Kinetic analysis of change of direction simulating a defensive action in soccer players with and without acute fatigue

The objective of this study is to analyse the kinetic effects of acute fatigue during a 45° change of direction executed with the non-dominant limb, emulating a typical defensive action during pressing in soccer. Seventeen male professional soccer players (age: 21.7 ± 5.4 years) performed a 45° change of direction before and after a fatigue protocol. Participants were instructed to execute an approach run as quickly as possible, to change direction with their non-dominant foot on a force platform, and then continue running with the aim of stopping against an opponent. Times, forces, impulses, and force rates for different subphases during support were compared. Speeds remained consistent across pre-fatigue (4.53 ± 0.55 m s-¹⁾ and post-fatigue (4.58 ± 0.70 m s-¹) trials. The results indicated a decrease in braking time (p = 0.01), impulse associated with the braking phase (p < 0.01), and impulse during body weight lifting (p = 0.01) under acute fatigue conditions. These changes suggest that, under acute fatigue, soccer players may not decelerate sufficiently in the initial direction of the run and may raise their body less in the first step after the change of direction. Maximum force values and force rates did not show significant changes; however, they were sufficiently high to suggest a potential injury risk in both conditions.