Recovery kinetics of knee flexor and extensor strength after a football match

Abstract

We examined the temporal changes of isokinetic strength performance of knee flexor (KF) and extensor (KE) strength after a football match. Players were randomly assigned to a control (N = 14, participated only in measurements and practices) or an experimental group (N = 20, participated also in a football match). Participants trained daily during the two days after the match. Match and training overload was monitored with GPS devices. Venous blood was sampled and muscle damage was assessed pre-match, post-match and at 12 h, 36 h and 60 h post-match. Isometric strength as well as eccentric and concentric peak torque of knee flexors and extensors in both limbs (dominant and non-dominant) were measured on an isokinetic dynamometer at baseline and at 12 h, 36 h and 60 h after the match. Functional (KFecc/KEcon) and conventional (KFcon/KEcon) ratios were then calculated. Only eccentric peak torque of knee flexors declined at 60 h after the match in the control group. In the experimental group: a) isometric strength of knee extensors and knee flexors declined (P<0.05) at 12 h (both limbs) and 36 h (dominant limb only), b) eccentric and concentric peak torque of knee extensors and flexors declined (P<0.05) in both limbs for 36 h at 60°/s and for 60 h at 180°/s with eccentric peak torque of knee flexors demonstrating a greater (P<0.05) reduction than concentric peak torque, c) strength deterioration was greater (P<0.05) at 180°/s and in dominant limb, d) the functional ratio was more sensitive to match-induced fatigue demonstrating a more prolonged decline. Discriminant and regression analysis revealed that strength deterioration and recovery may be related to the amount of eccentric actions performed during the match and athletes' football-specific conditioning. Our data suggest that recovery kinetics of knee flexor and extensor strength after a football match demonstrate strength, limb and velocity specificity and may depend on match physical overload and players' physical conditioning level.

Fig 1. The experimental flowchart.

MAP, measurement of activity (football) profile; HR, heart rate; Pre, measurements before the match; Post, measurements immediately after the match; black arrow, indicates time of measuement.

Fig 2. Changes of soreness (A-B), CK activity (C) and leukocyte counts (D) following a football match.

MS, muscle soreness; CK, creatine kinase activity; h, hours; C, control group; EG, experimental group; KE-C, knee extensors of control group; KE-EG, knee extensors of experimental group; KF-C, knee flexors of control group; KF-EG, knee flexors of experimental group; ¹Significant difference with baseline; ²significant difference between groups; ³significant difference between dominant and non-dominant limb at corresponding time; ⁴greater decline in functional ration compared to conventional ratio at corresponding time;⁵greater decline at 180°/s compared to that at 60°/s at corresponding time.

Fig 3. Changes of strength performance of knee extensors in response to a football match.

h, hours; ¹Significant difference with baseline; ²significant difference between groups; ³significant difference between dominant and non-dominant limb at corresponding time; ⁴greater decline in functional ration compared to conventional ratio at corresponding time;⁵greater decline at 180°/s compared to that at 60°/s at corresponding time.

Fig 4. Changes of strength performance of knee flexors in response to a football match.

h, hours; ¹Significant difference with baseline; ²significant difference between groups; ³significant difference between dominant and non-dominant limb at corresponding time; ⁴greater decline in functional ration compared to conventional ratio at corresponding time;⁵greater decline at 180°/s compared to that at 60°/s at corresponding time.

Fig 5. Changes of conventional ratio in response to a football match.

KF_con/KE_con, conventional ratio; h, hours; ¹Significant difference with baseline; ²significant difference between groups; ³significant difference between dominant and non-dominant limb at corresponding time; ⁴greater decline in functional ration compared to conventional ratio at corresponding time;⁵greater decline at 180°/s compared to that at 60°/s at corresponding time.

Fig 6. Changes of functional ratio in response to a football match.

KF_ecc/KE_con, functional ratio; h, hours; ¹Significant difference with baseline; ²significant difference between groups; ³significant difference between dominant and non-dominant limb at corresponding time; ⁴greater decline in functional ration compared to conventional ratio at corresponding time;⁵greater decline at 180°/s compared to that at 60°/s at corresponding time.