Muscle Damage, Inflammation and Soccer

Abstract

Soccer is characterized as the most popular team sport. Also, professional soccer players participate in one or more games in a microcycle during the season. Furthermore, during the game a high number of eccentric type of contractions are performed. This type of action has been correlated well with cell membrane rupture and derangement of contraction mechanism. All the above lead to the reduction of strength and range of the movement of the knee joint, an increment of muscle damage indicators and delay onset muscle soreness feeling along with reduction of performance during the post game period. The activation of the immune system leads to inflammatory response via activation of neutrophils, macrophages, cytokines and acute phase proteins in order to heal the damaged muscle. The inflammation provokes the increment of secondary damage and oxidative stress production. Free radicals increase their number and provoke lipid, protein and nucleic acid oxidation. It is assumed that the induction of free radical production lengthens the recovery duration after a soccer game and restricts the workout intensity. Thus, the aim of the present review is to present data of the effect of one, two or three soccer matches per week, on muscle damage, inflammation and performance indicators.