Does maturation influence neuromuscular performance and muscle damage after competitive match‐play in youth male soccer players?

Abstract

Poor neuromuscular control and fatigue have been proposed as a risk factor for noncontact injuries especially around peak height velocity (PHV). This study explored the effects of competitive soccer match-play on neuromuscular performance and muscle damage in male youth soccer players. Methods: 24 youth players aged 13-16y were split into a PHV group (-0.5 to 0.5y) and post PHV group (1.0-2.5y) based on maturity offset. Leg stiffness, reactive strength index (RSI), muscle activation, creatine kinase (CK), and muscle soreness were determined pre and post a competitive soccer match. Paired t-tests were used to explore differences pre and post competitive match play and independent sample t-tests for between groups differences for all outcome measures. Results: There were no significant fatigue related change in absolute and relative leg stiffness or muscle activation in both groups, except for the gastrocnemius in the post PHV group. RSI, CK and perceived muscle soreness were significantly different after soccer match-play in both groups with small to large effects observed (ES:0.41-2.82). There were no significant differences between the groups pre match-play except for absolute and relative leg stiffness (P < 0.001; ES = 1.16 and 0.63 respectively). No significant differences were observed in the fatigue related responses to competitive match play between groups except for perceived muscle soreness. Conclusions: The influence of competitive match-play on neuromuscular function and muscle damage is similar in male youth around the time of PHV and those post-PHV indicating that other factors must contribute to the heightened injury risk around PHV.

Association of Skeletal Maturity and Injury Risk in Elite Youth Soccer Players: A 4-Season Prospective Study With Survival Analysis

“…One explanation could be that early-maturing players are more physiologically advanced in the maturity process and capable of performing more intensive work, resulting in higher muscle damage 2 and consequent (perceived) delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). 16,27 Mature players may have attained a certain level of sport-specific muscle adaptation, reducing the incidence of DOMS. 45 A higher incidence of ligament sprain, strain, and adductor injuries was observed in mature players.…”

Estimating somatic maturity in adolescent soccer players: Methodological comparisons

“…14,[25][26][27] In the applied setting, this categorisation may be utilised to implement maturity specific interventions, produce reports or inform talent (de)selection decisions. 4 Several studies have used such classifications to assess the impact of maturation on performance, such as speed, 25 neuromuscular performance 28 and aerobic endurance. 29 Due to error, typical bandwidth thresholds of AE1-year, or AE0.5-years have been utilised to determine whether individuals are pre-, circa-or post-PHV.…”

Effect of a Simulated Match on Lower Limb Neuromuscular Performance in Youth Footballers—A Two Year Longitudinal Study

“…Unfortunately, the current level of fatigue was not monitored in players. In this context, interesting results are presented in the already mentioned study on youth soccer players aged 13-16 y by De Ste Croix et al [43]. The authors reported that the influence of competitive match-play on neuromuscular function evaluated by muscle activity recorded using surface polyelectromyography and RSI was found to be similar in male youth around the time of peak height velocity and those post peak height velocity.…”

“…In the BF there was a trend of a reduction; however, this was nonsignificant. Surprisingly, in the most recent study by De Ste Croix et al [43], which explored the effects of competitive soccer match-play on neuromuscular performance and muscle damage in 13-16y players (further split into PHV group and post PHV group based on maturity off-set), no significant changes in muscle activation of H and Q muscles were observed. Considering all the above-mentioned studies in which elite youth soccer players were observed, the differences in changes of muscle activity could be, in our opinion, explained by differences in the applied fatigue exercise (soccer-specific fatigue protocol and competitive match-play, respectively).…”

“…Only two studies appear to have explored changes in neuromuscular function, using EMG, in young soccer players following simulated match-play [37,38] and their findings point to fatigue induced changes in activation in knee flexors and extensors of players. In one study [43], the effects of competitive match-play on the neuromuscular function was explored in adolescent soccer players and no effects of match play on muscle activation were evident both for knee flexors and extensors.…”