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. 2020 May 18;8(5):64.
doi: 10.3390/sports8050064.

Time Course of Recovery for Performance Attributes and Circulating Markers of Muscle Damage Following a Rugby Union Match in Amateur Athletes

Bruno Victor Corrêa da Silva  1   2 , Mário Antônio de Moura Simim  3 , Rodrigo Barboza da Silva  1 , Edmar Lacerda Mendes  1 , Bernardo Neme Ide  4 , Moacir Marocolo  5 , Jeffrey S Martin  6 , Gustavo R Mota  1
Affiliations

Time Course of Recovery for Performance Attributes and Circulating Markers of Muscle Damage Following a Rugby Union Match in Amateur Athletes

Bruno Victor Corrêa da Silva et al. Sports (Basel). .

Abstract

Background: We sought to determine the time course of changes in neuromuscular performance and muscle damage following a single rugby union match.

Methods: Fourteen male amateur rugby players (28.9 ± 3.5 yrs; 1.7 ± 5.1 m; 86.1 ± 11.1 kg) participated. Plasma activity of creatine kinase ([CK]) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), L-run test (change of direction) and 30-m sprint (T30; speed) with 10-m lap time (T10; acceleration) were assessed on six occasions: one week before the match (PRE) and immediately, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h post-match.

Results: Relative to PRE, LDH was elevated immediately post-match (+33.6% ± 13.6%; p < 0.001) and [CK] was elevated immediately (+64.1% ± 38.8%, p = 0.001) and 24 h post-match (+352% ± 317%; p = 0.024). L-run test time increased 16.0 ± 8.7% relative to PRE at 24 h post (p < 0.001) and remained elevated through 96 h post-match (p < 0.05). T10 and T30 times increased relative to PRE immediately post-match (+12.0% ± 10.4%, p = 0.008; and +6.1% ± 4.9%; p = 0.006, respectively), though T30 times were similar to baseline by 48 h post-match whereas T10 times remained elevated through 72 h post-match.

Conclusions: A single, competitive rugby union match induces significant muscle damage and performance decrements with distinct time courses of recovery in amateur athletes. Notably, change of direction attributes (i.e., L-run) appear to have the longest time course to full recovery.

Keywords: acceleration; change of direction; muscle damage; performance; recovery; rugby; speed; team sports; testing; time course.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Experimental design. [CK], creatine kinase; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Plasma activities of (a) creatine kinase ([CK]) and (b) lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) 1 week prior to the rugby match (PRE), immediately post-match (Post) and 24, 48, 72, and 96 h post-match. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. *, significantly different from PRE values (p < 0.05).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Result times for (a) L run test, (b) 10 m sprint (T10) and (c) 30 m sprint (T30) 1 week prior to the rugby match (PRE), immediately post-match (Post) and 24, 48, 72, and 96 h post-match. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. *, significantly different from PRE values (p < 0.05).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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