This study investigated the effect of a periodized training program on internal training load (ITL), recovery-stress state, immune-endocrine responses, and physical performance in 19 elite female basketball players. The participants were monitored across a 12-week period before an international championship, which included 2 overloading and tapering phases. The first overloading phase (fourth to sixth week) was followed by a 1-week tapering, and the second overloading phase (eighth to 10th week) was followed by a 2-week tapering. ITL (session rating of perceived exertion method) and recovery-stress state (RESTQ-76 Sport questionnaire) were assessed weekly and bi-weekly, respectively. Pretraining and posttraining assessments included measures of salivary IgA, testosterone and cortisol concentrations, strength, jumping power, running endurance, and agility. Internal training load increased across all weeks from 2 to 11 (p ≤ 0.05). After the first tapering period (week 7), a further increase in ITL was observed during the second overloading phase (p ≤ 0.05). After the second tapering period, a decrease in ITL was detected (p ≤ 0.05). A disturbance in athlete stress-recovery state was noted during the second overloading period (p ≤ 0.05), before returning to baseline level in end of the second tapering period. The training program led to significant improvements in the physical performance parameters evaluated. The salivary measures did not change despite the fluctuations in ITL. In conclusion, a periodized training program evoked changes in ITL in elite female basketball players, which appeared to influence their recovery-stress state. The training plan was effective in preparing participants for competition, as indicated by improvements in recovery-stress state and physical performance after tapering.

This study examined the salivary hormone and immune responses of elite female athletes to 3 different resistance exercise schemes. Fourteen female basketball players each performed an endurance scheme (ES-4 sets of 12 reps, 60% of 1 repetition maximum (1RM) load, 1-minute rest periods), a strength-hypertrophy scheme (SHS-1 set of 5RM, 1 set of 4RM, 1 set of 3RM, 1 set of 2RM, and 1set of 1RM with 3-minute rest periods, followed by 3 sets of 10RM with 2-minute rest periods) and a power scheme (PS-3 sets of 10 reps, 50% 1RM load, 3-minute rest periods) using the same exercises (bench press, squat, and biceps curl). Saliva samples were collected at 07:30 hours, pre-exercise (Pre) at 09:30 hours, postexercise (Post), and at 17:30 hours. Matching samples were also taken on a nonexercising control day. The samples were analyzed for testosterone, cortisol (C), and immunoglobulin A concentrations. The total volume of load lifted differed among the 3 schemes (SHS > ES > PS, p < 0.05). Postexercise C concentrations increased after all schemes, compared to control values (p < 0.05). In the SHS, the postexercise C response was also greater than pre-exercise data (p < 0.05). The current findings confirm that high-volume resistance exercise schemes can stimulate greater C secretion because of higher metabolic demand. In terms of practical applications, acute changes in C may be used to evaluate the metabolic demands of different resistance exercise schemes, or as a tool for monitoring training strain.

The aim of the present study was to investigate changes in muscle soreness, blood muscle damage markers, muscle strength and agility following an official basketball match. Eleven elite female professional basketball players (27.4 ± 4.8 years, 179.5 ± 5.5 cm, 72.0 ± 7.8 kg) of a team participated in this study. The official match was the seventh match of the season in the first phase of the Brazilian National Female Basketball Championship. Muscle soreness, plasma creatine kinase activity (CK), and myoglobin concentration (Mb) were determined before and after the match (post-match, 24 and 48 hours after the match). The 1RM strength for bench press and leg press, and the agility T test were assessed before and at 24 and 48 hours after the match. Significant increases in muscle soreness, CK and Mb were observed at 24 and 48 hours post-match (p<0.05). No significant changes in the 1RM strength and T test were detected during recovery (24 and 48 hours after the match). These results suggest that a basketball match induced limited muscle damage with minimal effect on performance during recovery. The small increase in muscle damage markers following a basketball match did not affect strength and agility performance.

Objectives: 1) to investigate the influence of strength training periodization on profile of mood states (pOMS) and salivary cortisol responses and 2) to verify the occurrence of the "iceberg profile" in the Brazilian women basketball team. Method: The study was conducted during the preparation period for the 2009 AMERiCAn Cup, which included three discrete microcycles of strength training goals (Muscular Endurance, Maximum Strength and power). The athletes provided saliva samples and subsequently answered the short-pOMS questionnaire at baseline and following each microcycle. Results: AnOVA with repeated measures revealed no significant differences for mood state and cortisol responses during the observation period. Conclusion: The strength training periodization did not affect the salivary cortisol or mood state responses in the lead up to competition, indicating stability of the stress level. The "iceberg profile" was observed at all times evaluated.

Resumo -O objetivo do presente estudo foi quantificar a magnitude da carga interna referente a uma partida oficial de Basquetebol feminino e avaliar se a carga interna apresenta relação com o número de ações técnicas realizadas no jogo. A amostra foi constituída de 10 atletas (25 ± 4 anos) que participaram do XI Campeonato Brasileiro de Basquetebol Feminino. Foram avaliados o comportamento da frequência cardíaca (FC) e a percepção subjetiva de esforço (PSE) em resposta à partida. A carga interna foi calculada pelo método de Edwards e pelo método de Foster. Além disso, foram analisados os parâmetros de desempenho técnico na partida. A carga interna estimada pelo método de Edwards e Foster foram 255±62 e 321±127 unidades arbitrárias, respectivamente. Foi detectada correlação moderada entre os dois métodos utilizados (Edwards e Foster; r = 0,64; -p<0,05). Também foram detectadas correlações significativas (p<0,05) entre a carga interna estimada pelo método de Edwards e o número de pontos marcados na partida (r = 0,53), o número de rebotes (r = 0,67), o número de assistências (r = 0,59), o número de recuperações de posse de bola (r = 0,70) e o somatório de todas as ações (r = 0,64). Os resultados obtidos no presente estudo sugerem que a carga interna da partida avaliada foi moderada e que o número de ações realizadas pelas atletas na partida influencia a carga interna. Palavras-chave: Percepção subjetiva do esforço; Frequência cardíaca; Basquetebol. (r = 0.64, p <0.05). In addition, significant correlations (p <0.05) Abstract -The aim of this study was to quantify the magnitude of the internal load induced by an official women's basketball match and to determine whether the magnitude of the internal load is correlated with the number of basketball maneuvers perfomed. The sample consisted of 10 athletes (25 ± 4 years), who participated in the XI