Behaviour of saliva cortisol [C], testosterone [T] and the T/C ratio during a rugby match and during the post-competition recovery days.
Competition is a more demanding situation than other strenuous exercise of equivalent duration; it results in stronger physiological changes. The object of this study was to get information on the duration of the recovery period by measuring changes of saliva cortisol [C], testosterone [T] and their ratio T/C in a group of international rugby players ( n=20) during the week following a rugby match (6 days). Using non-invasive saliva assays, we were able to take samples during the day of competition and the post-competitive days. Hormone levels were assayed with a routine in-house radioimmunoassay (RIA) method. Throughout the competition, C levels increased sharply (about 2.5-fold compared resting values) and returned to basal values within 4 h. Conversely, the T level decreased slightly. During the recovery period, C levels were lower and T levels were higher than basal values, resulting in a very high T/C ratio until the 5th day. This high post-competitive T/C ratio phase is probably required to restore the break-down of homeostasis induced by the very hard mental and physical strain associated with a rugby match. Thus, a period of 1 week recovery appears to be the minimal duration between two competitions.
Elloumi
M
M
Laboratoire de physiologie de la performance motrice, Univ B. Pascal, Bat Biologie B, Les Cézeaux, 63177 Aubière, France.
Maso
F
F
Michaux
O
O
Robert
A
A
Lac
G
G
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
D013739:Testosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone