title: Changes in recovery-stress state and performance in elite rowers during preparation for major competitions.
abstract: This study investigated changes in the perceived recovery-stress state and performance in 6 highly trained Estonian rowers preparing for major competitions and representing Estonia in double sculls (age: M = 23.0, SD = 1.4 yr.; height: M = 198.0, SD = 0.0 cm; body mass: M = 97.1, SD = 6.4 kg), and quadruple sculls (age: M = 21.5, SD = 2.5 yr.; height: M = 189.5, SD = 5.4 cm; body mass: M = 90.9, SD = 4.8 kg). The subjects were training regularly and had been doing so for the last 10.5 yr. (double scullers, SD = 2.1 yr.) and 7.5 yr. (quadruple scullers, SD = 3.1 yr.), respectively. The Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes of Kellmann and Kallus was given two days before World Cup competitions. Standardized Stress and Standardized Recovery scores and RESTQ-Index were computed. In addition, resting cortisol in blood was measured at the same time. The performance of both boat classes constantly decreased from World Cup 1 to World Cup 3 as indicated by percent losses for winning boats. Resting cortisol and RESTQ-Index increased and decreased, respectively, at the same time. For double scullers, a decrease in RESTQ-Index mainly reflected the large decrease in the Standardized Recovery score. A decrease in RESTQ-Index was mainly based on a large increase in the Standardized Stress score for rowers performing in a quadruple scull. Present results indicate that the recovery-stress state affects performance of rowers in international competitions. RESTQ-Index could be used as the athletes' resource measure, while the Standardized Stress and Standardized Recovery scores reflect the athletes' extent of stress and recovery separately.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport Pedagogy and Coaching Sciences, University of Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Priit
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Purge
authors.forename: Jaak
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jürimäe
authors.forename: Toivo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jürimäe
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D004957:Estonia; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000523:psychology; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone