Clinical Findings and Parameters of Stress and Regeneration in Rowers Before World Championships

Abstract

Conclusion: The diagnosis of training adaptation and the clinical state of an athlete is a complex task. However, the underlying mechanisms are more and more understood, so that specific diagnostic tools can be used sufficiently for monitoring training. CK activity and uric acid concentrations are indicative of the actual training load and less of an overtraining state. Basically, overreaching and overtraining mean performance incompetence, and performance incompetence has to be diagnosed by performance tests. Mood state can be reliably measured by the Recovery-Stress-Questionnaire for Athletes and presents further information concerning the adaptation state of athletes. Beside other hormonal parameters, cortisol serum levels may be important for the analysis of the actual metabolic and nonmetabolic stress as the endpoint of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis. Additionally, nocturnal urinary noradrenaline excretion may be a simple tool to evaluate the tone of the sympathoadrenergic system which is related to adaptation/dysadaptation of athletes.