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Neuromuscular function, hormonal and redox status and muscle damage of professional soccer players after a high-level competitive match

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Abstract

The main aim was to analyse the impact of an official match on hormonal and redox status, muscle damage and inflammation and neuromuscular function. Seven high-level male soccer players from the same team performed an official match and data were collected 72 h before, 24, 48 and 72 h post-match. Plasma testosterone/cortisol ratio (T/C), creatine kinase (CK), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and reductase (GR) activities, myoglobin (Mb), C-reactive protein (CRP), uric acid (UA), protein sulfhydryls (–SH), malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations and total antioxidant status (TAS) were measured. Sprint, jump and change of direction performance, and maximal isokinetic knee extension and flexion were obtained as neuromuscular functional parameters. Cortisol increased and T/C decreased until 48 h recovery (P < 0.05). Mb, CRP and –SH (P < 0.05) increased at 24 h and CK, TAS, SOD and MDA (P < 0.05) increased up to 48 h recovery. GR increased and GPX decreased at 24 h recovery (P < 0.05). Jump performance decreased 24 h post-match (P < 0.05), but no significant alterations in sprint, change of direction and muscle strength were observed. In conclusion, an official match resulted in changes in plasma biomarkers until 48 h of recovery period, without major impact on performance.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank to the Professional Soccer Club, to their technical staff, medical department and to the soccer players involved in the study for their committed participation. The excellent technical and practical assistance and skilful involvement of Eduardo Oliveira, Emanuel Passos and Inês Aleixo is appreciated.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical standards

The authors declare that all the procedures of the experiments comply with the current laws of the country in which they were performed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soccer, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Plácido Costa, 91, 4200-450, Porto, Portugal

    João R. Silva & António Rebelo

  2. Department of Sports Biology, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    António Ascensão & José Magalhães

  3. Department of Clinical Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Franklim Marques

  4. Department of Kinanthropometry, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    André Seabra

  5. Research Center in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Porto, Portugal

    António Ascensão & José Magalhães

  6. Center of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Porto, Portugal

    João R. Silva, André Seabra & António Rebelo

Authors
  1. João R. Silva
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  2. António Ascensão
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  3. Franklim Marques
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  4. André Seabra
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  5. António Rebelo
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  6. José Magalhães
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to João R. Silva.

Additional information

Communicated by William J. Kraemer.

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Silva, J.R., Ascensão, A., Marques, F. et al. Neuromuscular function, hormonal and redox status and muscle damage of professional soccer players after a high-level competitive match. Eur J Appl Physiol 113, 2193–2201 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-013-2633-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-013-2633-8

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