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Behaviour of saliva cortisol [C], testosterone [T] and the T/C ratio during a rugby match and during the post-competition recovery days

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Abstract

Competition is a more demanding situation than other strenuous exercise of equivalent duration; it results in stronger physiological changes. The object of this study was to get information on the duration of the recovery period by measuring changes of saliva cortisol [C], testosterone [T] and their ratio T/C in a group of international rugby players (n=20) during the week following a rugby match (6 days). Using non-invasive saliva assays, we were able to take samples during the day of competition and the post-competitive days. Hormone levels were assayed with a routine in-house radioimmunoassay (RIA) method. Throughout the competition, C levels increased sharply (about 2.5-fold compared resting values) and returned to basal values within 4 h. Conversely, the T level decreased slightly. During the recovery period, C levels were lower and T levels were higher than basal values, resulting in a very high T/C ratio until the 5th day. This high post-competitive T/C ratio phase is probably required to restore the break-down of homeostasis induced by the very hard mental and physical strain associated with a rugby match. Thus, a period of 1 week recovery appears to be the minimal duration between two competitions.

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Elloumi, M., Maso, F., Michaux, O. et al. Behaviour of saliva cortisol [C], testosterone [T] and the T/C ratio during a rugby match and during the post-competition recovery days. Eur J Appl Physiol 90, 23–28 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-003-0868-5

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