Salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase reactivity to taekwondo competition in children

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an official taekwondo competition (three 1-min rounds with a 1-min recovery in-between) on heart rate (HR), salivary alpha-amylase (sAA), and salivary-free cortisol (sC) in children. Parental consent was obtained for 12 young (10.4 ± 0.2 years) male taekwondo athletes. Saliva sample were collected 15 min before and 1 min after an official taekwondo competition, and at 30, 60, and 90 min of the recovery period. To evaluate the exercise intensity during the competition, HR was measured and expressed as a percentage of individuals HR(peak). Athletes spent 78% of the time working at HR > 90% HR(max), with significant increases from round 1 to round 2 and 3. Peak sAA observed at the end of the match (169.6 ± 47.0 U/mL) was different (P = 0.0001) from the other samplings (pre-competition 55.0 ± 14.0 U/mL, 30-min recovery 80.4 ± 17.7 U/mL, 60-min recovery 50.5 ± 7.6 U/ml; 90-min recovery 53.2 ± 9.6 U/mL). Peak sC values observed at 30-min recovery (17.9 ± 3.5 nmol/L) were different (P < 0.0001) from pre-competition (5.6 ± 0.9 nmol/L), post-competition (9.0 ± 2.0 nmol/L), 60-min recovery (10.3 ± 2.6 nmol/L) and 90-min recovery (4.2 ± 0.8 nmol/L) values. These findings confirm that taekwondo competitions pose a high stress on young athletes. The different sAA and sC reactions in response to the physical stressor mirror the faster reactivity of the sympathetic-adrenomedullary system relatively to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical system, respectively. This experimental paradigm might represent a useful model for further research on the effects of various stressors (i.e., training and competition) in taekwondo athletes.

Effects of Official Basketball Competition on the Levels of Cortisol and Salivary Immunoglobulin (A) among female children

“…They concluded that an official competition with the physical and mental challenges devoted to the basketball increases women's hormone changes [28]. Kaparaniket et al studied 10 years old children and reported that their salivary cortisol activity increases significantly before and immediately after Taekwondo competition [29].The energy system involved in children basketball is aerobic and regardless of the stress they experienced during the competition, it seems that the subjects have endured high physical pressure with the intensity at the threshold of the cortisol secretion stimulation. On the other hand, the incidence of hypoxia and lactate accumulation is possible in such activities.…”

Salivary Biomarkers in Children: Exercise, Physical Activity and Obesity Studies

“…48 The different sAA and sC reactions in response to the physical stressor mirrored the faster reactivity of the sympathetic-adrenomedullary system relatively to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical system. 48 An additional study 47 assessed the effect of an acute bout of high-intensity intermittent laboratory cycling exercise on sIgA concentration and sAA activity in 8 well trained games players and found a five-fold increase in sAA activity (p<0.01 compared with pre-exercise). The increased sAA activity after exercise may improve the protective effect of saliva, since this enzyme is known to inhibit bacterial attachment to oral surfaces.…”

“…Capranica et al 48 evaluated the effects of an official taekwondo competition (three 1-min rounds with a 1-min recovery in-between) on heart rate (HR), sAA and salivary-free cortisol (sC) in 12 young (10.4±0.2 years) male taekwondo athletes. Peak sAA was observed at the end of the match (169.6±47.0 U/mL) and was different (p=0.0001) from the other samplings (pre-competition 55.0±14.0 U/mL, 30-min recovery 80.4±17.7 U/mL, 60-min recovery 50.5±7.6 U/ml; 90-min recovery 53.2±9.6 U/mL).…”

Razlike U Funkcionalnim Sposobnostima Dečaka Mlađeg Školskog Uzrasta Nakon Primene Posebno Programiranog Transformacionog Procesa

“…Kombinacije osnovnih pokreta i forme razvijaju brzinu i sposobnost promene pravca pokreta u bilo kom smeru, dok simulacija borbe razvija koncentraciju, periferni vid i hrabrost.Vidljivo je da ovaj vid fizičkih aktivnosti pozitivno utiče na psihofizički razvoj one dece koja se njime bave (Capranica et al, 2012). Program fizičkog vežbanjana bazi tehničkih elemenata iz tekvonda razvija izvanredne psihofizičke karakteristike, kao što su mišićna snaga, sposobnost brže promene pravca kretanja, brzinu kao sposobnost brzog premeštanja tela sa jednog mesta na drugo, gipkost, periferni vid, koncentraciju, shvatanje mehanike i tehnike pokreta tela.…”

“…Program fizičkog vežbanjana bazi tehničkih elemenata iz tekvonda razvija izvanredne psihofizičke karakteristike, kao što su mišićna snaga, sposobnost brže promene pravca kretanja, brzinu kao sposobnost brzog premeštanja tela sa jednog mesta na drugo, gipkost, periferni vid, koncentraciju, shvatanje mehanike i tehnike pokreta tela. Mladi ljudi u tekvondou traže i nalaze oblik fizičke aktivnosti koja im omogucuje da kroz vežbanje i takmičenje razvijaju svoje telo i duh (Capranica et al, 2012).…”