title: Physiological and performance adaptations of elite Greco-Roman wrestlers during a one-day tournament.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a simulated one-day Greco-Roman wrestling tournament on selected performance and inflammatory status indices. Twelve competitive wrestlers (22.1 ± 1.3 years) completed five matches according to the official Olympic wrestling tournament regulations following a ~6% weight loss. Performance measurements, muscle damage assessment, and blood sampling were performed before and following each match. Performance and inflammatory markers were not affected by weight loss. Mean wrestling heart rate reached ~85% of maximal and lactate concentration exceeded 17 mM. Fatigue rating demonstrated a progressive rise (P < 0.05) throughout the tournament, peaking in match 4. Performance demonstrated a progressive deterioration (P < 0.05) throughout the tournament, especially in the last two matches (P < 0.05), with upper-body measures exhibiting a greater decline (P < 0.05) and remaining below baseline (P < 0.05) until the end of the tournament. Muscle damage markers increased during the course of the tournament with upper limbs affected more. Creatine kinase activity, CRP levels, IL-6 concentration, and leukocyte counts increased (P < 0.05) progressively throughout the tournament, peaking in the last two matches. Cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine increased (P < 0.05) after each match, but testosterone declined (P < 0.05) progressively, reaching a nadir before the last match. This inflammatory response was accompanied by a marked increase (p < 0.05) in lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, and antioxidant status markers indicating the development of oxidative stress. These results suggest that a one-day wrestling tournament may induce significant physiological demands on wrestlers that may adversely affect their performance and inflammatory status especially during the later stages of the tournament.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Democritus University of Thrace, 69100 Komotini, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barbas
authors.forename: Ioannis G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Fatouros
authors.forename: Ioannis I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Douroudos
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chatzinikolaou
authors.forename: Yiannis
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Michailidis
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Draganidis
authors.forename: Athanasios Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Jamurtas
authors.forename: Michalis G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Nikolaidis
authors.forename: Charalabos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Parotsidis
authors.forename: Anastasios A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Theodorou
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Katrabasas
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Margonis
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Papassotiriou
authors.forename: Kyriakos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taxildaris
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014952:Wrestling / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult