Effects of repeated short-term futsal practice games on urinary catecholamine levels

Abstract

Introduction: Catecholamines have been known as an index of sympathetic nervous function, usually acting as a trigger for the adaptation of physical systems to the demands of exercise. A futsal game has high physical demands, which are known to act on stress hormone levels such as catecholamines. The non-invasive measurement of urinary catecholamines may offer a more suitable index than altered plasma catecholamines in sympathetic-adrenal activityduringvigorous intermittentexercise in futsal-specific condition. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of repeated bouts of short-term futsal games on urinary catecholamine levels. Methods: Nine recreationally active male futsal players served as the subjects (age: 19.4±0.7 year; height: 170.0±4.4 cm; body mass: 61.7±7.6 kg; body fat: 15.5±5.1%; BMI: 21.3±2.1 kg/m2). The protocolwas composed of 5min ofwarm-up, six 7-min periods of game with 1min of rest, and cool-down. Spot urinary samples were obtained before (Pre) and after (Post) overall session for the later analysis of the urinary catecholamine levels (epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine). The urinary catecholamine levels were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: A Student’s t-test represented a significant elevation at the levels of urinary free norepinephrine (Pre: 97.7±57.7; Post: 432.9±190.0 g/L, p<0.05) and epinephrine (Pre: 18.1±9.8; Post: 65.9±29.0 g/L, p<0.05) except for dopamine (Pre: 572.9±245.4; Post: 1341.6±639.2 g/L) after exercise. Significant changes were found at the levels of urinary total protein after exercise compared to the baseline (Pre: 6.0±8.2; Post: 26.9±27.9mg/dL, p<0.05). Discussion and conclusions: Previous research has reported augmentation of urinary catecholamine levels following intermittent exercise. Thus, the concentration of urinary catecholamine may provide information about the psychological and physiological stress levels of athletes during training andcompetition. The results of the present study indicate that elevated urinary catecholamine levels may be useful to comprehensively understand exercise intensity during repeatedbouts of futsal-specific intermittent exercise.