Female Wrestlers Research Articles

Heart Rate Variability Threshold Values for Early-Warning Nonfunctional Overreaching in Elite Female Wrestlers

Functional overreaching (FOR) represents intense training followed by a brief reduction in performance and then a rapid recovery (<2 weeks) and performance supercompensation. Nonfunctional overreaching (NFOR) occurs when the reduced performance continues ≥3 weeks. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a promising tool for detecting NFOR. In this study, the authors examined HRV thresholds in 34 elite female wrestlers (mean ± SD: age 23 ± 3 years; height 165.6 ± 6 cm, weight 63 ± 8 kg) for FOR/NFOR during training before 11 major competitions. Supine HRV was analyzed weekly at the same time of day using time and frequency domain methods. The authors observed that the time domain index, square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent R-to-R intervals (rMSSD, milliseconds), denoting parasympathetic tone, showed those responding normally to training (82.76 ms, 95% confidence interval 77.75-87.78) to be significantly different to those showing a decrease (45.97 ms, 95% confidence interval, 30.79-61.14) or hyper-responsiveness (160.44 ms, 95% confidence interval, 142.02-178.85; all, p < 0.001). Similar results were observed for mixed sympathetic and parasympathetic signal standard deviation of the NN intervals (ms): normal (65.39; 95% confidence interval, 62.49-68.29), decrease (40.07; 95% confidence interval, 29-51.14), and hyperresponse (115.00; 95% confidence interval, 105.46-124.54; all, p < 0.001) and synonymous frequency domain components. An examination of the 95% confidence interval shows a narrow band surrounding a normal response compared with broader bands accompanying adverse responses. Thus, severe perturbations both above and below normal responses lasting >2 weeks indicated an athlete's transition to NFOR and, hence, are useful for assessing possible overreaching/training.

Features of the physical abilities and psychological characteristics of female freestyle wrestlers

Features of the physical abilities and psychological characteristics of female freestyle wrestlers

Experimental validation applicable for normative levels of indicators of physical condition of female wrestlers

Аннотация В статье представлены результаты исследования особенностей физической подготовленности женщин-борцов высокой квалификации. Установлена недостаточная изученность содержания физической подготовки спортсменок как базового компонента учебно-тренировочного процесса женщин и определена необходимость осуществления целенаправленного поиска способов интенсификации этого процесса в соответствии с современными данными о специфике функционирования женского организма в условиях направленной спортивной деятельности. Учитывая, что одним из направлений этого поиска является разработка программы педагогического контроля динамики физической подготовленности женщин-борцов, в статье представлен экспериментально обоснованный комплекс из десяти наиболее информативных тестов и определены нормативные уровни показателей в этих тестах по 5-ти балльной шкале. Вместе с тем, стандартизированы условия тестирования, включая время суток, очередность выполнения тестов и количество попыток. Ключевые слова: физическая подготовленность, тест, показатель, женщины-борцы, педагогический контроль, фактор, физические качества, вольная борьба, информативность, шкала.

Changes in psychophysiological condition of high skilled female wrestlers in the dynamics of the menstrual cycle

Changes in psychophysiological condition of high skilled female wrestlers in the dynamics of the menstrual cycle

Influence of training loads on functional performance of highly qualified female wrestlers in the different phases of the menstrual cycle

This paper presents an overview of the literature on the training problem of female athletes considering menstrual cycle, the changes in female athletes-wrestler’s organism in the flow menstrual cycle dynamics have been studied. The results of own investigations of female athletes-wrestlers’ functional characteristics during menstrual cycle specifically: the changes in heart rate under the influence of special loads and also fluctuations in their body weight in the menstrual cycle dynamics have been presented.

Changes in psychophysiological condition of high skilled female wrestlers in the dynamics of the menstrual cycle.

Changes in psychophysiological condition of high skilled female wrestlers in the dynamics of the menstrual cycle.

Selected Cognitive And Emotional Resources Of Untrained Youth And Young Wrestlers

Abstract Introduction. Wrestling is a sport that requires proper physical and mental preparation. The authors present selected psychological resources, emotional intelligence and creative attitude, as factors influencing the broadly defined mastery, both in the area of sport and out of it. These variables guarantee better adaptation to changing conditions and they are also connected with the effectiveness of handling different situations and optimal problem solving. The aim of the study was to diagnose emotional intelligence and creative attitude among young female and male wrestlers. Material and methods. The study included 20 females from the regional team of cadets and juniors and 19 male wrestlers from the sports school. The control group consisted of two deliberately selected groups of untrained students - 20 girls and 19 boys. KANH and INTE questionnaires were used in the study. Results. In the three groups under investigation medium levels of emotional intelligence and creative vs. reproductive attitude were observed. It was only female wrestlers who manifested low levels of emotional intelligence which, similar to the levels of nonconformity, heuristic thinking and creative attitude, were lower than in female students from the control group. The female wrestlers demonstrated higher levels of conformity and reproductive attitude. Female students demonstrated higher levels of emotional intelligence and conformity than male students. No differences between male and female wrestlers were observed. Conclusions. The findings show that it is necessary to conduct longitudinal research on athletes and untrained individuals. Bearing in mind that learning a motoric task depends, inter alia, on intellectual and emotional factors, the authors also recommend another course of research, i.e. the verification of how these variables are related to the effectiveness of learning motoric tasks. The authors' own research results as well as further (planned) investigations will make it possible to profile various educational effects and deliberately strengthen the potential of young wrestlers.

Comparisons of Anaerobic Performance and Isokinetic Strength in Korean and Japanese Female Collegiate Wrestlers

The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the anaerobic performance and knee isokinetic strength in Korean and Japanese female collegiate wrestlers (n=6, n=10). Testing variables included body composition, Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT), and an isokinetic leg strength test. These data were used to diagnose the subjects' physical capability necessary for elite female wrestlers and to compare the data from the two countries. Comparisons between these data were calculated using the independent t-test method. The results of this study were as follows: WAnT, total work (TW), mean power (MP), and peak power (PP) were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in Korean female collegiate wrestlers, respectively. During isokinetic dynamometer testing at only velocity 180°/sec, isokinetic strength and power output in right knee extension were observed to be significantly (p < 0.05) lower in Korean female collegiate wrestlers. In conclusion, these findings suggest that these indicators may be determinants of female wrestlers' performance. Additionally it seems that wrestlers and their coaches should take into account the principles of specific and individual training for improving anaerobic capacity and knee isokinetic strength.

Quantitative Indicators of Technical-Tactical Performance: An Example With Freestyle and Female Top 10 Wrestlers from the 2011 World Senior Championships

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to describe the technical-tactical performance of the top ten wrestlers in the 2011 World Senior Championship in freestyle and female wrestling. In order to determine some relationships between objective characteristics of the technical and tactical performance, a general model was used to characterize components of the technical and tactical combinations (TTC) actually made in a sample composed by 70 wrestlers per style, 140 in total. Variables with greater informational content were determined, setting 8 quantitative indicators - 4 averages and 4 coefficients - whose values were standardized to compare the technical and tactical performance in both styles of wrestling. Specific data were obtained and then it was possible to profile the best wrestlers in the world and develop technical and pedagogical guidance for the direction of the training process in order to participate in a successful way in such events, pointing to specific tactical and technical aspects an im...

Features of competitive activity of various qualifications female judo wrestlers

Features of competitive activity of various qualifications female judo wrestlers

Physical Fitness Factors to Predict Female Olympic Wrestling Performance and Sex Differences

To determine differences in anthropometric, body composition, physiological and neuromuscular markers between elite and amateur female wrestlers, 35 female wrestlers were assigned into 4 groups according to their body mass (light and middle weight) and their competitive level (elite and amateur): light weight (between 49 and 58 kg) in elite (n = 6) and amateur (n = 12) levels, and middle weight (between 58 and 67 kg) in elite (n = 7) and amateur (n = 10) levels. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify which variables better predict female wrestling success. Elite female wrestlers were older (8-10%), had more training experience (27-29%), fat-free mass (3%), maximum strength in absolute and allometrically scaled values (13-33%), maximal muscle power (16-34%), mean and peak power during an arm crank Wingate testing in absolute and allometrically scaled values (17-23%), jumping height (2-9%) and grip (5-13%), and back isometric strength (10-13%) compared with amateur wrestlers (p < 0.05). When the results of the present research and those of a recent study performed in our laboratory with elite male wrestlers were compared, elite women presented lower (p < 0.05) maximum isometric and dynamic strength, muscle power output, and anaerobic metabolism values even when these data were normalized using allometric methods.

Anaerobic Performance and Isokinetic Knee Strength in Elite Korean and Japanese Female Wrestlers

Anaerobic Performance and Isokinetic Knee Strength in Elite Korean and Japanese Female Wrestlers

The World of Lucha Libre: Secrets, Revelations, and Mexican National Identity. HEATHER LEVI: Durham and London: Duke University Press, 2008

Lucha libre, or professional wrestling, is a tremendously popular sport and spectacle in Mexico. In May of 1997, Heather Levi began what would be a year of anthropological fieldwork investigating the world of lucha libre, training with other wrestlers (men and women), attending live matches, viewing televised matches, and interviewing both male and female wrestlers. Luis Jaramillo, a trainer retired from the wrestling ring and his masked identity as Águila Blanca, or White Eagle, agreed to take on Levi as an apprentice only if she understood that he dealt in the true lucha libre, not the spectacle for television viewers. Clearly Levi operates on the participant-observer model common to anthropological research. But she is not content to simply report on her field work. She wants to study lucha libre as "performance ... subculture...and symbol" in Mexican culture and politics.

Wrestling Injuries During the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games

Background: Better understanding of the incidence, mechanisms, and characteristics of potential injuries in wrestling helps to implement preventive measures to better care for these athletes. Several studies have investigated the incidence and type of injuries in amateur and intercollegiate wrestling; however, there is a lack of studies that review the incidence and nature of injuries in elite wrestlers during Olympic Games or World Championships. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the injury profile of elite senior wrestlers in Greco-Roman, freestyle, and female wrestling during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiologic study. Methods: Study participants consisted of 343 wrestlers participating in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Standard checkoff forms were used to collect the injury data, including injury type, severity, location, timing, and mechanism. Results: A total of 343 athletes sustained 32 injuries during 406 matches, which is equivalent to an overall incidence of 9.30 injuries per 100 athletes and 7.88 injuries per 100 matches. Among the 3 styles, freestyle had the highest injury rate (10.1%) and female wrestling the lowest (7.5%). In sum, 84.4% of all injuries were categorized as mild. Although the overall injury rate in male athletes was slightly higher than that among female athletes (9.7% versus 7.5%), this difference was not statistically significant (odds ratio = 1.21, 95% confidence interval = 0.46-3.68; P = .40). Conclusion: The rate and severity of wrestling injuries during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games were lower than previous reports. No serious and catastrophic injury was recorded, and most injuries were minor.

Aerobic fitness of elite female and male wrestlers

Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the aerobic fitness of elite female wrestlers, and to determine whether there are gender differences in the physiological response to graded exercise. Materials and Methods: Ten female and ten male freestyle wrestlers volunteered for the study. They all performed a graded exercise test on the treadmill until exhaustion. To measure lactate concentration capillary blood was taken from the finger tip at the end of every workload and after 3, 5 and 7 minutes of recovery. Anaerobic threshold was defined as the running velocity associated with 4 mmol/l during the incremental exercise test (AT4) and as the individual anaerobic threshold (IAT). Results: Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) normalized to body mass or to fat free mass was significantly higher in male than in female wrestlers (59.8 and 49.7 ml/min/kg and 72.7 and 63.9 ml/min/kg FFA, respectively). Total oxygen uptake at the anaerobic thresholds (AT4 and IAT) was similar in men and women, but when expressed as %VO2max, it was significantly higher in females. The peak blood lactate concentration was significantly higher in male than in female wrestlers (14.1 and 10.5 mmol/l, respectively). Conclusion: This study was the first to assess the aerobic fitness of female wrestlers. It demonstrated that there are significant gender related differences between female and male wrestlers. Possibly the lower VO2max in the female wrestlers was compensated by their higher oxygen utilization at the anaerobic threshold. This result indicates that AT4 method is sufficiently reliable for measuring anaerobic threshold for female and male wrestlers. (Biol.Sport 26:339-348, 2009)

The Effect of Competition on Salivary Testosterone in Elite Female Athletes

The association between androgens and competition in women has been understudied compared with men. The current study examined the link between testosterone (T) and competition in elite female athletes, using a sample of female wrestlers that included athletes competing at both the national and international level. In a repeated-measures design, saliva samples were collected before and after wrestling bouts, with comparable samples of wins and losses, and subsequently analyzed for T. Study results showed a 22% increase in circulating bioavailable T from pre- to postbout, F(1, 12) = 9.71, P = .009. There was no significant difference in T between win or loss outcomes. These findings-showing a link between individual head-to-head competition and T in women-demonstrate that women's androgenic responses to environmental contexts are dynamic and may be an important factor to address in research on competitive performance.

Elite Women Wrestlers' Muscles

Wrestling is a male-dominated sport in terms of participation, commonly perceived as a masculine sport due to the requirement of muscular strength, courage, fighting spirit, as well as and the element of combat. Integral to achieving wrestling skills and physical capability is muscularity, something which may contradict common perceptions of feminine body appearance. The objective of this study is to examine female elite wrestlers' enactment of the wrestler's role and how they experienced enhancement of skills and bodily structure. This was done by means of a qualitative interview of eight Norwegian elite wrestlers comprising four females and four males in the age group 17 to 32 years. Since the wrestlers practice in a mixed gender setting the males were included as being part of the interaction. The study revealed different ways in which the female wrestlers were doing femininity which also seemed to be contextually bound. This was particularly related to strength training and overall performance as wrestlers. The seniors had apparently accepted strenuous strength training and big muscles, whereas the juniors were `holding back' giving priority to the `private body'. The seniors had accepted the `athletic body' and muscularity with its social costs.

Wrestling with Identity: An Exploration of Female Wreslers’ Perceptions

This study explores female freestyle wrestlers’ experiences related to identity, body consciousness, (hetero)sexuality, and (conventional) femininity, and also the perceptions of females participating in a traditionally male-dominated sport. Data was collected from questionnaires distributed to 47 high school, university, and club female wrestlers and from in-depth interviews with eight university wrestlers. Based on the findings, the researchers suggest that female wrestlers are comfortable with their body; that public perception concerning their sexuality and femininity is not an issue of concern for them; and that they do not experience gender-role conflict nor engage in the female apologetic. The results are of particular interest because they differ from what other studies have concluded regarding the experiences of women in(traditionally male-dominated sports.

Effects of training on resting plasma levels of homocysteine and C-reactive protein in competitive male and female wrestlers

Effects of training on resting plasma levels of homocysteine and C-reactive protein in competitive male and female wrestlers Study aim: To assess the effects of training on resting plasma levels of homocysteine (Hcy), C-reactive protein (CRP), folic acid, and on the activity of creatine kinase (CK) in competitive male and female wrestlers. Material and methods: Polish elite wrestlers, male MW; n = 11) and female (FW; n = 11), as well as corresponding numbers of untrained, control subjects (MC and FC, respectively), participated in the study. Blood for assays was withdrawn from the antecubital vein in the morning, in pre-prandial state. Homocysteine (Hcy), C-reactive protein (CRP), folic acid and creatine kinase (CK) activity were assayed in plasma. Results: Mean concentrations of Hcy and CRP were in the control groups significantly higher and those of folic acid — lower than in the respective groups of wrestlers. Folic acid levels were negatively correlated with Hcy, especially in wrestlers (r = -0.540; p&lt;0.01). Mean CK activity was significantly (p&lt;0.001) higher in male wrestlers than in male controls or female subjects. No significant correlation between CK and CRP was found. Conclusions: Strength-speed training practiced by elite wrestlers, associated with significantly lower values of Hcy and CRP in them compared with the untrained subjects, may reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases at later age, like in case of endurance training.

Analysis of knee isokinetic strength and anaerobic capacity in female college wrestlers

Analysis of knee isokinetic strength and anaerobic capacity in female college wrestlers