Between-Match Variability of Peak Power Output and Creatine Kinase Responses to Soccer Match-Play

Abstract

<p>Russell, M, Northeast, J, Atkinson, G, Shearer, DA, Sparkes, W, Cook, CJ, and Kilduff, LP. Between-match variability of peak power output and creatine kinase responses to soccer matchplay. <i>J Strength Cond Res</i> 29(8): 2079-2085, 2015-Postmatch assessments of peak power output (PPO) during countermovement jumps and creatine kinase (CK) concentrations are common markers of recovery status in soccer players. Yet, the impact of soccer match-play on recovery in the 48 hours after competition is unclear, and the between-match variability of these responses has not been examined. Fourteen reserve team players from an English Premier League club were examined over 1-4 matches per player. Creatine kinase and PPO were measured before, 24, and 48 hours after each match. Data were analyzed with within-subjects linear mixed models. Compared with the prematch baseline, PPO was 237 ∓ 170 W and 98 ∓ 168 W lower at 24 and 48 hours, respectively (<i>p</i> ⋜ 0.005) and CK was elevated (24 hours: 334.8 ∓ 107.2 μ∙L^-1, 48 hours: 156.9 ∓ 121.0 μ∙L^-1; both <i>p</i> ⋜ 0.001) after matchplay. These responses were consistent across the different matches and playing positions (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Within-subject correlations between PPO and CK were significant (<i>r</i> = 20.558; <i>p</i> ⋜ 0.005). The between-match variability of PPO was 10.9, 11.0, and 9.9%, respectively at baseline, 24 and 48 hours, whereas for CK, the variability was 41.7, 30.0, and 34.3%, respectively. These findings highlight that more than 48 hours are needed to restore metabolic and performance perturbations after soccer match-play, and that CK demonstrates greater between-match variability than PPO. Such information is likely to be of interest to those responsible for the design of training schedules in the days after a match and sports scientists whose responsibilities include the monitoring of recovery status in soccer players.</p>