Multifactorial monitoring of training load in elite rugby sevens players: cortisol/cortisone ratio as a valid tool of training load monitoring.

The effectiveness of selected physiological and perceptual measures for monitoring training load and fatigue was studied in 16 male elite rugby sevens players during a 6-week intense training block (IT) and 2-week tapering (TAP). Daily training load (TL) and strain (TS) as well as weekly total score of fatigue (TSF) were quantified respectively by the session-rating of perceived exertion (RPE) method and an 8-item questionnaire. Also, testing was performed and 24 h urinary cortisol (C), cortisone (Cn), adrenaline (A) and noradrenalin (NA) excretion was measured before (T0) and after the IT (T1) and after the TAP (T2). The TL, TS and TSF increased during the IT and decreased during the TAP, in conjunction with a significant drop and improvement, respectively, of performance standards during the two periods. At T1, C and Cn levels increased while A and NA levels decreased, resulting in a higher C/Cn ratio and lower A/NA ratio, respectively. At T2, both C/Cn and A/NA returned to baseline values. The changes in C/Cn ratio, after the 6-week IT, were more closely related to mean TL, TS and TSF (r=0.75-0.76 vs. r=0.48-0.58, p<0.01) and to changes in the majority of performance measures than to A/NA ratio. Only the changes in C/Cn ratio after the 2-week TAP were related to mean TL, TS and TSF (r=0.61-0.68, p<0.01). The changes in hormone levels, training strain and performance standards reflected the physical and mental stressors of training, with complete recovery, as indicated by physiological homeostasis, achieved after an appropriate tapering period.

Vo2 requirement at different displayed power outputs on five cycle ergometer models: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The validity of five brands of cycle ergometers was evaluated by the comparison of the Vo(2) requirements at different displayed power. METHODS AND RESULTS: Five physically active men performed a continuous incremental exercise test on five ergometers (Ergomeca, Lifecycle, Monark, Polar S710 and CompuTrainer). The latter was also compared with a standard dynamometer in order to associate Vo(2) values with the real power. Every test started with a 5-min warm-up on the same cycle ergometer (Ergomeca) at 100 W to make sure that the Vo(2) differences do not come from Vo(2) measurement error. Only last minute steady-state Vo(2) values of each 2-min stage were used for the Vo(2)-watt curve. Large differences (5- 10 ml kg(-1) min(-1)) at the same displayed power indicate inaccuracy of displayed power output (PO). Using corrected power values from the dynamometer revealed that for the same Vo(2) the CompuTrainer underestimates PO by approximately 30 W between 100 and 300 W, whereas the Lifecycle overestimate it by 3-53 W from 100 to 300 W. The Monark and Polar S710 underestimate PO by 15 W and the Ergomeca by approximately 5 W. CONCLUSION: Inaccuracies between -10% and 18% in displayed PO of various cycle ergometers question their interchangeability.

Saliva cortisol, testosterone and T/C ratio variations during a wrestling competition and during the post-competitive recovery period.

UNLABELLED: This study presents saliva cortisol (C) and testosterone (T) levels in a group of 15 young wrestlers (national and international) during a two-days competition. Values are compared to references established on a resting day (3 weeks before the competition). Post-competition recovery was studied by recording evening hormonal levels (5.30 pm) for 8 days. RESULTS: C levels increased sharply (about 2.5 fold resting levels) throughout the competition with no further changes in T levels. The rise in C appeared before entering the competition, traducing a striking phenomenon of anticipation. At the end of the competition, C levels fell very quickly (within 1.5 h) to basal value when T rose significantly, resulting in a very high T/C ratio. During the recovery period, C levels corresponded to basal ones and T remained high, resulting in a high T/C ratio (>30% than basal one) till the 5th day. CONCLUSION: Competition resulted in a low T/C ratio, considered as a catabolic phase. The recovery which is associated with a feeling of tiredness and an incapacity to train strenuously recognized by the trainers, paradoxically corresponded to a high T/C ratio (so-called anabolic phase).

Salivary cortisol and testosterone variations during an official and a simulated weight-lifting competition.

This study was undertaken to compare salivary levels of cortisol (C), testosterone (T) and T/C ratio during an official and a simulated weight-lifting competition. Thirteen top-level weight-lifters (French team) including 7 national level athletes (NG) and 6 international level athletes (IG) entered the study. The performance levels corrected with the IWF index (an index which relates the performance to body weight) obtained during the competition were higher than those obtained during the simulation and were higher in IG than in NG. Salivary samples were collected for each session after weighing, snatch and clean-and-jerk. The mean T-levels of these athletes were the same as those obtained in the laboratory on sedentary adults; they did not vary throughout the competition, nor between the competition and the simulation. Conversely the C-levels were statistically higher in the competition than in the simulation (p < 0.05). These C-levels are correlated with the performance levels corrected with the IWF index obtained during the competition (r = 0.67; p < 0.05; n = 13). Moreover, C-levels noted at the time of the competition were higher in the international athletes than in the national ones. Therefore, we concluded that the cortisol level may be considered as a performance factor in weight-lifting.