Are three recovery days enough? Elevated match day creatine 
kinase levels under congested schedules in youth soccer

Gabor Schuth; Gyorgy Szigeti; Gergely Dobreff; Peter Revisnyei; Tim Gabbett; Adam Szilas; Gabor Pavlik

doi:10.5114/biolsport.2026.157992

eISSN: 2083-1862
ISSN: 0860-021X

Biology of Sport

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abstract:

Original paper

Are three recovery days enough? Elevated match day creatine kinase levels under congested schedules in youth soccer

Gabor Schuth

^{1, 2}

,

Gyorgy Szigeti

¹

,

Gergely Dobreff

³

,

Peter Revisnyei

³

,

Tim Gabbett

⁴

,

Adam Szilas

¹

,

Gabor Pavlik

²

Hungarian Football Federation, Department of Sport Medicine and Sport Science, Budapest, Hungary
Hungarian University of Sports Science, Department of Health Sciences and Sport Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), Department of Telecommunications and Artificial Intelligence, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, Budapest, Hungary
Gabbett Performance Solutions, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Biol Sport.2026;43:1051–1060

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2026.157992

Online publish date: 2026/03/24

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We examined if creatine kinase (CK) activity differed between congested (CS) and non-congested schedules (NCS) in elite youth national team soccer players. The CK activity of 188 players (16.53 ± 1.78 years) was measured in national team training camps (2489 individual data points). Training load one day before the match (MD-1) was monitored with global positioning system (GPS) devices. CS occurred, when the athlete played at least 60 minutes in the previous 3 days leading into the match (MD). CK_MD was significantly higher in CS than in NCS (median: 309 vs 220 U/L, p < 0.05). More recovery days between matches were associated with lower values on the second CK_MD. CK values one (CK_MD+1: 678 vs 487 U/L) and two days after the match (CKMD+2: 395 vs 303 U/L) were higher for CS (p < 0.05), however relative CK changes from MD to one (CK_MD→MD+1%: 181 vs 135%) or two days after (CK_MD→MD+2%: 74 vs 44%) were higher for NCS (p < 0.05). 11 out of 15 MD-1 training load parameters were significantly higher for NCS (p < 0.05). CK_MD was sensitive to congested schedule and the number of recovery days between matches. Therefore three recovery days between matches might be inadequate for complete recovery. Higher CK_MD, CK_MD+1 and CK_MD+2 values, but lower CK_MD→MD+1% and CK_MD→MD+2% changes were found for CS than for NCS. MD-1 training load was lower in CS than in NCS, making it an unlikely cause of the elevated CK_MD and CK_MD+1 values. Instead, it might be the result of residual fatigue from the last match.

keywords:

Adolescent Athletes, Athletic Performance, Biomarkers, Muscle Damage, Muscle Fatigue, Residual Fatigue, Recovery, Global Positioning System, Training Load

Are three recovery days enough? Elevated match day creatine kinase levels under congested schedules in youth soccer

Gabor Schuth 1, 2 , Gyorgy Szigeti 1 , Gergely Dobreff 3 , Peter Revisnyei 3 , Tim Gabbett 4 , Adam Szilas 1 , Gabor Pavlik 2

Adolescent Athletes, Athletic Performance, Biomarkers, Muscle Damage, Muscle Fatigue, Residual Fatigue, Recovery, Global Positioning System, Training Load

Gabor Schuth

^{1, 2}

,

Gyorgy Szigeti

¹

,

Gergely Dobreff

³

,

Peter Revisnyei

³

,

Tim Gabbett

⁴

,

Adam Szilas

¹

,

Gabor Pavlik

²