Physical and balance performance following exercise induced muscle damage in male soccer players.
Muzaffar Ahmad Khan, Jamal Ali Moiz, Shahid Raza and 4 others
PMID 27821967WHAT IT FOUND
After repeated sprints, male soccer players had worse balance, speed, agility and jumps.
Performance was worst at 24 hours and close to baseline by 72 hours.
Key findings
01Muscle damage markers, physical performance and balance variables all showed a significant time effect after the repeated sprint session.
02The largest differences from baseline occurred at 24 hours, and values at 72 hours were not significantly different from baseline.
03Star excursion balance reach distances were significantly lower than baseline at 24 hours in both legs and all measured directions.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study included only healthy male college soccer players, so it says little about female players, other sports, less conditioned athletes, or patients in rehabilitation. All participants received the same sprint session and were compared with their own baseline, so there was no untreated control group. The balance tests used could not quantify postural sway, and components such as proprioception and vision were not examined. The study measured short-term changes after a sprint session, not injury risk or long-term recovery.
Declared interests
No funding or conflict of interest statement is provided in the supplied text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that repeated sprints cause injury or that these tests predict injury in any patient. The study measured temporary changes in performance and balance in healthy male college soccer players, not injuries, and had no control group.