as high risk because of the competitive level (i.e., amateurs or university students), and no information was provided regarding the number of training sessions (Table 3).…”

“…Overall, 6 protocols were conducted on the pitch (SSP, CST, SAFT90, BEAST90, T-SAFT90, and LIST), and 3 were conducted in a nonmotorized treadmill (iSPT, CSP, and SMS130). Physical, physiological, and performance markers were evaluated during and immediately after the protocol, but only 1 of the studies evaluated the effects on performance after 24, 48, and 72 hours (33).…”

“…Small et al (38) also evaluated semiprofessional male soccer players and observed the same pattern, with a decrease on peak torque eccentric in the hamstrings and alterations on angle peak torque after SAFT90. Rhodes et al (33) showed a differing temporal pattern of recovery of directional dynamic stability after soccer-specific fatigue, displaying a return to baseline at 77.33 hours after the protocol. The authors argued that this may potentially increase injury risk, but Rhodes et al (33) did not report such patter after a soccer match.…”

“…Rhodes et al (33) showed a differing temporal pattern of recovery of directional dynamic stability after soccer-specific fatigue, displaying a return to baseline at 77.33 hours after the protocol. The authors argued that this may potentially increase injury risk, but Rhodes et al (33) did not report such patter after a soccer match.…”

“…Small et al(38) also evaluated the angle of peak torque in the dominant leg. Rhodes et al(33) examined the temporal pattern of recovery of 44 dynamic stability measures immediately after SAFT90, 24, 48, and 72 hours.Only Campbell et al (…”