Effect of 2 Soccer Matches in a Week on Physical Performance and Injury Rate

Dupont, Grégory; Nédélec, Mathieu; McCall, Alan; McCormack, Derek P.; Berthoin, Serge; Wisløff, Ulrik

doi:10.1177/0363546510361236

Cited by 358 publications

(414 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…The first study investigating the influence of successive matches over a short time period on running performance in elite senior players was conducted on data collected from the 2005-2006 season [11]. Match running performance metrics used for inter-match comparisons in this first study and typically in later papers include total distance and distance covered across a range of running speeds at arbitrarily predefined speed thresholds, frequency of and mean recovery time between high-speed efforts, and peak running speed [2,[9][10][11][12][13]. However, doubts have recently been cast [20] on the practical utility of these metrics and, notably, assessments of changes in simplistic measures such as distances covered that are commonly used in an attempt to identify the occurrence of declines in physical performance.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Researchers have nevertheless claimed that these regimens may have contributed to the maintenance of match running performance reported during congested periods [2,9,10,14,15]. However, it would seem that some of these strategies are commonly used by practitioners in an ad hoc nature despite little scientific evidence being available on the underlying mechanisms and, particularly for the purpose of this paper, on the actual outcomes in competition to validate and support their implementation.…”

Section: Post-match Recovery Strategies and Match Running Performancementioning

confidence: 97%

“…Periods of fixture congestion occur in elite soccer, notably for toplevel teams that compete for domestic league championships and cups in addition to European competitions. An accumulation of matches over a short period potentially results in residual fatigue and underperformance due to insufficient time for physical recovery whilst also increasing the propensity of injury [2]. Effective player management and monitoring by coaching and medical staff over intensified competitive schedules is unquestionably important.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In theory, these declines would negatively impact on ensuing competitive physical performance if the time delay between successive matches was short. Yet several time-motion analysis studies conducted on elite senior soccer competition have shown that external workload represented by distance covered at various running speeds was unaffected over a congested period [2,[9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Despite the physiological trauma and accumulative fatigue potentially induced by successive matches, it would seem players recover sufficiently and cope 'physically' over a congested period.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several authors have suggested that such treatments aided in maintaining match running performance during congested periods [2,9,10,14,15]. However, limited empirical evidence currently exists to support the efficacy of post-match recovery modalities for attenuating potential decrements in running performance across consecutive matches played within a tight timeframe.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Match Running Performance During Fixture Congestion in Elite Soccer: Research Issues and Future Directions

et al. 2015

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It has been proposed that match congestion in elite soccer results in residual fatigue and underperformance in ensuing competition due to insufficient recovery time. In this article, matters relating to match congestion and running performance in elite soccer competition are discussed. We suggest a need to determine the extent to which elite players are, in reality, exposed to periods of match congestion and hence to potential declines in performance. Despite evidence of exercise-induced muscle damage combined with a decline in physical performance up to 72 h post-match, research using time-motion analyses suggests that running performance represented by distances covered is unaffected over periods of match congestion. We recommend analysis of alternative movement variables including accelerations, decelerations and turns that are taxing metabolically and contribute greatly to muscle damage. Moreover, a holistic approach combining subjective ratings with biochemical, hormonal and immunological responses to exercise would be pertinent, especially in players frequently exposed to match congestion. Contemporary practitioners typically implement various postmatch recovery treatments during dense schedules in an attempt to accelerate recovery and ensure that subsequent running performance is not unduly affected. However, empirical evidence to support their efficacy in maintaining running performance is lacking and we recommend controlled intervention studies using match simulations in an attempt to verify their effectiveness. These points are critically addressed using findings from the current scientific literature, while gaps in the current body of knowledge and future directions for research are highlighted. Key PointsThis paper suggests a need for research to determine the extent to which elite senior soccer players are actually exposed to periods of fixture congestion.Modifications in the design of time-motion studies are recommended to establish whether players' match running profiles are in reality compromised during intensified competition periods.Controlled intervention studies using match simulations are also recommended to verify the efficacy of post-match recovery modalities on competitive running performance.

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