Transcriptomic profiling of the biceps femoris long head 72 hours following a football match and associations with recovery biomarkers

Clinical markers, including creatine kinase (CK), hamstring rate of torque development (RTD), and sprint performance, were assessed before the match (MD) and at 24 (MD+1), 48 (MD+2), and 72 hours (MD+3) post-match. Correlations between transcriptomic and clinical variables were calculated using Spearman’s rank correlation. MYH1 was the most responsive gene, showing significant downregulation at MD+3 (log2FC = -1.116, q-value = 3.8 × 10-2).

Pathway analyses identified 440 transcriptomic signatures at MD+3, reflecting stress response, immune and cytokine signaling, protein turnover, and structural remodeling. Changes in clinical variables during recovery were associated with coordinated expression shifts across genes related to different phases of the muscle damage-regeneration continuum, including muscle contraction, damage control, protein turnover, repair signaling, and myogenic regeneration.

BFLH is not fully recovered three days after a football match, as evidenced by sustained downregulation of MYH1, pathway enrichment, and associations with clinical markers. Molecular recovery processes extend beyond 72 hours, suggesting this period is insufficient for complete BFLH recovery in football players.