Vol.:(0123456789) European Journal of Applied Physiology https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-024-05694-x ORIGINAL ARTICLE Football (soccer) match‑derived hamstring muscles residual fatigue can be monitored using early rate of torque development Pedro L. Cosio 1  · Lia Moreno‑Simonet 1  · Daniel Fernández 2  · Mario Lloret 1  · Xavier Padulles 1  · Josep M. Padulles 1  · Andreu Farran‑Codina 3  · Gil Rodas 4,5  · Joan A. Cadefau 1,6 Received: 8 October 2024 / Accepted: 16 December 2024 © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2024 Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to determine whether a soccer match affects the rapid force-generating capacity of the hamstring muscles, given their key role in both horizontal ground reaction force production during sprint biomechanics, and in the deceleration of the shank during the late swing phase, where rapid force production is essential owing to time con- straints. Therefore, the research objective was to determine soccer match-induced hamstrings residual fatigue and recovery through rate of torque development (RTD) and associated biochemical parameters. Methods The recovery kinetics of hamstrings RTD metrics by the 90° hip :20° knee test, together with serum biomarkers (cre- atine kinase, mitochondrial creatine kinase, transaminases, malondialdehyde, irisin), were assessed in 19 male, regional first-division soccer players (age = 20.9 ± 2.0 years, mass = 72.6 ± 11.9 kg, height = 175.9 ± 6.9 cm [mean ± SD]), before a soccer match (MD) and post-24 h (MD +1 ), post-48 h (MD +2 ) and post-72 h (MD +3 ), through a repeated measures design. Results Early RTD to 50 ms (p < 0.001, g = −1.24) and 100 ms (p < 0.001, g = −1.06) remained unrecovered on MD +3 in both hamstring muscles. However, maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) torque of the dominant and non-dominant hamstrings was unrecovered on MD +2 (p = 0.004, g = −0.91; and p = 0.002, g = −0.98, respectively) and recovered on MD +3 (p = 0.057 and p = 0.070, respectively). Further, neuromuscular deficits were coupled with myocyte structural (p = 0.002, g = 1.11) and mitochondrial damage (p = 0.004, g = 0.92) biomarkers. Conclusion Based in the findings, early RTD 0–50 and RTD 0–100 monitoring, through the 90° hip :20° knee IPC test, is a cost- effective method for assessing soccer match-induced hamstring muscles residual fatigue and recovery. Overall, soccer match-induced hamstring residual fatigue is not recovered within a 3-day recovery period. Practitioners can use rapid force production metrics through isometric assessments, providing a simple, non-exhaustive tool, for assessing residual fatigue status during congested competitive periods, to comprehensively balance muscle recovery with optimizing training. Keywords Exercise-induced muscle damage · Force-generating capacity · Hamstring strain injury · Muscle recovery · Sprint-based sports Abbreviations Acc Accelerations ALT Alanine aminotransferase ANOVA Analysis of variance Communicated by Mark Elisabeth Willems. * Joan A. Cadefau jcadefau@gencat.cat 1 Institut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya (INEFC), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), 08038 Barcelona, Spain 2 Sports Performance Department, Futbol Club Barcelona, Rink Hockey, 08970 Barcelona, Spain 3 Department of Nutrition, Food Science, and Gastronomy, INSA-UB, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Universitat of Barcelona (UB), 08921 Barcelona, Spain 4 Sports Medicine Unit, Hospital Clinic and Sant Joan de Déu, 08036 Barcelona, Spain 5 Medical Department, Medical Department of Futbol Club Barcelona (FIFA Medical Center of Excellence) and Barça Innovation Hub, 08970 Barcelona, Spain 6 Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), 08036 Barcelona, Spain