title: A microcycle of inflammation following a team handball game.
abstract: This study investigated the time-course of performance and inflammatory responses during a simulated 6-day in-season microcycle following a team handball (TH) game. Twenty-four handball players participated in a 1-week control trial and in an experimental trial (TH game participation followed by a 6-day training microcycle). Concentrations of lactate, glucose, glycerol, triglycerides, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs), and ammonia were measured pregame and postgame. Heart rate (HR) was monitored during the game. Performance (jumping, speed, agility, line-drill testing, and strength), muscle damage (knee range of motion [ROM], knee extensors/flexors delayed onset muscle soreness [DOMS], and creatine kinase activity [CK]), inflammatory (leukocyte count, C-reactive protein, interleukins 1β and 6 [IL-1β and IL-6], soluble vascular adhesion molecule 1 [sVCAM-1], p-selectin, uric acid, cortisol, and testosterone), and oxidative stress (malondialdehyde [MDA], protein carbonyls [PC], reduced [GSH] and oxidized glutathione [GSSG], total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase, glutathione peroxidase activity [GPX]) markers were determined pregame, postgame, and daily for 6 consecutive days postgame. The game induced a marked rise of HR (∼170 b·min-1), lactate (∼8-fold), glycerol (60%), NEFA (105%), and ammonia (∼62%). Performance deteriorated until 24 hours postgame. Knee ROM decreased (3-5%), whereas DOMS and CK increased (3- to 5-fold and 80-100%, respectively) 24 hours postgame. Leukocyte count, IL-1β, IL-6, cortisol, MDA, PC, and catalase increased only immediately postgame. C-reactive protein and uric acid increased at 24 hours; sVCAM-1, GSSG, and GPX peaked postgame and remained elevated for 24 hours. The GSH declined until 24 hours postgame. Results suggest that a TH game represents a strong metabolic challenge and induces a short-lived and modest inflammatory response that may affect performance for as long as 24 hours postgame.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Greece; 2Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece; 3Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupoli, Greece; and 4Department of Clinical Biochemistry, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chatzinikolaou
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Christoforidis
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avloniti
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Draganidis
authors.forename: Athanasios Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Jamurtas
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stampoulis
authors.forename: Giorgos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ermidis
authors.forename: Apostolis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sovatzidis
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Papassotiriou
authors.forename: Antonis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kambas
authors.forename: Ioannis G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Fatouros
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000097:blood; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D019803:Glutathione Disulfide / Q000097:blood; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D005990:Glycerol / Q000097:blood; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D063806:Myalgia / Q000503:physiopathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D016207:Cytokines; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D014280:Triglycerides; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D014527:Uric Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D000641:Ammonia; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D005990:Glycerol; D019803:Glutathione Disulfide