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Br J Sports Med 2004;38:260-263 doi:10.1136/bjsm.2002.000254
  • Original article

Salivary testosterone and cortisol in rugby players: correlation with psychological overtraining items

  1. F Maso1,
  2. G Lac1,
  3. E Filaire2,
  4. O Michaux1,
  5. A Robert1
  1. 1Laboratoire de physiologie de la performance motrice, Bat Biologie B-Physiologie, Les Cézeaux, 63177 Aubière, France
  2. 2BAPS, Batiment B Biologie, Campus des Cézeaux, 63172 Aubière
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr Maso
 Laboratoire de Physiologie de la Performance Motrice, Bat Biologie B-Physiologie, Les Cézeaux, 63177 Aubière, France; efilairenat.fr
  • Accepted 5 March 2003

Abstract

Background: A psychocomportemental questionnaire has been devised by the consensus group of the Société Française de Médecine du Sport to characterise and quantify, using a list of functional and psychocomportemental signs, a state of “staleness”, for which no biological indicator is unanimously recognised.

Objectives: To determine the relation between this diagnostic method and two hormones (cortisol and testosterone) often used as indicators of a state of fitness or staleness.

Methods: The subjects were young rugby players. They were asked to complete the overtraining questionnaire and gave three saliva samples (at 8 am, 11 am, and 5 pm) during a rest day. Concentrations of cortisol and testosterone in the saliva were determined by radioimmunoassay.

Results: A preferential relation was found between the questionnaire score and testosterone concentration but not between the questionnaire score and cortisol concentration.

Conclusions: The questionnaire may be a useful tool for screening subjects at risk of overtraining. Testosterone concentration is influenced by tiredness, and is therefore a valid marker of tiredness.

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