Comparison of POMS Training Distress Scale and Energy Index Responses to a Training Camp in Japanese college Age Female Distance Runners

Abstract

Athletes in endurance sports such as long distance running must perform excessive training loads to reach their full athletic potential. This form of conditioning is often referred to as overtraining (Morgan, et al., 1987). Empirical studies showed that mood states disturbances increase in a dose-response manner as the training load increased, and they returned to baseline with reduction of the training load. However, our previous study with Japanese female distance runners found no changes in their mood disturbances throughout an athletic season and did not show the dose-response relationship. PURPOSE: The intent of this study was to compare the Profile of Mood States (POMS) Training Distress Scale (TDS) and the Energy Index response to an intensified training camp in Japanese college female long distance runners. METHODS: Fifteen college female long distance runners ranging in age from 18 to 22 years (Mean=20.0, SD=1.4) were performed a 10-day intensified training camp. The POMS inventory was completed 13-day before the training camp as a baseline measure. The ratio of POMS vigor to fatigue scores was referred as the energy index score. During the camp, POMS were completed before and after the daily training regimen to monitor mood state disturbances and recovery states. Running distance and perceived exertion (RPE) were also measured daily to assess volume and intensity of the training. A post training camp assessment was performed after one day of rest and performance measures were obtained a week after the training camp. RESULTS: A one-way repeated measures of ANOVA revealed no significant changes in mood disturbances, energy index, and RPE scores throughout the days of training camp (p>.05), although the amount of training distance on the day-4 was significantly larger than day-6 and day-7 (p<.05). Despite the lack of a main effect for time, there was a considerable trend that the TDS scores increase after training and decrease before training in a dose-response manner, whereas the energy index scores increase after training and decrease before training. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that Japanese collegiate female long distance runners might respond differently to the excessive training loads. Further studies with higher intensity of training loads might be needed to clarify these findings.