Abstract

Our study evaluated the correlation of data measured by GPS (in the strength, endurance, and speed stimulus divisions) and creatine kinase (CK) levels in professional soccer players after a match. For this purpose, the sample was composed by 123 measures of the same 24 players who stayed at least 75-min on the field, during five professional matches. The measures were taken in two periods: a) 24 hours (CK-T1) and b) 48 hours (CK-T2). The main results indicated that there was a positive correlation between CK-T1 and displacement% above 14 km/h (19%±5%; p=0.029) and% above 18 km/h (8%±2.9%; p=0.048), efforts above 18 km/h (58.6%±20.3%; p=0.04), decelerations (35.6±10.4 frequencies; p=0.004), explosive efforts (126.9±37.4 frequency; p=0.004) and inverse correlation with minutes of effort (91.9±9.8 frequency/min; p=0.016). For the CK-T2 there was a positive correlation with accelerations (31.3±9.2 frequency; p=0.009), decelerations (35.6±10.4 frequency; p=0.008), explosive efforts (126.9±37.4 frequency; p=0.004), inverse correlation with the total load (895.1±143.3 index; p=0.008) and minutes of effort (91.9±9.8 frequency/min; p=0.014). Our data indicate that the use of GPS can directly infer the degree of muscle damage, suppressing invasive measures that can lower the cost of the sport.