Associations Between Low Frequency Fatigue, Jump Height and Perceptual Measures of Muscle Soreness, Fatigue and Recovery in Youth Elite Soccer Players

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how low-frequency fatigue, jump height, and feelings of muscle soreness, fatigue, and recovery relate in elite youth soccer players. The study focuses on the recovery process after competition and aims to understand the connection between objective muscle fatigue measurements and subjective perceptions. This observational study is sponsored by the University of Maia and targets young athletes competing at the highest Portuguese division level. The study uses a device called Myocene® to apply controlled electrical stimulation to the muscles, measuring low-frequency fatigue before and after matches at specific intervals: 2 hours before, 30 minutes after, 24 hours after, and 48 hours after the game. The device uses electrodes placed on muscles in the leg to deliver sets of electrical pulses, calculating the ratio of low- to high-frequency muscle force as an indicator of fatigue. Participants will be assessed multiple times around their match schedule to monitor muscle fatigue and jump height, along with their personal reports of soreness and recovery. The main outcome measured is the difference in low-frequency fatigue at these time points. The study lasts through the competitive season, with careful monitoring through muscle testing and self-reported questionnaires to examine recovery patterns in this athletic group.

Associations Between Low Frequency Fatigue, Jump Height and Perceptual Measures of Muscle Soreness, Fatigue and Recovery