title: Seasonal Analysis of Mucosal Immunological Function and Physical Demands in Professional Australian Rules Footballers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess match-to-match variations in salivary immunoglobulin A concentration ([s-IgA]) measured at 36 h postmatch throughout an Australian Football League (AFL) premiership season and to assess the trends between 36-h-postmatch [s-IgA] and match-play exercise workloads throughout the same season.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen elite male AFL athletes (24 ± 4.2 y, 187.0 ± 7.1 cm, 87.0 ± 7.6 kg) were monitored on a weekly basis to determine total match-play exercise workloads and 36-h-postmatch [s-IgA] throughout 16 consecutive matches in an AFL premiership season. Global positioning systems (GPS) with integrated triaxial accelerometers were used to measure exercise workloads (PlayerLoad) during each AFL match. A linear mixed-model analyses was conducted for time-dependent changes in [s-IgA] and player load.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant main effect was found for longitudinal postmatch [s-IgA] data (F16,240 = 3.78, P < .01) and PlayerLoad data (F16,66 = 1.98, P = .03). For all matches after and including match 7, a substantial suppression trend in [s-IgA] 36-h-postmatch values was found compared with preseason baseline [s-IgA].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study provides novel data regarding longitudinal trends in 36-h-postmatch [s-IgA] for AFL athletes. Results demonstrate that weekly in-season AFL match-play exercise workloads may result in delayed mucosal immunological recovery beyond 36 h postmatch. The inclusion of individual athlete-monitoring strategies of [s-IgA] may be advantageous in the detection of compromised postmatch mucosal immunological function for AFL athletes.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coad
authors.forename: Bon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McLellan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D001315:Australia; D005538:Football; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A