The Impact of the Progressive Efficiency Test on a Rowing Ergometer on White Blood Cells Distribution and Clinical Chemistry Changes in Paralympic Rowers During the Preparatory Stage Before the Paralympic Games in Rio, 2016 – A Case Report

Abstract

There is a large gap in knowledge regarding research on post-exercise blood changes in disabled athletes. There are relatively few data on adaptive mechanisms to exercise in disabled athletes, including disabled rowers. Two rowers from a Polish adaptive rowing settle TAMix2x that qualified for the Paralympic Games in Rio, 2016 took part in this study. They performed a progressive test on a rowing ergometer until exhaustion. The cardiorespiratory fitness measures, complete blood count, white blood cells’ distribution and 30 clinical chemistry variables describing laboratory diagnostic profiles and general health were determined. The extreme effort induced changes in all studied metabolites (glucose, creatinine, urea, uric acid, total and direct bilirubin), albumin, total protein levels in both participants. Furthermore, a post-exercise increase in aspartate transaminase activity, yet a 2-fold decrease during the recovery time in both rowers were found. White blood cell count increased 2-fold after the test. The percentages of natural killer cells were higher and total T lymphocytes were lower after the exercise protocol. There were higher percentages of suppressor/cytotoxic and lower percentages of helper/inducer T lymphocyte subsets in both studied rowers. No changes in B lymphocytes distribution were observed. Lack of inflammatory symptoms during the experiment suggests a high level of rowers’ biological adaptation to the physical effort. The different changes in physiological, biochemical and immunological variables are related to the adaptive mechanism to physical exercise allowing for improvement of performance.

T helper cell-related changes in peripheral blood induced by progressive effort among soccer players

“…Changes in the distribution of Th1 and Th2 cell subsets as a consequence of the post-exercise cytokine secretion of participants (including runners and triathletes) and professional athletes (including marathoners and rowers) in different age groups favours the emergence of type 2 cell subsets (T2, including Th2 and Tc2) [20][21][22][23][24]. In addition, regulatory T cells (Treg) have recently been identified as the cells promoting the repair of muscle fibres through the secretion of autocrine growth factor amphiregulin in the muscle tissue [25].…”

Hematological parameters in champion of Brazilian jiu‐jitsu paradesport: Case study

“…The acyclic and intermittent character of the Brazilian jiujitsu paradesport fight has a high intensity and generates high metabolic stress , responsible for acute hematological, hormonal, and biochemical alterations that modulate the immune system in a chronic way (Baumgart, Brurok, & Sandbakk, 2018;Gonçalves et al, 2012;Heyward, Vegter, Groot, & Woude, 2017;Nowak et al, 2017). In this context, data on bioenergetics and metabolism are needed to understand specific physiological changes during combat.…”

Analysis of selected T cell subsets in peripheral blood after exhaustive effort among elite soccer players

“…While there were numerous data describing the change between Th1 and Th2 balance and post-effort cytokine profile in young and old sedentary subjects, runners, walkers, cyclists, triathletes, marathon runners, and rowers over past two decades, there were no investigations describing changes in soccer players ( 5 , 12 - 14 ). Based on literature data, it can be stated that high intensity exercise favours emerging of Type 2 (T2, including Th2 and Tc2) cell subsets, being responsible for down-regulation of post effort anti-viral protection ( 5 , 15 ).…”