title: Neuromuscular fatigue and recovery in elite female soccer: effects of active recovery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the time course of recovery from neuromuscular fatigue and some biochemical changes between two female soccer matches separated by an active or passive recovery regime.
  
  
  METHODS
  Countermovement jump (CMJ), sprint performance, maximal isokinetic knee flexion and extension, creatine kinase (CK), urea, uric acid, and perceived muscle soreness were measured in 17 elite female soccer players before, immediately after, 5, 21, 45, 51, and 69 h after a first match, and immediately after a second match. Eight players performed active recovery (submaximal cycling at 60% of HRpeak and low-intensity resistance training at < 50% 1RM) 22 and 46 h after the first match.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In response to the first match, a significant decrease in sprint performance (-3.0 +/- 0.5%), CMJ (-4.4 +/- 0.8%), peak torque in knee extension (-7.1 +/- 1.9%) and flexion (-9.4 +/- 1.8%), and an increase in CK (+ 152 +/- 28%), urea (15 +/- 2), uric acid (+ 11 +/- 2%), and muscle soreness occurred. Sprint ability was first to return to baseline (5 h) followed by urea and uric acid (21 h), isokinetic knee extension (27 h) and flexion (51 h), CK, and muscle soreness (69 h), whereas CMJ was still reduced at the beginning of the second match. There were no significant differences in the recovery pattern between the active and passive recovery groups. The magnitude of the neuromuscular and biochemical changes after the second match was similar to that observed after the first match.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study reveals differences in the recovery pattern of the various neuromuscular and biochemical parameters in response to a female soccer match. The active recovery had no effects on the recovery pattern of the four neuromuscular and three biochemical parameters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Orebro University, Orebro, Sweden. helena.andersson@hi.oru.se
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Truls
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Raastad
authors.forename: Johnny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Gøran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paulsen
authors.forename: Ina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Garthe
authors.forename: Fawzi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kadi
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000032:analysis; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology*; D009664:Norway; D010147:Pain Measurement; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*; D013548:Sweden; D014508:Urea / Q000032:analysis; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014527:Uric Acid; D014508:Urea; D003402:Creatine Kinase