Preliminary results on mood state, salivary testosterone:cortisol ratio and team performance in a professional soccer team

Abstract

Mood, as measured by the profile of mood states questionnaire (POMS), salivary cortisol (F) and testosterone (T) levels, and performance were examined in 17 male soccer players 4 times during a season. Soccer players provided three saliva samples when getting up (resting values, 8 a.m.), before breakfast (11.30 a.m.), and between 4.00 p.m. and 6.00 p.m. The initial measures were performed 1 day following the start of season training (T1). They were then performed before and after a high-intensity training programme (T2 and T3, respectively) and 16 weeks after T3 (T4). Iceberg profiles of POMS were observed during T1, T2 and T3, which coincided with successful performance. Subsequent decreased performance between T3 and T4 coincided with a decrease in vigor and an increase in tension and depression. Indeed, when the normal nycthemeral rhythm for F was observed (i.e. a decrease from morning until evening at all times; T1-T4), there was seemingly a non-statistical elevation of F on the morning of T3, which only became statistically significant at 11.30 a.m. on T3. In spite of a post-high-intensity training programme (T3) increase in catabolism, the soccer players presented iceberg profiles together with a high percentage of winning. Our results could suggest that in team soccer, a decreased T:F ratio does not automatically lead to a decrease in team performance or a state of team overtraining. It appears that combined psychological and physiological changes during high-intensity training are primarily of interest when monitoring training stress in relation to performance.

Markers of Biological Stress and Mucosal Immunity during a Week Leading to Competition in Adolescent Swimmers

“…According to Filaire et al [33], this ratio is considered to reflect the states of anabolism when it is high and the states of catabolism when it drops by 30% or more. Evidence of the same study shows that a decreased T/C ratio prior to competition does not necessarily lead to a decrease in the team's performance [33]. Given the slight decrease of the ratio the week of competition, it is not surprising that all swimmers improved their times.…”

Fatigue and Recovery in Soccer: Evidence and Challenges

“…Some markers are not accurate and/or reliable enough to measure muscle fatigue during exercise and its impact on skeletal muscle [95]. Given these difficulties, a variety of other markers should be frequently used in science and practice in order to track the stress and recovery processes [10,17,96].…”

“…Soccer causes an increase in metabolism with significant hematological changes [96,145], thus information from biomarkers could be used to optimize training adaptation, training load, and match participation [83,145,146]. Biomarkers responses are influenced by several factors and reflect multiple interactions, so interpretation must be cautious [147].…”

“…To date, no single biomarker has been validated for daily routine [95]. As a result, several biomarkers must be considered together to understand the metabolic and physiological mechanisms underlying physical stress in soccer [10,17,83,96]. Some of the most well-known biomarkers of fatigue are those originating from adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion or from immunology [10].…”

“…Similarly, the ratio between the concentration of T and C (T/C ratio) is frequently used as indicative of the stress level imposed by the exercise: a decrease in T/C ratio reflect catabolic stress. Even so, a decreased T/C ratio does not automatically influence team performance decrements or team overtraining [96] because T/C ratio also shows significant changes during a competitive season, with significant increases at the end of pre-season and decreases at mid-season [162,165]. It has been suggested that, in preseason, players are not fatigued and can respond adequately to the training demands (T/C ratio values reflect these adaptations), whereas mid-season values are not associated with overtraining syndrome but instead are linked to the volume and intensity of previous working loads (amount of competitions), the inability to adapt and/or hormonal dysfunction [162].…”