Open Access

Austin Sports Medicine

Research Article

Relationship between Total Percurred Distances in High

Intensity with Physical Weariness on Soccer Athletes
Marcio de JF1*, Pizzolo RB1, Gabriel IR1,
Abstract
Esmeraldino C1 and Roever L2
1
University of ExtremoSul Catariense, UNESC, Brazil Introduction: Football as a sport of long distances traveled throughout
2
Department of Clinical Research, Federal University of its length draws attention to physiological factors that are possible markers of
Uberlândia, Brazil injury, such as Creatine Kinase (CK) and lactate.
*Corresponding author: Marcio de JF, University of
Objective: To evaluate the relationship between the distances covered in
ExtremoSul Catariense, UNESC, Brazil
total CK values at high intensity, with game location, field position and type of
Received: March 09, 2018; Accepted: April 27, 2018; competition.
Published: May 04, 2018
Methods: Professional athletes belonging to a first division soccer club
participated in the study. Method: The GPS device (Qstarz) was used to quantify
the motor actions. For the collection of creatine kinase, 32μL of capillary blood
were removed from subjects’ digital pulp.
Results: There was no significant difference (p> 0.05) when compared to
the game site, in relation to the type of competition, were significant (p <0.05)
in all competitions, no positive correlations were found between volume and
intensity with athletes creatine kinase, the lateral ones presented the most
significant results.
Conclusion: We observed that the place of the game does not interfere with
the physical wear and tear regardless of the position of the athletes, and that the
state championships currently serve as preparation for the other competitions
due to the short period of time that the teams have to do their basic training
period.
Keywords: Soccer; Intensity; Physiological Marker

Introduction contribute in prescribing training intensity.

There are several eccentric muscle actions during the match, CK is described as a physiological marker for muscle restructuring,
such as jumping and sudden stops [1]. According [2], the eccentric that is, when intensively trained, there is a predisposition to
actions cause increased muscle damage and an increased number occur muscle fatigue, understood as the reduced capacity of the
of micro lesions, complicating the recovery. It should also be neuromuscular system to generate power [6], requiring a longer
considered different workloads due the positions and roles in the field recovery time, since no rest induce to overtraining, identified when
(goalkeepers, center backs, full backs, holding midfielders, midfielders the pause between the next training or competition is insufficient [7].
and strikers), respecting the training specificity principle [3]. To determine the exercise intensity, studies indicate that levels
It important being able to assess and identify the variables: above 975 U/L of creatine kinase would indicate muscular disorders,
Intensity, volume, effectiveness and frequency of competitive where a possible overtraining and an increased risk of injury may
actions, individually (biological individuality), contribute on making be installed [8]; in other studies values of 1492U/L pointed out for
technical, tactical and strategic decisions for soccer players in training increased risk of injury [9].
and in competitive actions. Specifically in the competitive actions, Understanding about the CK action is of huge importance for the
knowing the covered distance in each position and their different training periodization, as this variable will give an assessment of the
intensities, contribute on building adequate and specific training physical weariness indicating if the athlete is fit or not to compete,
models, consequently improving performance during game play [4]. preserving this player in alleged occasions of potential injury will
For this purpose, various methods are investigated over time benefit the team.
in order to minimize training mistakes, such as the use of lactate As such informations becomes necessary in order to establish a
analysis, electromyography and Mechanomyography (MMG), with cause/effect relation between the total covered distance, total covered
the intend of evaluate variations that occur in muscle before and distance in high intensity and the position on the pitch with CK
during fatigue installation. Recently the plasma concentrations of levels in professional soccer athletes of Criciuma Esporte Clube team,
Creatine Kinase (CK) has been described and used as a marker for having as dependent variables the type of competition during the year
muscular fatigue [5], due the low cost and peak release that occurs 2014, Catarinense’s State First Division League and the Brasilian’s
between 24 and 48 hours after physical exercise session [6]. May First Division League, as host or visitor for the game site.

Austin Sports Med - Volume 3 Issue 1 - 2018 Citation: Marcio de JF, Pizzolo RB, Gabriel IR, Esmeraldino C and Roever L. Relationship between Total
Submit your Manuscript | www.austinpublishinggroup.com Percurred Distances in High Intensity with Physical Weariness on Soccer Athletes. Austin Sports Med. 2018;
Marcio et al. © All rights are reserved 3(1): 1023.
Marcio de JF Austin Publishing Group

THICD% *

HIAD *

defender defensive midfielder HI

attacking midfielder full-back A
D
striker
*

Figure 1: Positions comparison with the variables, CK level after 24 hours

and the total high intensity covered distance in meters.
CK L. After 24h = CK levels after 24 hours. THICDm = Total High Intensity
Covered Distance.
CK L. After 24h: there was no difference. THICDm: Difference between full- defender defensive midfielder
backs and other positions*.
attacking midfielder full-back

Materials and Methods striker

This research is characterized as a field’s study, exploratory, Figure 2: Total covered distance compared to field positions.
assessing the data collected from a soccer club during one year. In TCD = Total Covered Distance. Difference between full-backs and strikers.
terms of data analysis already collected by the club, and because they
were professional athletes with a contract, it was not necessary to
submit to the ethics committee. NSHI *#

Study participants were professional athletes from a club of the THICD%

first division of Brazilian soccer that contest national and international HIAD
competitions organized by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF)
and the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL),
divided by positions: Center-backs, full-backs, holding-midfielders,
defender defensive midfielder
midfielders and strikers. With mean age of 24.8 years, weight
80.1kg, height of 1.82meters, this participated in the pre-season. The attacking midfielder full-back
sample was consisted of 10 athletes, two for each pitch position who striker
participated in the Catarinense and Brazilian league champion ship;
there may be smaller sample numbers in some games, because of
Figure 3: Variables comparison related to field positions, High intensity
substitutions, injuries and finish or breach of contract. activity in distance, High intensity total distance in percentage and High
intensity number of sprints.
Participated in this study, subjects who met the following
HIAD: High Intensity Activity Distance; THICD%: Total High Intensity
inclusion criteria: The athlete must be registered in the club’s control Covered Distance Percentage; NSHI: Number of Sprints at High Intensity;
bodies, provide free consent, participate in over 75% of the total game HIAD: There Was No Significant Difference; THICDI%: Observed Difference
time, use the GPS during the games, collect blood samples for CK between Positions**. NSHI = There Was Difference between The Full-Backs
And Holding-Midfielders#.
evaluation. Failure to meet one of the criteria described above was
considered as exclusion criteria.
being evaluated the mean, standard deviation, absolute frequency.
The data for the motor actions of the athletes were collected, The significance level for all analyse was considered p ≤0.05. The
monitored and quantified through the GPS device (Qstarz) with correlation between groups and intervention method by Kruskal
5Hz frequency sampling. Each athlete used a GPS unit device (mass: Wallis test and U Mann Whitney, for comparison of intra and inter-
22g; dimension: 62mm x 38mm x 7mm) tied to the shorts cord. The group averages was used the t Student test paired data.
device was turned on 15minutes before starting the collection and
off immediately after the end of activity. Once recorded, the data Results
were transferred to a computer and analyse with specific software. Table one shows the comparison between the home games (host)
The collection of CK was directed to the collection sector (physiology and away games (visitor), verifying if the game local can interfere
room) temperature between (20 to 25⁰C) and Relative humidity in the performance of athletes when evaluating the total covered
between (50-70%). 32uL of capillary blood were taken from the distance, amount of sprints in high intensity, total distance in high
fingertip of the subject. After the blood was drained into a capillary intensity in meters and percentage, high intensity activity in distance
tube. and CK level after 24 hours. There were no significant differences in
For statistical analysis, the data were tabulated and categorized in the variables analyse.
Statistical Package software for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0, The second target to be evaluated is related to the competitions

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Table 1: Comparison of the variables between the game local.

Game Site N Mean D.P Pvalue

Host 80 7.287 1.211

Total covereddistance (meters) 0,10
Visitor 70 7.622 1.274

Host 80 46 33
Number of stimulus at high intensity 0,54
Visitor 70 49 33

Host 80 593 331

Total distance at high intensity (meters) 0,49
Visitor 70 632 357

Host 80 7,8 3,5

Total distance at high intensity (%) 0,66
Visitor 70 8,1 3,6

Host 80 15,2 4,8

High intensityactivity (distance) 0,10
Visitor 70 14,0 3,6

Host 71 689 325

CK values after 24 hous (U/L) 0,15
Visitor 61 604 356
Level of significance considered p <0.05.

Table 2: Variables comparison between competitions.

Variables Competition N Mean DP P value

Brasileiro 80 8.06 1.038

Total covereddistance (meters) 0,00
Catarinense 70 6.738 1.089

Brasileiro 80 64 35
Number of stimulus at high intensity 0,00
Catarinense 70 28 17

Brasileiro 80 744 372

Total distance at high intensity (meters) 0,00
Catarinense 70 458 226

Brasileiro 80 9,0 3,8

Total distance at high intensity (%) 0,00
Catarinense 70 6,7 2,7

Brasileiro 80 12,3 3,3

High intensityactivity (distance) 0,00
Catarinense 70 17,4 3,7

Brasileiro 70 620 271

CK values after 24 hous (U/L) 0,30
Catarinense 62 683 406
Level of significance considered p <0.05.

during the year, specifically Catarinense and Brazilian comparisons.

Championships, being held respectively from January to April and
(Figure 3) shows a comparison of the positions with the variables,
April to December, that is, start season and the rest of the year. The
high intensity activity in distance; High intensity total distance in
values presented significant difference except the variable CK level.
percentage and number of sprints at high intensity. The variable
The data demonstrate that in the Brazilian championship the other
high intensity activity in distance has no significant difference. The
variables proved to be more intense.
high intensity total distance in percentage and the amount of high
Table three shows the correlation between the variables intensity sprints revealed significant values. The figure represents the
investigated, demonstrating that there was no correlation between mean values and the total.
the total distance, intensity of stimulus and CK level after 24 hours.
We also presented the correlation between all the variables present in
Discussion
a football game. The first analysis was made [10], in his study, states that
professional athletes covered distances between 10012m and
Figure one shows the comparison of the total distance at high
11393meters in a review made in 2004-2009. This difference can
intensity in meters and CK levels after 24 hours by field position,
be explained by different factors, such as the team´s style [11], the
and the identification of comparisons by significance. The values are
competitive level [12] the competition´s kind [13], the player´s
presented as mean for each position and total games (Brazilian and
phisical condition [3] and the competition´s kind space.
Catarinense championships).
Still analyzing the covered distance, but related to field position
The figure two shows the total covered distance values from the
(Figure 2), it shows higher values in the full-back position (7893
athletes by field position. Are presented the mean values and the total
meters), different from the study [10], conducted with players in
and the identification when there is a significant difference in the

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Table 3: Interconnection between various variables of volume and match intensity, and CK between players.
VARIABLES GS KC FP TCD HISN THICDm THICD% HIAD

TCD (meters) , 134 -, 530 , 028

HISN (meters) , 051 -, 544 -, 124 , 686

THICD (meters) , 057 -, 418 -, 198 , 691 , 913

THICD (%) , 037 -, 324 -, 258 , 482 , 836 , 954

HIAD(distance) -, 134 , 590 , 031 -, 426 -, 554 -, 258 -, 154

CK L. After 24h (U/L) -, 126 , 092 -, 160 -, 058 -, 035 -, 023 -, 017 , 072
GS: Game Site: KC: Kind of Competition; FP: Field Position; TCD: Total Covered Distance; HISN: High Intensity Stimulus Number; THICDm: Total High Intensity
Covered Distance meters; THICD%: Total High Intensity Covered Distance Percentage; HIAD: High Intensity Activity Distance; CK L. After 24 hours: CK levels after
24 hours.

the competitive period of the Uefa Euro 2008, where higher values Analysing the behaviour of CK levels after 24 hours of the last
were attributed to midfielders (10905m) followed by the full-backs match, and CK have been described and used as a muscle fatigue
(10274m), positions in which many attack/defense transitions marker [5], its low cost and its peak release occurring from 24 to 48
happen, obtaining higher numbers compared to the other positions. hours after exercise [2,19]. Compared to variable when evaluated host
Attackers and defenders covered smaller distances than the other (689.2U/L) and visitor (603.5U/L), was presented values higher than
positions, corroborating the study of [10], fact caused due to larger the study of [5], observed 17 athletes during a competitive season,
roam actions over short distances [12,14], And by the fact that both with values of 388.2U/L, when measured between 36 and 48 hours
positions do not require attack-defense transitions, with moments after exercise. The table one represents no significant difference, the
during the matches that athletes remaining static. [15-17], add is, the athletes did not suffer from different adaptations for playing in
that the play style and position influence on the different physical different locations, and with the physical wear and tear of traveling,
demands of players. with similar values of serum CK levels.

One of the comparisons analyzed is the amount of stimulus at Reviewed CK variable in different competitions of the year,
high intensity, typically in a soccer match occurs approximately 1000- Catarinense (683U/L) and Brazilian (620U/L), seen in (Table 2), it
1500 direction changes, performing back, diagonal, side and straight appears that there was also no significant difference [20]. Evaluated
line sprints [18]. Comparing this variable in actions taken in straight 16 football players in a friendly game between 24 and 48 hours after
line with match site, is observed in the table one that there was no the match, it was observed an increase in CK 800U/L, corroborating
significant difference when host 46 actions and 48 actions when results of Catarinense´s championship and demonstrating values
visitor. higher than the Brazilian league. The reduction of CK along the
competitive year can be attributed to an adaptation of skeletal muscle
Comparing the variable with the positions on the field, the full- subjected to physiological stress [21].
backs performed larger amounts of stimulation compared to the
other positions, with significantly difference in the holding-midfielder However, in controversy, studies have shown different results
position, shown in Figure Three. It may be related to the need and [22], showed no decrease in CK for five months in a football league
requirement of the position to attack and defend, recomposing the [23], showed no decrease over three months.
´-1defense when the team performed the attack, and supporting CK values when measured between the positions shown in Figure
offensive actions when it was located at the back, demanding multiple one, were not found significance levels. The full-back position showed
high-intensity stimulus. higher values than the other positions (733,7U/L), as the center-backs
Analysing the activities at high intensity, on the variable total had lower values (525,4U/L). The average of all positions showed
distance in high intensity in meters were observed values when values of 650U/L, not corroborating the study of [24], found values of
host and visitor of 593 and 632 meters respectively [3], found lower 493U/L of CK during a season with Brazilian players. Several factors
results in Spain’s soccer players, averaging 337 meters. The results can interfere with CK values, such as ethnicity, amount of muscle
show no significant differences, so the athletes tend to have similar mass, ambient temperature [23], Genetics [24]; training adaptation
performance. [25].

Now regarding the comparison between the Brazilian and According to literature, the more intense the exercise, the
Catarinense´s championship, the data shows average values of 744.3 higher the plasma levels of CK, the lateral position and the Brazilian
and 458.3 meters respectively. The excessive increase on the distance championship had significantly higher values for the intensity
covered at high intensity in the Brazilian championship may be due variable, however, no significant differences while at the CK level. In
to the importance of the competition, and the athlete’s trainability, general, the evaluated results are related to skeletal muscle adaptations
standing in the middle of the season and better physically conditioned. of athletes acquired during the season.
When evaluated by position, full-backs showed significantly higher Placed the analysis of the study, we understand the need of the
values than attackers, midfielders, holding-midfielders and center- teams to know the actions taken by the athletes and the different
backs, making it the most intense position and subject to have greater CK levels in competition to further prescribe an appropriate and
physical stress and muscle fatigue. effective training to athletes. We emphasize as limitations of the

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Austin Sports Med - Volume 3 Issue 1 - 2018 Citation: Marcio de JF, Pizzolo RB, Gabriel IR, Esmeraldino C and Roever L. Relationship between Total
Submit your Manuscript | www.austinpublishinggroup.com Percurred Distances in High Intensity with Physical Weariness on Soccer Athletes. Austin Sports Med. 2018;
Marcio et al. © All rights are reserved 3(1): 1023.

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