title: Physiological stress and performance analysis to karate combat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between physiological, and parameters of performance analysis during karate contest.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine elite-level karate athletes participated in this study. Saliva sample was collected pre- and post-karate combat.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Salivary cortisol (sC) post-combat 2 raised significantly compared to that recorded at pre-combat 1 (Δ%=105.3%; P=0.04; dz=0.78). The largest decrease of the salivary T/C ratio (sR) compared to pre-combat 1 was recorded post-combat 2 (Δ%=-43.5%; P=0.03). Moreover, blood lactate concentration post-combat 1 correlated positively to sCpost-combat 1 (r=0.66; P=0.05) and negatively to both salivary testosterone (sT) (r=-0.76; P=0.01) and sRpost-combat 1 (r=-0.76; P=0.01). There was no significant relationship between hormonal measures and parameters of match analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although under simulated condition, karate combat poses large physiological stress to the karateka. Additionally, physiological strain to karate combat led to a catabolic hormonal response.
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory "Sports performance Optimization", National Center of Medicine and Science in Sports (CNMSS), Tunis, Tunisia - chaabanehelmi@hotmail.fr.
authors.forename: Helmi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chaabene
authors.forename: Ilhem
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hellara
authors.forename: Faten B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Ghali
authors.forename: Emerson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Franchini
authors.forename: Fedoua
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Neffati
authors.forename: Montassar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tabben
authors.forename: Mohamed F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Najjar
authors.forename: Younés
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hachana
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D016139:Martial Arts / Q000502:physiology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013739:Testosterone / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone