Physiological, Biochemical and Psychological Markers of Strenuous Training-Induced Fatigue

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate whether severe fatigue, possibly leading to overreaching, could be diagnosed at an early stage by a combination of parameters. Seven well-trained male subjects (age [mean +/- SD]: 25.3 +/- 4.7 yr; body mass: 76 +/- 6.6 kg; VO2max: 61.1 +/- 7 ml.kg(-1).min(-1)) increased their training load by doubling their training volume and increasing the intensity by 15 % over a period of two weeks. Before and after this intensified training period subjects underwent a series of tests including a maximal incremental cycle ergometer test (Wmax) with continuous ventilatory measurements and blood lactate values, time trial, basal blood parameter tests (red and white blood profile), hormones [growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-1), adreno-corticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol], neuro-endocrine stress test [short insulin tolerance test (SITT), combined anterior pituitary test (CAPT) and exercise], a shortened Profile of Mood State (POMS), the estimated rate of perceived exertion (RPE) and a cognitive reaction time test. The intensified training period resulted in a significant increase of the training load (p <0.01), training monotony (p <0.01) and training strain (p <0.01). The RPE during training increased significantly (p <0.01) during the intensified training period. Total mood score obtained from the POMS tended to increase (p=0.06), reflecting an increase in worse mood state. A novel finding was that reaction times increased significantly, indicating that overreaching might adversely affect speed of information processing by the brain, especially for the most difficult conditions. After the intensified training period, neither changes in exercise-induced plasma hormone values, nor SITT values were observed. During the CAPT only cortisol showed a significant decrease after the intensified training period. Hemoglobin showed a significant decrease after the intensified training period whereas hematocrit, red blood cell count (RBC) and MCV tended to decrease. The intensified training had no effect on physical performance (Wmax or time trial), maximal blood lactate, maximal heart rate and white blood cell profile. The most sensitive parameters for detecting overreaching are reaction time performance (indicative for cognitive brain functioning), RPE and to a lesser extend the shortened POMS. This strongly suggests, that central fatigue precedes peripheral fatigue. All other systems,including the neuro-endocrine, are more robust and react most likely at a later stage in exhaustive training periods.

Modeling in Football Training: The Effect of Two Methods of Training Based on Small Sided Games and Repeated Sprints on Mood and Physical Performance among Footballers

“…This suggests that increasing the intensity, duration of training and the results of the games are linked to mood changes. Other research (Rietjens et al, 2005;Filaire et al, 2003;Silva et al, 2008), who studied the effect of an intense training program on biological modification and mood among professional footballers during the competitive period. They found physiological changes with increasing scores of POMS which explains the sharp increase in training load was associated with mood disturbances, decreased performance and biochemical changes.…”

Relationship between biomarkers of muscle damage and redox status in response to a weightlifting training session: effect of time-of-day

“…These parameters as well as the white blood cells (WBCs) and their subpopulations have also been identified as indicators of muscle fatigue and overtraining (35,45). It has been shown that rugby sevens match (41) or high-intensity maximal tasks such as intermittent running, sprinting, jumping, resistance exercises (33,45), or Wingate test (16) resulted in transient leukocytosis and increase in biochemical markers of muscular damage for up to 10 days after exercise (10).…”

Cargas elevadas de treinamento alteram funções cognitivas em jogadores de futebol

“…Embora os atletas aparentemente estivessem bem treinados, devido aos bons estados de estresse e recuperação (RESTQ-Sport) e aos bons valores de VFC, o tempo de reação foi significativamente maior após T1, mostrando que essa variável é sensível às alterações nas cargas de treinamento, o que indica ser esta variável um marcador relevante para o monitoramento das cargas de treinamento esportivo, principalmente em períodos de treinamentos extenuantes, como sugerido em outros estudos 1,4,19,28 . Contudo, não houve redução dos tempos de reação após T2, o que demonstra que a variável não foi sensível à redução de cargas de treinamento.…”

“…Sendo assim, muitos estudos têm buscado avaliar as cargas de treinamento por meio de instrumentos psicométricos, tais como o Perfil dos Estados de Humor -POMS 1,7,19 , e o Questionário de Estresse e Recuperação para Atletas -RESTQ-Sport 5,7,8,20,21 , que embora se mostrem sensíveis e expressivos, ainda apresentam resultados pouco consistentes, quando analisados de maneira isolada, além de possuírem baixa reprodutibilidade nos treinamentos diários 1 , devido à possibilidade de efeito de aprendizagem e grande número de itens, o que poderia causar desmotivação ao responder o questionário, originando respostas não fidedignas. Portanto, ainda não se tem conhecimento de um marcador objetivo, preciso e confiável, de aplicação prática e simplificada para o monitoramento do impacto da carga de treinamento sobre aspectos psicofisiológicos de atletas competitivos.…”

“…Nederhof et al 6 levantam a hipótese do tempo de reação ser uma ferramenta útil para a avaliação dos estados de treinamento de atletas baseados no aumento do tempo de resposta de indivíduos com fadiga crônica e depressão e as singularidades dessas patologias com o overtraining. Outros estudos evidenciam essa possibilidade ao se referirem a prejuízos nas funções cognitivas em indivíduos com overtraining ou submetidos a elevadas cargas de treinamento 1,4,6,7,15,19 . No entanto, poucos são os estudos que relacionaram o desempenho cognitivo com as cargas de treinamento 1,15 .…”