title: Neuromuscular, biochemical and perceptual post-match fatigue in professional rugby league forwards and backs.
abstract: In this study, we investigated changes in creatine kinase, perceptual and neuromuscular fatigue of professional rugby league players after match-play. Twenty-three male rugby league players (10 backs, 13 forwards) had their creatine kinase, perceptual ratings of fatigue, attitude to training, muscle soreness, and flight time in a countermovement jump measured before and 1 and 2 days after (day 1 and day 2 respectively) league matches. Total playing time, offensive and defensive contacts were also recorded for each player. Creatine kinase was higher both 1 and 2 days after than before matches (P < 0.05) in forwards and backs. Similarly, perceived fatigue and muscle soreness were higher than pre-match on both days 1 and 2 (P < 0.05), but did not differ between groups (P > 0.05). Jump performance was lower on day 1 but not day 2 for both groups (P < 0.05). While total playing time was longer in backs (P < 0.05), relative frequencies for all contacts were greater in forwards (P < 0.05). Contacts for forwards were correlated with all markers of fatigue (P < 0.05), but only flight time was correlated with offensive contacts in backs (P < 0.05). Despite the mechanisms of fatigue being different between forwards and backs, our results highlight the multidimensional nature of fatigue after a rugby league match and that these markers do not differ between positions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports and Exercise Sciences, University of Chester, Chester, UK. c.twist@chester.ac.uk
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Twist
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waldron
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Highton
authors.forename: Dean
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Burt
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daniels
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000097:blood; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000097:blood; D010465:Perception; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003402:Creatine Kinase