Effects of Consecutive Matches on Isometric Hamstring Strength, Flexibility Values and Neuromuscular Performance in Female Field Hockey Players. A Prospective, Observational Study

Violeta Sánchez-Migallón,Alvaro López-Samanes,Sofía Gaos,Víctor Moreno-Pérez,Roland Van Den Tillaar,Archit Navandar,José Bernardo Díaz-Maroto,Vicente Fernández-Ruiz

doi:10.3390/app11198938

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the effects of match congestion in a short period on isometric hamstring strength and hip/ankle range of motion in female field hockey players. Fourteen professional female field hockey players (age: 20.0 ± 5.4 years) played two consecutive hockey matches in 24 h and maximal isometric hamstring strength and hip and ankle range of motion were obtained before and after the first match, after the second match, and 48 h after the second match. Furthermore, locomotion patterns and ratings of perceived exertion were recorded during hockey competitions. Isometric knee flexion strength showed significantly higher values 48 h after the second match for the non-dominant limb (p ≤ 0.005, ηp2 = 0.19), while no differences were reported in the dominant limb (p = 0.370, ηp2 = 0.05). In addition, no differences were reported in the range-of-motion (ROM) variables such as the straight leg raise test or ankle dorsiflexion test (p = 0.075–0.217, ηp2 = 0.01–0.03). The countermovement jump height steadily increased over the matches except between post-match 2 and 48 h after post-match 2 (p < 0.001, η2 = 0.382). Two consecutive official league field hockey matches played within 24 h did not have a negative effect on lower-limb risk factors (strength, hip and ankle ranges of motion, and ratings of perceived exertion) in female field hockey players directly, but they improved 48 h after the matches. This could indicate that 48 h recovery period following matches might be ideal for female field hockey players.

Highlights

In other intermittent team sports such as soccer, research has shown that the demands of a single match can induce muscle damage and post-match fatigue that can last up to seventy-two hours [6]
The variables registered from the Global Positioning System and Accelerometer Device (GPS) showed a significant increase in the total distance covered between matches one and two (6589.0 ± 2372.27 m vs. 7439.80 ± 2177.96 m; p = 0.040; ηp 2 = 0.092), but no significant differences were obtained for the distance run at different intensities or between the RPE values registered after the matches either (Table 1)
No differences were obtained in the ankle range of motion for both the dominant leg and the non-dominant leg, a result that coincides with those of Wollin et al [25] where the ankle dorsiflexion was not affected by this congested period of two matches [28]. These results suggest that the potential risk factors for hamstring injuries are not affected by playing two consecutive field hockey games

Summary

Introduction

During official field hockey competitions, teams often play two consecutive games in less than twenty-four hours This imposes high physical demands on an athlete, limiting physical performance in subsequent matches due to an insufficient recovery [5]. In other intermittent team sports such as soccer, research has shown that the demands of a single match can induce muscle damage and post-match fatigue that can last up to seventy-two hours [6]. This has resulted in a reduction in the ability to maintain high speeds and in the number of accelerations/minute [7], being attributed to peripheral fatigue appearance due to depletions in muscle glycogen concentrations [8]. Research has shown higher injury rates in competitions where there were four or fewer days of recovery when compared to competitions with six or more days of recovery [10]

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