Relationships among training stress, mood and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate/cortisol ratio in female cyclists

Abstract

In this study, we examined the effect of rapidly increased training volume and intensity on hormonal responses (salivary cortisol [C] and urinary dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate [DHEA-S]) and recovery-stress state perceived by 12 female cyclists. Over the 4-day experimental period, there was an average increase in training load of approximately 122% compared with that during the previous 12 days. Scores on subscales of the Recovery Stress Questionnaire for Athletes increased for the somatic component of stress (Fatigue, Emotional Stress and Social Stress; P<0.05) and decreased the factor indicating recovery (General Well Being; P<0.05) after the heavy training period. The training programme increased resting concentrations of salivary cortisol (P<0.05) and decreased the DHEA-S/C ratio (P<0.05). The increase in training load of cyclists was correlated with this hormonal ratio (r=-0.48, P<0.05). Changes in resting cortisol concentration as a result of heavy training stress were positively related to the change in Physical Complaints (r=0.69, P<0.01). Negative relationships were also found between changes in the DHEA-S/C ratio and changes in the somatic component of stress. The present results suggest that there is a dose-response relationship between increased training load, resting DHEA-S/C ratio and subjective assessment of stress and recovery, implying that this ratio could be used as an indicator of training status in female athletes.

Relationships between rating of perceived exertion and blood indices during training sessions of various intensity in female taekwondo players

“…Returning our deliberation about to role of DHEA and its derivative (sulphate) in exercise, it is worth to note, that these weak androgen, but of high levels in blood in case of DHEA-S, is known as neuroactive steroids, displaying protective action among humans exposed to prolonged stress. In female cyclists, who started heavy training (vast loads) physiological effect of exercise stress, expressed as high cortisolism seemed to be blunted due to the rise of DHEA-S. That suggestion is supported by negative correlation between somatic stress and DHEA-S/ C ratio [29]. The above, and assumption, that DHEA better than T reflexes androgenic response to an effort in female athletes [30] we expected to found relationships between levels of androgens and perceived stress, however, in our experiment that dependence are lacking.…”

Estado de humor e periodização de treinamento: um estudo com atletas fundistas de alto rendimento

“…Esta diferença entre os estudos pode deverse à duração do período analisado, porquanto esses estudos tiveram duração de poucos dias (JURIMÄE et al, 2004;BOUGET et al, 2006) semanas, foi possível acompanhar alterações mais longas nas cargas de treinamento. O fato de esses atletas não terem apresentado diferenças significativas no estado de humor ao longo da periodização de treinamento demonstra que, apesar de passarem por períodos de intenso treinamento, conseguiram se recuperar e manter uma boa estabilidade no estado de humor.…”

Estado de humor e desempenho motor: um estudo com atletas de voleibol de alto rendimento

“…No contexto esportivo competitivo de alto rendimento, muitos comportamentos sofrem influência de fatores psicológicos os quais afetam o desempenho motor do atleta de voleibol. Nesta área, alguns estudos tem sido realizados no controle das emoções do esporte [4][5][6][7][8] , nas relações entre percepção, qualidade e performance 9,10 , nas relações entre auto-confiança, estados de humor e ansiedade 11 , motivação em atletas de elite 12 , estados de humor, performance 13 e estresse, estado de humor e variáveis fisiológicas 14 , dentre outros. Desta forma, percebe-se que os fatores que levam a uma alteração no estado de humor são variáveis e se inter-relacionam, havendo ainda muitos outros que devem ser observados e analisados, uma vez que estas modificações dependem das experiências de exercício passadas, como também da forma pessoal de interpretação do exercício praticado e até mesmo da filosofia de vida do indivíduo 15 .…”