DOI: 10.1519/jsc.0000000000005586 ISSN: 1064-8011
The Effects of Match-Play on Markers of Recovery in Professional Female and Male Soccer Players
Will Abbott, Samantha N. Rowland, Chloe E. McKnight, Emily J. Hansell, Tom Clifford Abstract
Abbott, W, Rowland, SN, McKnight, CE, Hansell, EJ, and Clifford, T. The effects of match-play on markers of recovery in professional female and male soccer players.
J Strength Cond Res
XX(X): 000–000, 2026—We examined the effects of match-play on muscle soreness and neuromuscular performance metrics in female and male soccer players. Nine professional female players (age, 24 ± 3 years; height, 1.76 ± 0.06 m; mass, 72.1 ± 6.7 kg) from the Women's Super League 2, and 13 professional male players (age, 19 ± 1 year; height, 1.81 ± 0.06 m; mass, 79.6 ± 7.2 kg) from the same club in the U21 Professional Development League 2 in England participated. To assess neuromuscular performance, players completed countermovement jumps (CMJ), the isometric hamstring 90/90 strength test, and isometric hip adduction tests on both legs, before match day (MD; Pre) and 2 (MD+2) and 3 days (MD+3) postmatch. Surveys to measure muscle soreness, and menstrual cycle–related symptoms for female players, were completed on MD and on MD+1, MD+2, and MD+3. In female players, muscle soreness was elevated, and all neuromuscular performance indices were significantly reduced at MD+3 (
p
< 0.05). Conversely, in male players, muscle soreness was greater at MD+1 (
p
= 0.027) but none of the neuromuscular markers were lower than prematch levels by MD+3 (
p
> 0.05). Muscle soreness and all neuromuscular indices were significantly more affected in female vs. male players (all
p
< 0.05). At MD+3, in female players, CMJ height was ∼7% below Pre, whereas it was ∼1% higher in male players. Menstrual cycle symptoms were modest but when added as covariates to mixed models, were negatively associated with right adductor strength (
p
= 0.001) but no other metrics. Female players may recover slower than male players after soccer matches as muscle soreness and markers of neuromuscular performance were significantly more impaired in the female players 3 days postmatch.