Low-Frequency Fatigue Made Practical: Easy Neuromuscular Monitoring for Top Clubs With João Ribeiro and Dr. Martin Buchheit

In this episode of the Training Science Podcast, Dr. Martin Buchheit is joined by João Ribeiro, Head of Performance, to explore how elite football clubs monitor neuromuscular load and fatigue in real-world conditions.

Building on their previous discussion around injury prevention and microcycle design, this conversation shifts focus to the response side of the monitoring equation—how athletes adapt to training and competition. João explains how his department integrates GPS data, wellness metrics, creatine kinase (CK), and low-frequency neuromuscular fatigue testing using Myocene to support daily decision-making, particularly during congested fixture periods.

They discuss why passive, objective measures are essential when players cannot reliably perform maximal tests, how data is interpreted at the individual athlete level, and how monitoring is used to inform training availability rather than game selection.

The episode also highlights feasibility, staff and coach alignment, and player buy-in as critical factors for successfully implementing advanced monitoring systems in applied football environments.

References
Myocene: https://www.myocene.com/

Today’s speakers
Dr. Martin Buchheit: https://martin-buchheit.net/
João Ribeiro: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo%C3%A3o-ribeiro-86997955