Changes in the Hormonal and Inflammatory Profile of Young Sprint- and Endurance-trained Athletes.
Condition: Overtraining Syndrome
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      One essential element of athlete training is conditioning camps, where athletes undergo a
      rigorous and targeted training schedule to prepare for upcoming sporting events. During
      sports camps, due to the accumulation of a large number of training units, including
      high-intensity exercises, athletes react with post-exercise overload, acute fatigue, and
      overreaching which can become a chronic overtraining syndrome. Overtraining syndrome is a
      very specific and severe condition where overtraining without adequate rest and recovery
      leads to performance decrements lasting more than 2-3 months, coupled with a mood
      disturbance. The exact etiology and pathogenesis are unknown and actively being investigated.

      During training camps the balance between training volumes and recovery is often a delicate
      one and, the accumulation of exercise-induced stress may exceed the capacity of both
      neuroendocrine and immune adaptation leading to an alteration of physiological functions,
      decreasing adaptation to performance, impairment of psychological processing, immunological
      dysfunction, and biochemical abnormalities. Moreover, there is currently a lack of biomarkers
      accessible to assist in diagnosing and, what's even more important - help to prevent the
      overtraining syndrome, except for the continued presence of unexplained underperformance
      despite athletes' adequate rest and recovery.

      Thus, this study aims to explain how long and intensive training for endurance affects the
      hormonal and immune systems of young athletes.

      The main questions it aims to answer are:

        1. How does intense training influence hormonal and immune responses in young, trained
           athletes?

        2. Does training specialization affect the hormonal and immune response to intense
           training?
    

Detailed description: 
      Twenty-four young male and female athletes, specializing in athletics disciplines such as
      sprint (hurdles, 100m, 110m), and endurance: race walk, 5000m, and 10000m, volunteered to
      take part in this study. Investigation was held during 9 days of the training camp
      (preparatory period, general preparation sub-period), which was aimed at increasing the
      endurance and flexibility of athletes. During the training camp, all subjects occupied the
      same accommodations and followed the same training plan and diet schedules. The camp regime
      included 2 training sessions per day, lasting 4 hours per day, and a total of 21 hours per 9
      days. Blood samples were taken always in the same conditions, from the antecubital veins.
      Participants were seated in a recumbent position for a minimum of 10 minutes before blood
      draws to stabilize the hydrostatic condition. Before collection of the first sample (rested
      baseline), participants were asked to avoid any intense exercise at least 24 hours before
      sampling. Next samples were taken after 4 days and after another 5 days of training camp (in
      total after 9 days). The concentration of catecholamines: epinephrine and norepinephrine in
      serum was measured as well and the responsiveness of the adrenal medulla to the sympathetic
      nervous activity was estimated by the ratio E/NE calculated. Also, concentrations of
      cortisol, hs-CRP, and myoglobin were measured and changes in blood morphology were estimated.
    

Intervention name(s): Exercise training
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): Intense endurance training
Observational model: Cohort
Time perspective: Retrospective
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Twenty-four young male and female athletes, students at Sports Championship School, future
        representatives of the Polish National Team, specializing in athletics disciplines such as
        sprint (hurdles, 100m, 110m), and endurance: race walk, 5000m, and 10000m, volunteered to
        take part in this study.
      
Biospecimen description: 
      Blood samples
    
Keywords: epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol, athletes, fatigue