APA
Miguel Ortega, Álvaro & Fernández Landa, Julen & Calleja González, Julio & Mielgo Ayuso, Juan (2023-10 ) .Stress Levels and Hormonal Coupling and Their Relationship with Sports Performance in an Elite Women¿s Volleyball Team.
ISO 690
Miguel Ortega, Álvaro & Fernández Landa, Julen & Calleja González, Julio & Mielgo Ayuso, Juan. 2023-10 .Stress Levels and Hormonal Coupling and Their Relationship with Sports Performance in an Elite Women¿s Volleyball Team.
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12080/46894
Resumen:
The testosterone¿cortisol ratio is a concept in human biology that refers to the balance
between testosterone, the main anabolic steroid, and cortisol, another steroid hormone. The two
hormones are said to be habitually positively ¿coupled¿. Increases or decreases in testosterone tend
to be associated with corresponding increases or decreases in cortisol, and vice versa. The present
study explored hormone coupling and its relationship to stress levels in the sport performances of an
elite women¿s volleyball team. (1) Aim: to assess the testosterone¿cortisol concentration dynamic
over 16 weeks and its link to sport performance in elite female volleyball players (height: 1.8 ± 0.1 m;
24.2 ± 2.7 years; playing experience 15 ± 2.8 years; years played at elite level 4.2 ± 2.2; testosterone¿
cortisol index time 1: 3.9 vs. time 2: 4.3) (n = 11). (2) Methods: blood samples (hormones among
other biochemical parameters) and sports performance measurements (aerobic and anaerobic power
among other tests) were taken from members of an elite women¿s volleyball team over 16 weeks
of competition. (3) Results: female volleyball players showed patterns of hormonal change and
adaptation to stress. (4) Conclusions: the current investigation demonstrated that elite female
volleyball players have higher basal levels of testosterone and cortisol than normal healthy women.
The impact of training and competition is clearly reflected in the levels of T. Cortisol levels increase at
the beginning of training and remain elevated throughout the season, but without significant changes.
Keywords: volleyball; women; testosterone; cortisol; performance; stress