Abstract
Objectives: Assessing the effects of Ramadan fasting on recovery following a soccer match simulation.Methods: Eight elite soccer players (age: 21.0 ± 0.4 years) performed a modified Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test protocol (LISTmod) on two occasions: 1 week before (BR) and during the fourth week of Ramadan (End-R). At BR and End-R, soccer players performed squat jump, countermovement jump, maximal voluntary contraction, and 20 m sprint, and creatine kinase, uric acid, and subjective ratings (feelings scale, quality of sleep, fatigue, muscle soreness and stress) were assessed at baseline and 0, 24, 48, and 72 h following LISTmod.Results: Following LISTmod, performance in squat jump (48 and 72 h) (p < 0.05), countermovement jump (48 and 72 h), maximal voluntary contraction (0, 24, 48, and 72 h), and 20 m sprint (0 and 48 h) decreased significantly on both occasions. Decreases were higher at End-R than BR. Creatine kinase levels increased significantly at 24 and 48 h at BR and End-R (p < 0.05). Uric acid increased at 0 and 24 h only on BR. Muscle soreness increased throughout the recovery period at both occasions, with a higher level at End-R. Stress rating increased only at 0 h on End-R, while fatigue rating increased at 24 h at BR and at 0, 24, and 48 h at End-R.Conclusion: Perturbations in physical performance and subjective ratings parameters were higher at the end of Ramadan. However, the results of this study showed that Ramadan fasting did not adversely affect the recovery following soccer match simulation in professional soccer players.
Highlights
A common challenge for Muslim soccer players is that competitions were scheduled during or shortly after Ramadan (e.g., Olympic Games in London in 2012, FIFA World Cup 2014 and 2018)
Results of the present study demonstrated that physical performance before and at the end of Ramadan needed between 24 and 72 h of recovery to return to baseline levels
For technical reasons, we were unable to use these methods. This pilot study conducted in professional soccer players showed that Ramadan fasting does not adversely affect the recovery of physical performance and muscle damage markers, while perceived fatigue and muscle soreness seems to be enhanced with Ramadan fasting
Summary
A common challenge for Muslim soccer players is that competitions were scheduled during or shortly after Ramadan (e.g., Olympic Games in London in 2012, FIFA World Cup 2014 and 2018). Given the constraints that Ramadan intermittent fasting (RIF) induces on Muslim soccer players, it has been demonstrated that RIF is associated with affecting exercise performance. Zerguini et al (2007) reported a decrease in running speed, agility, dribbling speed, and endurance performance in Algerian professional soccer players during Ramadan. Chtourou et al (2011) showed that performance during the shuttle run test, the Wingate Anaerobic Test as well as repeated speed ability were negatively affected by RIF in young soccer players. Since observing Muslim athletes abstain from consumption of food and drinks during the hours of daylight, nutrient intake and drinking are restricted to the hours of darkness, which mostly results in a reduction of two meals per night (Shephard, 2012). Practical problems might occur with RIF in terms of a reduced availability of metabolites for both endurance and anaerobic exercise. Cerebral consequences of a decreased blood glucose such as an increased perception of effort and a deterioration of mood state, a progressive decrease in hepatic and muscle glycogen reserves, a progressive fall of blood glucose levels and fluid reserves over the hours of daylight and risk of dehydration during prolonged effort may deteriorate exercise performance (Drust et al, 2012)
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