The Effects of a 4-Week, Intensified Training, and Competition Period on Salivary Hormones, Immunoglobulin A, Illness Symptoms, and Mood State in Elite Synchronised Swimmers

Abstract

Given the limited research into the physiological and psychological demands of elite synchronised swimming, the aim of this study was to examine 10 elite female synchronised swimmers and analyse the relationship between training load, stress, illness episodes, and salivary biomarkers during a period of training and competition. Saliva samples were collected before (BASE), during an intensified training camp (CAMP), during an international competition period (COMP), and post competition recovery (REC) for analysis of cortisol, testosterone, and secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA). Illness symptoms, Daily Analysis of Life Demands of Athletes (DALDA), and training load were also monitored. Training load significantly increased from BASE during CAMP and COMP (p < 0.01), and SIgA secretion was higher during COMP compared to BASE and CAMP (p < 0.01). There was no change in salivary testosterone; however, salivary cortisol was elevated during COMP compared to BASE (93%, p < 0.05). DALDA ‘a scores’ were correlated with salivary cortisol (r = 0.429, p = 0.0001). The study demonstrates that a short period of intensified training and competition did not have a detrimental effect on mucosal immunity in elite synchronised swimmers; however, swimmers displayed higher cortisol levels during the competition and increased stress symptoms.

Physiological and Psychological Responses to a Maximal Swimming Exercise Test in Adolescent Elite Athletes

“…The hormonal changes in boys were conflicting. The C level changed as we expected and as it is suggested by research [3][4][5][6][7]. The result showed a significant and progressive rise which is comprehensible due to the hormonal responses to a stressor, such as a maximal exercise.…”

“…Several studies investigated the effect of exercise and psychological stress to C level in adults. In most cases, the C level after training or competition was higher than the basal level [3][4][5][6][7]. The change is described by the stress-induced secretion of C as physical exercise is a stressor for the human body.…”

The Impact of Acute and Chronic Exercise on Immunoglobulins and Cytokines in Elderly: Insights From a Critical Review of the Literature

“…On the other hand , 12 weeks of strength training involved low-intensity resistance exercise decreased plasma concentrations of CRP, SAA but, maintained IL-6, TNF-a, MCP-1 levels, after the training program in healthy elderly women aged 85.0 ± 4.5 years (65,66). Accordingly, 28 weeks of strength training can exert anti-inflammatory effects in older people, resulting into an increase in IL-10 levels occurring conjunctly with a slight decrease in the TNF-a/IL-10 ratio and maintenance of TNF-a levels in 33 older women with cognitive impairment, aged 82.7 ± 5.7 years (125).…”

“…Concerning the effect of exercise, some studies have shown that acute bout of exercise, including incremental all-out treadmill exercises, may decrease salivary IgA in young athletes (37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46), whereas other studies have found no association between SIgA and exercise (47)(48)(49)(50)(51)(52)(53)(54)(55)(56)(57)(58)(59)(60)(61)(62). Very few studies reported, instead, an increase of SIgA (63)(64)(65)(66).…”