Psychophysiological Stress Markers During Preseason Among Elite Female Soccer Players

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate changes and correlations between mood states and various physiological stress markers after a 7-week preseason period among elite female soccer players. Twenty-four elite female soccer players participated in this study (26.4 6 3.7 years). Their internal training load, mood states, day and evening salivary testosterone and cortisol concentrations, blood creatine kinase concentration (CK), and heart rate variability (HRV) were assessed during the first week of preseason (PRE), and again 7 weeks after a systematic training period (END). After the preseason, there were significant increases in subject negative mood scales (p # 0.03; Effect Size [ES] . 0.60), total mood scores (p 5 0.01; QI 5 100/0/0; ES 5 1.32), day and evening testosterone and cortisol concentrations (p # 0.03; ES . 0.54), and CK concentrations (p 5 0.01; QI 5 100/0/0; ES 5 1.54). Correlations were found between cortisol and tension (r 5 0.53 and 0.60; p # 0.02), cortisol and confusion (r 5 0.75; p 5 0.01), and cortisol and the LF/HF index of HRV (r 5 20.52; p 5 0.04). Mood states (except vigor), salivary testosterone, and cortisol concentrations, as well as CK, showed significant changes after a 7-week systematic training system. The cortisol was the factor most highly related to various mood states (including tension and confusion), and with the HRV indices. Coaches and researchers can use these data to design, monitor, and control soccer training programs, in particular throughout the preseason period.

Blood Biomarkers Variations across the Pre-Season and Interactions with Training Load: A Study in Professional Soccer Players

“…The present study revealed that there were no significant changes in the T/C ratio after the pre-season training period. This result was supported by a previous study that showed that no significant changes in the T/C ratio after intense pre-season traninig in soccer players [ 88 ], and non-athletic men [ 83 ]. Contrary to our findings, recent studies observed significant reductions in the T/C ratio in response to a high volume of training sessions [ 39 , 89 ], and a period of congested match play [ 86 , 89 ] in professional soccer players.…”

“…Additionally, our result was not similar to previous studies that reported that the T/C ratio increased significantly in team sports athletes after the pre-season period [ 81 , 84 , 85 , 89 ]. As in the present study, Botelho et al [ 88 ] stated that a significantly unchanged T/C ratio after the pre-season period was associated with a favorable response to the training load, and adequate coping with training stresses. The current study revealed that the T/C ratio, which did not change significantly, and the conversely significant increases in cortisol and testosterone, after the pre-season could be explained by an environment that reflects a dynamic hemostatic balance between an anabolic and catabolic process in muscle [ 81 , 83 ].…”

Effect of Intensified Training Camp on Psychometric Status, Mood State, and Hematological Markers in Youth Soccer Players

“…Among the mood subscales, fatigue and depression were sensitive to increased training load. Moreover, female soccer players reported significantly more tension, depression, anger, fatigue, confusion, and total mood disturbance after 7 weeks of intensive training [ 37 ]. In the present study, the lack of change in the depression subscale may have been due to the age of the participants (youth compared to adults in previous studies), or the relatively short duration of the intense training camp (one week).…”

Relationships between Fitness Status and Blood Biomarkers in Professional Soccer Players

“…Also, cortisol and testosterone are hormonal parameters associated with psychophysiological stress. Recent studies revealed that cortisol and testosterone were frequently used in the evaluation of anabolic and catabolic balance [ 57 – 60 ]. The previous studies showed that the intensification of training demands in the PS phase seem to exert a significant catabolic environment, which translates to a raise of cortisol and reduction in the testosterone [ 61 , 62 ].…”