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. 2022 Jun 3;8(1):72.
doi: 10.1186/s40798-022-00466-3.

Fatigue and Recovery Time Course After Female Soccer Matches: A Systematic Review And Meta-analysis

Karine Naves Oliveira Goulart  1   2 , Cândido Celso Coimbra  3 , Helton Oliveira Campos  3   4 , Lucas Rios Drummond  3 , Pedro Henrique Madureira Ogando  5 , Georgia Brown  6 , Bruno Pena Couto  7 , Rob Duffield  6   8 , Samuel Penna Wanner  5
Affiliations

Fatigue and Recovery Time Course After Female Soccer Matches: A Systematic Review And Meta-analysis

Karine Naves Oliveira Goulart et al. Sports Med Open. .

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to analyze the extent of fatigue responses after female soccer matches and the ensuing recovery time course of performance, physiological, and perceptual responses.

Methods: Three databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus) were searched in October 2020 and updated in November 2021. Studies were included when participants were female soccer players, regardless of their ability level. Further, the intervention was an official soccer match with performance, physiological, or perceptual parameters collected pre- and post-match (immediately, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, or 72 h-post).

Results: A total of 26 studies (n = 465 players) were included for meta-analysis. Most performance parameters showed some immediate post-match reduction (effect size [ES] = - 0.72 to - 1.80), apart from countermovement jump (CMJ; ES = - 0.04). Reduced CMJ performance occurred at 12 h (ES = - 0.38) and 24 h (ES = - 0.42) and sprint at 48 h post-match (ES = - 0.75). Inflammatory and immunological parameters responded acutely with moderate-to-large increases (ES = 0.58-2.75) immediately post-match. Creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase alterations persisted at 72 h post-match (ES = 3.79 and 7.46, respectively). Small-to-moderate effects were observed for increased cortisol (ES = 0.75) and reduced testosterone/cortisol ratio (ES = -0.47) immediately post-match, while negligible to small effects existed for testosterone (ES = 0.14) and estradiol (ES = 0.34). Large effects were observed for perceptual variables, with increased fatigue (ES = 1.79) and reduced vigor (ES = - 0.97) at 12 h post-match, while muscle soreness was increased immediately post (ES = 1.63) and at 24 h post-match (ES = 1.00).

Conclusions: Acute fatigue exists following female soccer matches, and the performance, physiological, and perceptual parameters showed distinctive recovery timelines. Importantly, physical performance was recovered at 72 h post-match, whereas muscle damage markers were still increased at this time point. These timelines should be considered when planning training and match schedules. However, some caution should be advised given the small number of studies available on this population.

Registration: The protocol for this systematic review was pre-registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO, Registration Number: CRD42021237857).

Keywords: Cortisol; Countermovement jump; Creatine kinase; Estradiol; Female soccer; Muscle soreness; Performance; Recovery; Women.

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Conflict of interest statement

Karine Naves de Oliveira Goulart, Cândido Celso Coimbra, Helton Oliveira Campos, Lucas Rios Drummond, Pedro Henrique Madureira Ogando, Georgia Brown, Bruno Pena Couto, Rob Duffield, Samuel Penna Wanner declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow chart of study inclusion process
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Effect size for analyses comparing post-match to pre-match physical performance parameters. Values are effect size (ES) and 95% confidence interval (CI). CMJ =  Countermovement jump; YoYo = YoYo intermittent endurance test. Black circles represent no significant difference from pre. Gray squares represent significantly different from pre
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Effect size for analyses comparing post-match to pre-match muscle damage markers. Values are effect size (ES) and 95% confidence interval (CI). CK = creatine kinase; LDH = lactate dehydrogenase. Gray squares represent significantly different from pre
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Effect size for analyses comparing post-match to pre-match inflammatory parameters. Values are effect size (ES) and 95% confidence interval (CI). CRP = C-reactive protein. Black circles represent no significant difference from pre. Gray squares represent significantly different from pre
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Effect size for analyses comparing immediately post-match to pre-match neuroendocrine parameters. Values are effect size (ES) and 95% confidence interval (CI). T/C = testosterone/cortisol ratio. Black circles represent no significant difference from pre. Gray squares represent significantly different from pre
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Effect size for analyses comparing post-match to pre-match perceptual parameters. Values are effect size (ES) and 95% confidence interval (CI). DOMS = delayed onset muscle soreness. Black circles represent no significant difference from pre. Gray squares represent significantly different from pre
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