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Physical demands of elite rugby league match-play and the subsequent impact on recovery
Oxendale, Chelsea
Oxendale, Chelsea
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2014
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dissertation
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Abstract
Whilst fatigue in the days after elite rugby league match-play has been well
documented, the specific match actions which contribute to fatigue are not well
understood. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between
the physical demands of elite rugby league match-play and fatigue in the days after.
Twenty-eight individual performances from an English Super League team were
captured using a 10 Hz global positioning system (GPS). Upper and lower body
neuromuscular fatigue, plasma creatine kinase (CK) and perceptual well-being were
assessed 24 h before, immediately after, and at 12, 36 and 60 h after a competitive
match. Backs covered more distance during sprinting (214.5 ± 117.6 m) and highintensity
sprinting (129.6 ± 110.9 m) than forwards (142.9 ± 86.2 and 57.1 ± 67.6 m,
respectively), whereas forwards experienced significantly more collisions than backs
(75.1 ± 64.1 cf. 37.6 ± 18.8). CK concentration peaked at 12 h and remained
significantly elevated up to 60 h post-match (p < 0.05). Large decrements in countermovement
jump (CMJ) and small to moderate decrements in repeated plyometric
push-up (RPP) performance were evident at 12 and 36 h post-match. Well-being
questionnaire (WQ) score was significantly decreased up to 36 h post-match (p <
0.05), specifically large increases in perceived muscle soreness were found at 12
and 36 h. Duration (r = 0.8), total distance covered (r = 0.79) and efforts performed
over 18 km·h-1 (r = 0.78) were strongly associated with CK concentration. High
intensity accelerations (r = 0.47) and decelerations (r = 0.45) were significantly
associated with CK concentration. Total collisions and repeated high-intensity effort
(RHIE) bouts were associated with decrements in RPP (r = -0.49 and r = -0.51,
respectively), CK concentration (r = 0.56 and r = 0.63, respectively) and perceived
muscle soreness (r = -0.52 and r = -0.48, respectively). The findings suggest duration of match-play, high intensity running and collisions experienced were the
strongest predictors of fatigue following elite rugby league match-play.
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University of Chester
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Thesis or dissertation
Language
en