Multifactorial monitoring of training load in elite rugby sevens players:
cortisol/cortisone ratio as a valid tool of training load monitoring

T Bouaziz; E Makni; P Passelergue; Z Tabka; G Lac; W Moalla; K Chamari; M Elloumi

doi:10.5604/20831862.1201812

eISSN: 2083-1862
ISSN: 0860-021X

Biology of Sport

Current Issue Manuscripts accepted About the journal Editorial board Abstracting and indexing Archive Ethical standards and procedures Contact Instructions for authors Journal's Reviewers Special Information

Editorial System

Submit your Manuscript

Editorial Policies

Sarajevo Declaration on Integrity and Visibility of Scholarly Publications

Open access

3/2016
vol. 33

Send email

Copy url:

abstract:

Original paper

Multifactorial monitoring of training load in elite rugby sevens players: cortisol/cortisone ratio as a valid tool of training load monitoring

T Bouaziz

¹

,

E Makni

¹

,

P Passelergue

²

,

Z Tabka

¹

,

G Lac

³

,

W Moalla

⁴

,

K Chamari

⁵

,

M Elloumi

^{1, 3}

University of Sousse, Laboratory of Cardio-circulatory, Respiratory, and Hormonal Adaptations to Muscular Exercise, Faculty de Medicine Ibn El Jazzar, Sousse, Tunisia
University of Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, LAPPS - E 4445, Tarbes, France
Blaise Pascal Clermont University, Laboratory AME2P, EA 3533, Clermont-Ferrand, France
University of Sfax, Research Unit EM2S, High Institute of Sport and Physical Education Sfax, Tunisia
Athlete Health and Performance Research Centre, ASPETAR, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Qatar

Biol. Sport 2016;33:231-239

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5604/20831862.1201812

Online publish date: 2016/08/16

View full text Get citation

PlumX metrics:

The effectiveness of selected physiological and perceptual measures for monitoring training load

and fatigue was studied in 16 male elite rugby sevens players during a 6-week intense training block (IT) and

2-week tapering (TAP). Daily training load (TL) and strain (TS) as well as weekly total score of fatigue (TSF) were

quantified respectively by the session-rating of perceived exertion (RPE) method and an 8-item questionnaire.

Also, testing was performed and 24 h urinary cortisol (C), cortisone (Cn), adrenaline (A) and noradrenalin (NA)

excretion was measured before (T0) and after the IT (T1) and after the TAP (T2). The TL, TS and TSF increased

during the IT and decreased during the TAP, in conjunction with a significant drop and improvement, respectively,

of performance standards during the two periods. At T1, C and Cn levels increased while A and NA levels

decreased, resulting in a higher C/Cn ratio and lower A/NA ratio, respectively. At T2, both C/Cn and A/NA

returned to baseline values. The changes in C/Cn ratio, after the 6-week IT, were more closely related to mean

TL, TS and TSF (r=0.75-0.76 vs. r=0.48-0.58, p<0.01) and to changes in the majority of performance measures

than to A/NA ratio. Only the changes in C/Cn ratio after the 2-week TAP were related to mean TL, TS and TSF

(r=0.61-0.68, p<0.01). The changes in hormone levels, training strain and performance standards reflected

the physical and mental stressors of training, with complete recovery, as indicated by physiological homeostasis,

achieved after an appropriate tapering period.

keywords:

Multifactorial monitoring of training load in elite rugby sevens players: cortisol/cortisone ratio as a valid tool of training load monitoring

T Bouaziz 1 , E Makni 1 , P Passelergue 2 , Z Tabka 1 , G Lac 3 , W Moalla 4 , K Chamari 5 , M Elloumi 1, 3

Training load, Glucocorticoid, Catecholamine, Score of fatigue, Rugby sevens

T Bouaziz

¹

,

E Makni

¹

,

P Passelergue

²

,

Z Tabka

¹

,

G Lac

³

,

W Moalla

⁴

,

K Chamari

⁵

,

M Elloumi

^{1, 3}