Hormonal and Psychological Responses in Brazilian Soccer Players

Abstract

Soccer is a dynamic sport in which the maximal performance depends on the adequate technical, tactical, physical and psychological development. The regular monitoring of the selected hormonal and psychological parameters has been extensively used to evaluate the training adaptation and to avoid overtraining. PURPPSE: To verify the testosterone, cortisol, testosterone/cortisol ratio and catecholamines responses associated with psychological parameters (POMS) during a specific training program developed in Brazilian soccer players. METHODS: Following approval from the Institute's Ethics Committee, written informed consent was obtained from twenty Brazilian male professional soccer players, all members of the same team playing at National level, who volunteered for this study. They were evaluated at the beginning (week 0, T1), in the middle (week 6, T2) and at the end (week 12, T3) of the specific soccer training program. The Brazilian soccer players had their mood assessed by the profile of mood state questionnaire (POMS) followed by the blood collecting from the antebrachial vein for analysis of serum testosterone, cortisol and testosterone/cortisol ratio by radio immuno ass ay and plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine by high performance liquid chromatography. Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn method were used to verify the hormonal and psychological responses during the specific soccer training program with a significance level of 5%. Data were expressed as mean± standard error of mean. RESULTS: The vigor score assessed by POMS questionnaire was lower in T3 (19.0 ± 1.1) than inT1 (22.3 ± 0.8) and T2 (22.3 ± 0.5). Moreover, the fatigue score diminished inT2 (2.1 ± 0.6) compared with T1 (5.1 ±1.1). There were not significant alterations in serum testosterone and cortisol along the study. On the other hand, the specific soccer training program led to a statistical decrement in testosterone/cortisol ratio from T1 (6.8 ±0.9x 10–2) to T3 (4.6 ± 0.6 x 10–2). In respect to the catecholamines, only the concentration of plasma norepinephrine increased in T2 (208.3 ± 22.3 pg/mL) and T3 (251.9 ± 42.7 pg/mL) compared with T1 (95.9 ±3.9 pg/mL). CONCLUSION: The Brazilian soccer players showed signs of stress in the last period of the specific training program. Supported by FAPESP (number process 04/15241-4), CAPES, CNPq (number process 130441/2004-0) and FUNDUNesP (number process 00844/03-DFP).