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Exercise Physiology of Football: Factors Related to Performance and Health

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Return to Play in Football

Abstract

Physiological responses during football training and match play are, generally, predictable. In fact, they hardly constitute a “specific” pattern that can solely be found in football. Activation of the cardiocirculatory, metabolic and hormonal systems during football is considerable but, even when applied repeatedly and intensely, does not automatically lead to infections or to other diseases. However, players with cardiac conditions should be identified and instructed according to their individual risk. It has become clear that psychological and other stressors from accompanying circumstances of high-level football may significantly contribute to the induction of fatigue states. This can even be more obvious in female players who may experience additional influence from the menstrual cycle and concomitant blood and iron loss. Altogether, physicians taking care of football players need to be aware of all these factors to ensure optimal medical support.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany

    Tim Meyer, Ross Julian & Chris Thompson

Authors
  1. Tim Meyer
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  2. Ross Julian
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  3. Chris Thompson
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Correspondence to Tim Meyer .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Volker Musahl

  2. Department of Orthopaedics, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Jón Karlsson

  3. Department of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Centre Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany

    Werner Krutsch

  4. Santa Monica, California, USA

    Bert R. Mandelbaum

  5. Clínica do Dragão, Espregueira-Mendes Sports Centre, Porto, Portugal

    João Espregueira-Mendes

  6. Orthopaedic Surgery, Aspetar Hospital, Doha, Qatar

    Pieter d'Hooghe

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Meyer, T., Julian, R., Thompson, C. (2018). Exercise Physiology of Football: Factors Related to Performance and Health. In: Musahl, V., Karlsson, J., Krutsch, W., Mandelbaum, B., Espregueira-Mendes, J., d'Hooghe, P. (eds) Return to Play in Football. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-55713-6_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-55713-6_7

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-55712-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-55713-6

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