Match Fatigue Time-Course Assessment Over Four Days: Usefulness of the Hooper Index and Heart Rate Variability in Professional Soccer Players

Alireza Rabbani, Filipe Manuel Clemente, Mehdi Kargarfard, Karim Chamari, Alireza Rabbani, Filipe Manuel Clemente, Mehdi Kargarfard, Karim Chamari

Abstract

The aims of the present study were to (a) examine recovery time-course and (b) analyze the usefulness of the Hooper-Index (wellness index) and resting heart rate variability (HRV) in professional soccer players during an in-season phase. The Hooper-Index and resting HRV were collected on matchday and on the four following days in three consecutive in-season weeks in nine players (25.2 ± 4.3-years). The usefulness of monitoring variables was assessed by (a) comparing noise (typical error, TE) to the smallest worthwhile change (SWC) (TE/SWC) and (b) comparing match-related changes (i.e., signal) to TE (i.e., signal-to-noise ratio). Between-days standardized differences in the changes of Hooper-Index and HRV were compared to the SWC using magnitude-based inferences. The magnitudes of TE were small and moderate for the Hooper-Index and HRV, respectively. The Hooper-Index showed to be more useful than HRV for monitoring match-induced fatigue as having a lower TE/SWC (3.1 versus 4.4) and a higher signal-to-noise ratio (5.5 versus 1.5). Small-to-very large [range of effect sizes, 0.48; 2.43, confidence limits (0.22; 2.91)] and moderate-to-large [-1.71; -0.61 (-2.44; -0.03)] detrimental changes in Hooper-Index and HRV, respectively, were observed on the days following matchday. While group analyses showed a similar pattern for recovery time-course, more individual players responded, similarly when tracked using the Hooper -Index compared to when they were tracked using HRV. An inverse moderate within-individual relationship was observed between changes in the Hooper index and HRV [r = -0.41, (-0.60, 0.18)]. The Hooper index is an easy-to-use, no-cost, and non-invasive monitoring tool and seems promising for tracking match-induced fatigue during in the season in professional soccer.

Keywords: association football; competition; monitoring; soccer; team sports.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Session ratings of mean session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) on matchday (MD) and days following it. ∗∗, ∗∗∗, and ∗∗∗∗ represent moderate, large, and very large effect size, respectively.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Recovery time-course of monitoring variables in group analyses. Ln rMSSD, logarithm of the square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent normal R-R intervals; AU, arbitrary units.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Recovery time-course of monitoring variables in individual analyses. Ln rMSSD, logarithm of the square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent normal R-R intervals; AU, arbitrary units.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Within-individual relationships between changes of monitoring variables. Ln rMSSD, logarithm of the square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent normal R-R intervals; AU, arbitrary units; MD, matchday.

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