The effect of endurance training on cardiac and muscle damage in male football players

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a six-week endurance training program on heart and muscle damage in football players. Twenty male football players from the same team voluntarily participated in the study. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental group (n = 10; mean age 22 ± 2.21 years) and the control group (n = 10; mean age 22.3 ± 1.76 years). On the first day of the study, 3 mL of venous blood samples were collected into ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid tubes by a specialist to measure N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide for cardiac damage and Creatine Kinase (CK) for muscle damage. On the second day of the study, the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level-1 (YIRT1) was conducted to assess the players’ maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) and maximum aerobic speed (MAS) values. After six weeks of endurance training, the procedures above were repeated. A statistically significant difference between the pre-test and post-test data of CK, NT-ProBNP and VO2max in the experimental group (p < 0.01) was observed. No statistically significant difference was observed between the pre and post-test data in the control group (p > 0.05). Additionally, based on the analysis of variance repeated measured analysis, a statistically significant difference was observed between the experimental and control groups regarding the time and time × group variables for NT-ProBNP and VO2max parameters (p < 0.01). However, no statistically significant difference was observed for CK levels (p > 0.05). A statistically significant difference was observed in CK levels in terms of the group variable (p < 0.01), while no statistically significant difference was observed in NT-ProBNP and VO2max levels (p > 0.05). Ultimately, our study revealed that endurance training positively affects heart and muscle damage.