Weekly Wellness Variations to Identify Non-Functional Overreaching Syndrome in Turkish National Youth Wrestlers: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The present study aimed at (i) investigating weekly variations in wellness ratings relative to Hooper indicators (HI): fatigue (wFatigue), stress levels (wStress), delayed onset muscle soreness (wDOMS), sleep quality/disorders (wSleep), and wHI across the full preparation season (PS) and (ii) comparing the aforementioned variables between three periods: early-PS, week (W) W1 to W11; mid-PS, W12 to W22; end-PS, W23 to W32. Ten elite young wrestlers were involved in this study (age, 16 ± 0.7 years; height, 163 ± 4.8 cm; body mass, 57.7 ± 9.0 kg; VO2max, 48.7 ± 1.4 mL/kg−1/min−1). Wellness status was monitored daily using the HI questionnaire. The main results were found in W26 (24.2 ± 3.9 arbitrary units (AU)) and W14 (17.9 ± 7 AU) with the highest and lowest wDOMS, respectively. Decreases in wDOMS were reported during the PS. For wFatigue, the highest and lowest values belong to W19 (24.3 ± 3.3 AU) and W32 (16.7 ± 3.9 AU), respectively. In the case of wFatigue, the level increased within the PS. The highest wHI was observed in W19 (88.5 ± 7.7 AU) and the lowest in W32 (72.3 ± 6.1 AU). There were no significant changes between early-PS compared to mid- and end-PS, while significant changes were found for mid-PS in comparison to the end-PS. Changes in wDOMS, wStress, and wFatigue were in line with the changes in Hooper’s scoring. All PS daily monitoring results can provide a great standpoint from which coaches can determine wellness status throughout the season in elite youth level athletes. This information can be used to avoid the risk of injury, overtraining, and non-functional overreaching.

Season jump performance and wellness variables in Turkish national youth wrestlers

“…This study was conducted with 10 elite young male freestyle wrestlers (mean ± standard deviation: age: 16.0 ± 0.7 years; height: 163.0 ± 4.8 cm; body weight: 57.7 ± 9.0 kg) participating in national and international competitions. Note that the data were obtained as part of a previously published study by Nobari et al [24], who investigated the over-season well-being variable patterns with the specific aim of providing information to avoid the risk of injury, overtraining, and nonfunctional overreaching. This study involved athletes who regularly participated in competitions.…”

“…However, there is still space for research on the effects of seasonal changes in neuromuscular status in wrestling athletes. That is why, and specifically on the basis of the findings of a previous study [24], which focused only on the over-season wellbeing variables patterns within a perspective of nonfunctional overreaching prevention and did not analyse performance aspects, the purposes of the present study were (1) to analyse the variations of CMJ performance over the different periods of the season and (2) to analyse the correlations between CMJ performance and well-being variables over the season periods.…”

Fluctuations in Well-Being Based on Position in Elite Young Soccer Players during a Full Season

“…Before beginning any exercise, participants were asked to rate these variables on a Likert scale to determine general wellness indicators. To determine DOMS, players' thigh muscles were contracted in their range of motion, and the amount of muscle pain was recorded [25,34]. Using a custom-designed program on a portable computer tablet, players were asked for their HI variables individually.…”

Somatotype, Accumulated Workload, and Fitness Parameters in Elite Youth Players: Associations with Playing Position

“…In addition, coaches and sport science staff usually perform internal training load quantification to avoid high levels of fatigue and to reduce high risk of illness or injury [16,17]. Also, it allows a better individual and group training periodization [18,19]. Through the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale, it is possible to collect considerations regarding physiological characteristics applied during training sessions [20,21].…”