Assessment of fatigue and the overtraining syndrome in female spinning instructors based on a survey and on the expression of selected genes

Abstract

Background: The study aimed to assess the occurrence of fatigue and overtraining in spinning instructors based on subjective feeling (a questionnaire) and the expression of selected genes (IL6, IL10 and NF-kB mRNA). Material/Methods: Two research methods were used in the study: a subjective assessment in the form of a survey and an objective evaluation of the expression of genes related to the cellular stress response. The survey involved a group of 12 female spinning instructors 24-32 years old. Five subjects (mean age 26.4 years) agreed to have a blood sample taken for genetic analyses. The control group comprised four physically active women (mean age 25.5 years). For genetic analyses, two ml of venous blood were taken in the morning hours after a night's rest. The relative evaluation of gene expression was performed using real-time quantitative PCR. Results: According to the questionnaire declarations, the instructors feel overtraining. It was observed that the concentration of the transcription factor NF-kB in peripheral blood at rest was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the study group compared to the control one. The measurement of the IL6 encoding gene expression significantly differed (p < 0.05) between the two groups. In the case of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL10, there were no significant differences between the two groups. Conclusions: According to the questionnaire declarations, spinning instructors feel overtraining, but simultaneously they are very well adapted to physical effort, which was confirmed by the analysis of the expression of genes related to the cellular stress response. ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR