title: The effect of post-match alcohol ingestion on recovery from competitive rugby league matches.
abstract: This study investigated the effects of alcohol ingestion on lower-body strength and power and physiological and cognitive recovery after competitive Rugby League matches. Nine male Rugby players participated in 2 matches, followed by 1 of 2 randomized interventions, a control or alcohol ingestion session. Four hours post-match, participants consumed either beverages containing a total of 1 g of ethanol per kilogram bodyweight (vodka and orange juice; ALC) or a caloric and taste-matched nonalcoholic beverage (orange juice; CONT). Before the match, immediately post-match, 2 hours post-, and 16 hours post-match measures of countermovement jump (CMJ); maximal voluntary contraction (MVC); voluntary activation (VA); and damage and stress markers of creatine kinase (CK), C-reactive protein (CRP), cortisol, and testosterone analyzed from venous blood collection; and cognitive function (modified Stroop test) were determined. Alcohol resulted in large effects for decreased CMJ height (-2.35 ± 8.14% and -10.53 ± 8.36% decrement for CONT and ALC, respectively; p = 0.15, d = 1.40), without changes in MVC (p = 0.52, d = 0.70) or VA (p = 0.15, d = 0.69). Furthermore, alcohol resulted in a significant slowing of total time in a cognitive test (p = 0.04, d = 1.59) while exhibiting large effects for detriments in congruent reaction time (p = 0.19, d = 1.73). Despite large effects for increased cortisol after alcohol ingestion during recovery (p = 0.28, d = 1.44), post-match alcohol consumption did not unduly affect testosterone (p = 0.96, d = 0.10), CK (p = 0.66, d = 0.70), or CRP (p = 0.75, d = 0.60). It seems that alcohol consumption during the evening after competitive rugby matches may have some detrimental effects on peak power and cognitive recovery the morning after a Rugby League match. Accordingly, practitioners should be aware of the potential associated detrimental effects of alcohol consumption on recovery and provide alcohol awareness to athletes at post-match functions.
authors: School of Human Movement Studies, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. amurphy@csu.edu.au
authors: Alistair P
authors: AP
authors: Murphy
authors: Alanna E
authors: AE
authors: Snape
authors: Geoffrey M
authors: GM
authors: Minett
authors: Melissa
authors: M
authors: Skein
authors: Rob
authors: R
authors: Duffield
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D054874:Athletic Performance; D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D005221:Fatigue / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005538:Football; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D013739:Testosterone; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D006854:Hydrocortisone