Comparison of Post–Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Creatine Kinase Responses Across Professional Soccer Leagues
Abstract
This study aimed to compare the acute muscle damage responses of professional soccer players from different league tiers following a standardized high-intensity loading protocol. It was hypothesized that there would be no statistically significant differences in Creatine Kinase (CK) responses among leagues despite varying seasonal match and training intensities. The study population consisted of 75 professional soccer players recruited from the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) 1st (n=26), 2nd (n=25), and 3rd (n=24) Leagues. All participants performed the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test (Level 1). Venous blood samples were collected 24 hours post-test, a timing chosen based on literature indicating peak CK levels at this interval. Data were analyzed using SPSS (v.24) via One-Way ANOVA, and effect sizes (partial eta-squared, η 2) were calculated to determine the magnitude of differences. The mean CK levels were 462.69±384.44 U/L for the 1st League, 433.00±335.97 U/L for the 2nd League, and 466.25±350.56 U/L for the 3rd League. The ANOVA results revealed no statistically significant differences in CK responses across the leagues (F=0.102,p=0.903, η 2=0.003). The findings suggest that professional league standing does not significantly influence the extent of acute muscle damage when a standardized exercise protocol is applied. The lack of significant variance and the small effect size indicate that professional soccer players across different tiers exhibit comparable physiological adaptations and sarcolemmal stability. Variations in individual responses are likely attributable to intrinsic biochemical signatures and training status rather than league hierarchy.
Keywords
Etik Beyan
Kaynakça
- Akyüz, M. (2011). Changes in serum cardiac troponin T levels in professional football players before and after the game. African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 5, 1365–1368. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJPP11.203
- Baird, M. F., Graham, S. M., Baker, J. S., & Bickerstaff, G. F. (2012). Creatine-kinase- and exercise-related muscle damage implications for muscle performance and recovery. Journal of nutrition and metabolism, 2012, 960363. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/960363
- Balnave, C. D., & Thompson, M. W. (1993). Effect of training on eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage. Journal of Applied Physiology, 75, 1545–1551. https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1993.75.4.1545
- Bate, R., & Jeffreys, I. (2014). Soccer speed. Human Kinetics. https://doi.org/10.5040/9781718225541
- Brancaccio, P., Maffulli, N., & Limongelli, F. M. (2007). Creatine kinase monitoring in sport medicine. British Medical Bulletin, 81, 209–230. https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldm014
- Bangsbo, J., Iaia, F. M., & Krustrup, P. (2008). The Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test: a useful tool for evaluation of physical performance in intermittent sports. Sports Medicine, 38(1), 37-51. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200838010-00004
- Burke, L. M., Castell, L. M., Casa, D. J., Close, G. L., Cost, R. J., Desbrow, B., & Stellingwerff, T. (2019). International association of athletics federations consensus statement 2019: Nutrition for athletics. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 29, 73–84. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2019-0065
- Chou, T. Y., Nosaka, K., & Chen, T. C. (2021). Muscle damage and performance after single and multiple simulated matches in university elite female soccer players. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, 4134. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18084134
Ayrıntılar
Birincil Dil
İngilizce
Konular
Antrenman , Egzersiz Fizyolojisi
Bölüm
Araştırma Makalesi
Yayımlanma Tarihi
30 Mart 2026
Gönderilme Tarihi
8 Şubat 2026
Kabul Tarihi
25 Mart 2026
Yayımlandığı Sayı
Yıl 2026 Cilt: 9 Sayı: 1