EMPIRICAL RESEARCH
Exercise-associated muscle cramps and creatine kinase responses after workload spikes in a professional soccer player: a case study
1
School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Sports Department, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
2
Fortaleza Esporte Clube, Fortaleza, Brazil
3
School of Physical Education and Sport, Laboratory of Biomechanics, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
4
LOAD CONTROL, Research and Development Department, Contagem, Brazil
5
Department of Physical Education, Center for Health Sciences, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
6
América Futebol Clube, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
7
Integrated Institute of Health, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil
8
Sport & Exercise Science, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
9
Research and Development Department, iLOAD Solutions, Campo Grande, Brazil
10
UFMG Soccer Science
Submission date: 2021-04-19
Acceptance date: 2021-11-26
Publication date: 2022-03-31
Hum Mov. 2023;24(1):114-120
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Purpose:
Exercise-associated muscle cramps (EAMC) are characterized by intense pain and involuntary contractions of a single muscle or muscle group. While EAMCs may occur during and after exercise, their precise aetiology remains unknown. However, there are some potential risk factors, as the workload of physical training previously performed. The purpose of this case report was to evaluate the acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR) and creatine kinase (CK) concentrations in a professional soccer player to verify the potential influence of recent training history on an extreme EAMC episode and subsequent muscle damage.
Methods:
A 21-year-old professional soccer player (body fat: 6.5%; body mass: 76 kg; height: 1.76 m) who experienced an extreme EAMC episode after the end of an official soccer match was monitored with session rating of perceived exertion before and after the EAMC episode and with post-match CK concentrations.
Results:
ACWR revealed several spikes on the days before the match, with the highest one observed on the match day. The CK concentrations recorded 35 and 53 hours after the EAMC episode were 262% and 182% higher, respectively, than the maximal CK concentrations recorded during the season (703 U/l).
Conclusions:
This case report illustrates, for the first time, how workload spikes, monitored with ACWR, preceded an extreme EAMC episode that was followed by an exacerbated muscle damage response. Some insights are provided in this case report for practitioners working in professional soccer to help them better manage similar cases.
Exercise-associated muscle cramps (EAMC) are characterized by intense pain and involuntary contractions of a single muscle or muscle group. While EAMCs may occur during and after exercise, their precise aetiology remains unknown. However, there are some potential risk factors, as the workload of physical training previously performed. The purpose of this case report was to evaluate the acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR) and creatine kinase (CK) concentrations in a professional soccer player to verify the potential influence of recent training history on an extreme EAMC episode and subsequent muscle damage.
Methods:
A 21-year-old professional soccer player (body fat: 6.5%; body mass: 76 kg; height: 1.76 m) who experienced an extreme EAMC episode after the end of an official soccer match was monitored with session rating of perceived exertion before and after the EAMC episode and with post-match CK concentrations.
Results:
ACWR revealed several spikes on the days before the match, with the highest one observed on the match day. The CK concentrations recorded 35 and 53 hours after the EAMC episode were 262% and 182% higher, respectively, than the maximal CK concentrations recorded during the season (703 U/l).
Conclusions:
This case report illustrates, for the first time, how workload spikes, monitored with ACWR, preceded an extreme EAMC episode that was followed by an exacerbated muscle damage response. Some insights are provided in this case report for practitioners working in professional soccer to help them better manage similar cases.
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