Effect of Physical and Psychosocial Interventions on Hormone and Performance Outcomes in Professional Rugby Union Players: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Strahorn, J, Serpell, BG, McKune, A, and Pumpa, KL. Effect of physical and psychosocial interventions on hormone and performance outcomes in professional rugby union players: a systematic review. J Strength Cond Res 31(11): 3158-3169, 2017-This systematic review investigates the acute effects of physical or psychosocial interventions on testosterone and cortisol responses in elite male rugby union players, and the subsequent association with physical performance areas (e.g., strength, power, sprint performance) or key performance indicators (e.g., coach-identified skills). Medline (via EBSCO), SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, InformIT, ProQuest, Cochrane, and Scopus were searched for relevant articles. Nine articles met the inclusion criteria, with 6 articles examining the effect of speed, strength or power training, and the remaining 3 psychosocial interventions. Quality assessment of the articles as determined by their PEDro score was either 6 or 7 out of 11. This review found that both physical and psychosocial interventions can alter testosterone and cortisol, and physical performance areas important for rugby union are affected by these changes. The limited literature in the field supports the notion that physical interventions of short duration and high intensity, and psychosocial interventions that create a positive environment may elicit a hormonal response that is associated with favorable performance outcomes. Studies that reported psychosocial interventions suggest that testosterone and cortisol may be altered in elite rugby players without metabolic stress, something of great interest to elite athletes and coaches who are looking to elicit a performance advantage without increasing athlete load. Overall, this review identified that when the testosterone responses to an intervention are notably greater than that of cortisol, favorable outcomes are likely. Further research is required to improve our understanding on how to best manipulate training to induce these favorable changes.

Sex Differences in Physiological Stress Induced by a Long-Lasting Adventure Race: A Prospective Observational Analytical Study

“…In this study, women had significantly higher increases in cortisol levels after the competition than men. Sex hormones regulate salivary cortisol induced by psychosocial stress [39], however, a recent investigation failed to find differences in salivary cortisol between male and female athletes in response to psychological and physical stress in a 5000 m competitive running race [40]. Another study [41] analyzed possible mechanisms of sex difference in cortisol release elicited by a supine bicycle-ergometer protocol performed for 30 min at a moderate intensity in 96 healthy normotensive volunteers.…”

Whole-Body Cryotherapy: Potential to Enhance Athlete Preparation for Competition?

“…While a marked decrease in cortisol concentration is regarded as a positive influence on performance outcomes, the ratio of testosterone to cortisol (T:C) is also of interest for exercise performance. An inverse T:C relationship has been suggested as a useful means of identifying the status of hormonal balance in athletes (Strahorn et al, 2017). The T:C ratio was 7% higher in pre-game measures where the outcome was a win for a rugby team than before a team loss (Gaviglio et al, 2014).…”

“…Although different to WBC exposure, cold water immersion post-exercise reduced perceived lower leg muscle soreness by 34% which can play a positive role in athletic performance and well-being (Ahokas et al, 2019). In a sporting context, the wellbeing and mentality of high-performing athletes is universally acknowledged as an important factor regulating performance (Strahorn et al, 2017). Interventions are often implemented to ensure an individual is in the best possible state of physical, psychological and behavioral readiness for competition (Serpell et al, 2018).…”

Effect of External Counterpulsation on Exercise Recovery in Team Sport Athletes

“…Recovery methods which involve mechanical compression, such as massage, have been proposed to influence lower cortisol levels through a homeostatic response to stimulation of the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system [36], although evidence to support this concept is also lacking. Given associations of cortisol with immunosuppressive, catabolic, and protein synthesis-inhibitory effects [37] and physical performance [38], the observed hormonal response to ECP may be associated with several benefits for exercise recovery.…”