The temporal pattern of recovery in directional dynamic stability post-football specific fatigue

Abstract

Background: Rising injury rates within football require further understanding of aetiological risk factors associated with lower limb injury.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to examine the temporal pattern of recovery of directional dynamic stability measures post-football specific fatigue.

Methods: Eighteen male elite footballers completed baseline assessments of directional dynamic stability measures (Overall Stability Index (OSI); Anterior-Posterior stability (A-P); Medial-Lateral Stability (M-L) on level 1 of the Biodex Stability System (BSS). Post SAFT90 measures were repeated immediately, +24hrs, +48hrs and +72hrs. Main effects for recovery time and direction of stability were supplemented by regression modelling to describe the temporal pattern of recovery.

Results: Significant main effects for time were identified for all directions of stability (OSI, A-P and M-L) up to +48 hrs post exercise (p ≤ 0.05). The quadratic pattern to temporal recovery highlights a minima of 37.55 - 38.67hrs and maxima of 75.09 – 77.33hrs. Additionally, a main effect for direction of stability was observed, with significant differences identified between A-P and M-L stability at all timepoints (p ≤ 0.001).

Conclusions: Reductions in directional dynamic stability +48hrs post fatigue highlight implications for training design, recovery strategies and injury management for performance practitioners. Interestingly, A-P stability has been highlighted as being significantly reduced compared to M-L stability at all time points, regardless of the fatigue exposure. Practitioners should consider the reduction of stability in this plane in relation to common mechanisms of injury in the knee to inform injury risk reduction strategies.