Abstract

This study aims to determine the cardiac muscle damage of male football players before, during and after the football match. The sample consisted of 13 football players (Age: 25.23 ± 5.36 years; sport age: 8.92 ± 4.75 years; height: 174.00 ± 7.55 cm, and body weight: 68.77 ± 4.55 kg) who volunteered for this study. Blood samples were taken from the participants six times (before the match, during the half time, immediately after the match and 24, 48 and 72 h after the match). To determine the cardiac muscle damage of the footballers, troponin T levels of the blood samples were examined with the IMMULITE ONE 2000 device. The data obtained from the sample was analyzed with the Friedman and Bonferroni test using the SPSS 10.0 program. It was determined that there was a significant difference (p< 0.01) between the pre-match and post-match troponin T levels and between the post-match troponin T levels and the troponin T levels obtained 72 h after the match. It was also found that there was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the pre-match and half time troponin T levels and between the troponin T levels obtained 24 and 48 h after the match. As a result, it was established that a significant amount of cardiac muscle damage occurs in professional football players during a football match.

Key words: Cardiac muscle damage, football match, troponin T.