Influence of football match time-motion parameters on recovery time course of muscle damage and jump ability

We analysed the time course of recovery of creatine kinase (CK) and countermovement jump (CMJ) parameters after a football match, and correlations between changes in these variables and match time-motion parameters (GPS-accelerometry) in 15 U-19 elite male players. Plasma CK and CMJ height (CMJ(H)), average concentric force (CMJ(CON)) and average eccentric force (CMJ(ECC)) were assessed 2 h before and 30 min, 24 h and 48 h post-match. There were substantially higher CK levels 30 min, 24 h and 48 h (ES: 0.43, 0.62, 0.40, respectively), post-match. CMJ(ECC) (ES: -0.38), CMJ(H) (ES: -0.35) decreased 30 min post, CMJ(CON) (ES: -0.35), CMJ(ECC) (ES: -0.35) and CMJ(H) (ES: -1.35) decreased 24 h post, and CMJ(CON) (ES: -0.41) and CMJ(H) (ES: -0.53) decreased 48 h post. We found correlations between distance covered at velocities <= 21 km . h(-1) and changes in CK at 24 h (r = 0.56) and at 48 h (r = 0.54) and correlations between CK and distance covered > 14 km . h(-1) (r = 0.50), accelerations (r = 0.48), and decelerations (r = 0.58) at 48 h. Changes in CMJ(CON) 30 min and 24 h post (both r = -0.68) correlated with impacts > 7.1.G. Decelerations > 2 m . s(-2) correlated with changes CMJ(CON) (r = -0.49) at 48 h and CMJ(ECC) (r = -0.47) at 30 min. Our results suggest that match GPS-accelerometry parameters may predict muscle damage and changes in components of neuromuscular performance immediately and 24-48 h post-match.