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Muscle damage, inflammatory, immune and performance responses to three football games in 1 week in competitive male players

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Abstract

Purpose

We examined effects of a three-game, 1-week microcycle (G1, G2, G3) on recovery of performance and inflammatory responses in professional male footballers.

Methods

Players were randomized into an experimental (EXP; N = 20) and a control group (CON; N = 20). Blood was drawn and repeated sprint ability (RSA), muscle soreness and knee range of motion (KJRM) were determined pre- and post-games and during recovery.

Results

High-intensity running during G2 was 7–14 % less compared to G1 and G3. RSA declined in EXP by 2–9 % 3 days post-game with G2 causing the greatest performance impairment. In EXP, game play increased muscle soreness (~sevenfold) compared to CON with G2 inducing the greatest rise, while KJRM was attenuated post-game in EXP compared to CON (5–7 %) and recovered slower post G2 and G3 than G1. CK, CRP, sVCAM-1, sP-Selectin and cortisol peaked 48 h post-games with G2 eliciting the greatest increase. Leukocyte count, testosterone, IL-1β and IL6 responses, although altered 24 h post each game, were comparable among games. Plasma TBARS and protein carbonyls rose by ~50 % post-games with G2 eliciting the greatest increase 48 h of recovery. Reduced to oxidized glutathione ratio declined for 24 h post all games with G2 displaying the slowest recovery. Total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase activity increased (9–56 %) for 48 h in response to game play.

Conclusion

In summary, post-game performance recovery and inflammatory adaptations in response to a three-game weekly microcycle displayed a different response pattern, with strong indications of a largest physiological stress and fatigue after the middle game that was preceded by only a 3-day recovery.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

CAT:

Catalase activity

CK:

Creatine kinase

CON:

Control group

CRP:

C-reactive protein

D1, D2, D3, D4:

Day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4

DL:

Dominant leg

DOMS:

Delayed onset of muscle soreness

EDTA:

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

EXP:

Experimental group

IGF-1:

Insuline growth factor

IL-1β, IL-6:

Interleukin

G1, G2, G3:

Game 1, game 2, game 3

GPS:

Global positioning system

GPX:

Glutathione peroxidase activity

GSH:

Reduced glutathinoe

GSSG:

Oxidized glutathione

HR:

Heart rate

KJRM:

Knee range of motion

NDL:

Non-dominant leg

NEFA:

Non-esterified fatty acids

PC:

Protein carbonyls

RSA:

Repeated sprint ability

sVCAM-1:

Soluble cell adhesion molecules

TAC:

Total antioxidant capacity

TBARS:

Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances

VO2max :

Maximal oxygen uptake

WBC:

White blood cell count

Yo–Yo IR1, IR2:

Yo–Yo intermittent recovery test, level 1 and 2

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the players and their coaches for their participation, as well as Dr. Sarah Jackman for technical assistance. The study was supported by departmental funding from the Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Greece, a donation by the Bodosakis Foundation and the Faroese Research Council.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Natural and Health Sciences, University of the Faroe Islands, Jónas Broncksgøta 25, 3rd floor, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands

    Magni Mohr

  2. Center for Health and Human Performance, Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Magni Mohr

  3. Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Greece

    Dimitrios Draganidis, Athanasios Chatzinikolaou, Ioannis Douroudos, Alexandra Avloniti & Ioannis G. Fatouros

  4. Faculty of Education and Humanities of Melilla, Department of Physical and Sport Education, University of Granada, Melilla, Spain

    Jose Carlos Barbero-Álvarez

  5. University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy

    Carlo Castagna

  6. Football Fitness Training and Biomechanics Laboratory, Technical Department of Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Coverciano, Italy

    Carlo Castagna

  7. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece

    Alexandra Margeli & Ioannis Papassotiriou

  8. Institute Research and Technology-Thessaly, Karies, 42100, Trikala, Greece

    Andreas D. Flouris & Athanasios Z. Jamurtas

  9. School of Physical Education and Sports Science, University of Thessaly, 42100, Trikala, Greece

    Athanasios Z. Jamurtas

  10. Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Section of Human Physiology, Copenhagen Centre for Team Sport and Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Peter Krustrup

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  1. Magni Mohr
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  2. Dimitrios Draganidis
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  3. Athanasios Chatzinikolaou
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  4. Jose Carlos Barbero-Álvarez
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  5. Carlo Castagna
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  6. Ioannis Douroudos
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  7. Alexandra Avloniti
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  8. Alexandra Margeli
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  9. Ioannis Papassotiriou
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  10. Andreas D. Flouris
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  11. Athanasios Z. Jamurtas
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  12. Peter Krustrup
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  13. Ioannis G. Fatouros
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Correspondence to Ioannis G. Fatouros.

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Communicated by Fabio Fischetti.

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Mohr, M., Draganidis, D., Chatzinikolaou, A. et al. Muscle damage, inflammatory, immune and performance responses to three football games in 1 week in competitive male players. Eur J Appl Physiol 116, 179–193 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3245-2

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