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Table 3 Characteristics of the selected studies

From: Monitoring the Athlete Match Response: Can External Load Variables Predict Post-match Acute and Residual Fatigue in Soccer? A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis

Studies

Players details (level, n, age)

Tracking systems

External load metrics examined

Fatigue-related dependent variables investigated

Quality assessment score

Aquino et al., [28]

Elite/18/15.6 ± 0.4

Video analysis "tracking software DVIDEOW"

Medium running distance (8.1–13 km h−1); HI running distance (13.1–18 km h−1); Sprinting distance (> 18 km h−1); HI activity distance (> 13 km h−1); TD; Number of sprints.

Pre- to post-match % change in CK concentration

Pre- to post-match % change in LDH concentration

0.65

De Hoyo et al., [23]

Elite/15/18 ± 1

15-Hz GPS with 100-Hz accelerometer

Medium intensity (14–17.9 km h−1), HI (18-20.9 km h−1) and sprinting (> 21 km h−1) distances; High-speed (> 14 km h−1) and very high-speed running (> 18 km h−1); number of medium to high (> 2 m/s2) and high (> 3 m/s2) accelerations; number of medium to high (< − 2 m/s2) and high decelerations (< − 3 m/s2); TD; Impacts (> 7.1G)

Pre to post-match changes at ~ 30 min, G + 24H and G + 48H in:

CK concentration

Average concentric and eccentric force during CMJ

CMJ height

0.70

Draganidis et al., [21]

Semi-professional/20/ 22.6 ± 1.5

5-Hz GPS with 100-Hz accelerometer

HI running (>14.5 km h−1); VHI running (>19.8 km h−1) and sprinting (>25.2 km h−1); number of low, medium and HI accelerations (1–2 m/s2, 2–3 m/s2, > 3 m/s2); Number of low, medium and HI decelerations (− 1 to − 2 m/s2, − 2 to − 3 m/s2, < − 3 m/s2); TD

Pre to G + 24H, G + 48H and G + 72H changes in:

CK concentration

Leucocytes count

Concentric and eccentric isokinetic peak torque at 60°/s and 180°/s

MVIC of KE and KF muscles

DOMS

0.80

Nedelec et al., [25]

Professional/14/ 21.8 ± 3.2

Video analysis

High acceleration and deceleration <5 m

High acceleration and deceleration >5 m

HI running

Hard changes of direction

Pre to G + 24H, G + 48H and G + 72H post-match changes in: CMJ performance MVIC of the hamstring with knee flexed at 90° and 150° KF muscle soreness

0.65

Rampinini et al., [29]

Professional/20/19 ± 1

Video-computerized, semi-automatic match analysis

TD

HI running (> 15 km h−1)

Pre to immediately, G + 24H and G + 48H % changes in:

Maximal voluntary activation (%VA)

Normalized Root mean square of vastus lateralis muscle EMG signal during MVIC.

Peak torque with 1-ms, 10-ms interval and 100-ms interval stimulations

0.70

Romagnoli et al., [30]

Professional/20/17- 20

Video-computerized, semi-automatic match analysis

TD

Low-intensity running distance (< 15 km h−1)

HI running distance (> 15 km h−1)

VHI running distance (> 20 km h−1)

Pre to 30 min, G + 24H and G + 48H changes in:

White blood cells count

Cortisol and Testosterone concentrations

Creatine kinase concentration

0.40

Russell et al., [12]

Professional/15/

20 ± 1

10-Hz GPS units

Raw and normalized (per min) TD

Raw and normalized (per min) HI running distance (> 19.8 km h−1)

Raw and normalized (per min) total number of: sprints (> 19.8 km h−1), high accelerations, high decelerations, HI impacts

Total number of accelerations, decelerations and impacts.

Pre to G + 24H and G + 48H changes in: CK concentration

CMJ PPO

0.80

Scott et al., [31]

Professional/15/26 ± 4

video-computerized, semi-automatic match analysis

TD, HI running (> 19.8 km h−1) and Sprinting (> 25.2 km h−1): distances and occurrences

Pre to G + 48H changes in CK concentration

0.75

Shearer et al., [32]

Elite/11/20 ± 1

10-Hz GPS units

Raw and normalized (per min) TD

Raw and normalized (per min) HI running distance (> 19.8 km h−1)

Raw and normalized (per min) total number of sprints (> 19.8 km h−1)

Pre to G + 24H and G + 48H changes in:

CK concentration

CMJ PPO

Brief assessment of mood

0.75

Thorpe et al., [22]

Semi-professional/7/25 ± 6

1-Hz GPS unit with 100-Hz accelerometer

Walking distance (0–6 km h−1); jogging distance (6–8 km h−1); low-speed running (8–12 km h−1); moderate-speed running (12–15 km h−1); Fast speed running (15–18 km h−1); sprinting distance (>18 km h−1); HI activity (> 15 km h−1); total number of sprints.

Pre to post-match changes in:

CK concentration

Myoglobin concentration

Cortisol and Testosterone concentrations

0.70

Varley et al., [33]

Professional/10/27 ± 3

Video-computerized, semi-automatic match analysis

TD, sprint distance (> 25.2 km h−1), total number of: sprints), high accelerations, high decelerations.

Pre to immediately, G + 48H and G + 72H changes in:

CK concentration

CMJ height

Muscle fatigue and wellness

0.85

  1. n: number of players, TD: total distance, KE: knee extension, KF: knee flexion, CMJ: countermovement jump, PPO: peak power output, PT: peak torque, DOMS: delayed onset muscle soreness, HI: high intensity, VHI: very high intensity, MVIC: maximal voluntary isometric contraction