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Effects of a competitive wrestling season on body composition, endocrine markers, and anaerobic exercise performance in NCAA collegiate wrestlers

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Abstract

Few data exist examining the body composition, endocrine, and anaerobic exercise performance changes over a competitive wrestling season. Eighteen NCAA wrestlers were tested for endocrine markers, body composition, hydration, grip strength, and power on four occasions: prior to pre-season training (T1); after pre-season training 3 days prior to the first seasonal meet (T2); mid-season one day prior to a meet (T3); and at the end of the season 2–3 days following the last meet (T4). Body mass, percent body fat (BF %), and fat mass were significantly lower (P ≤ 0.05) at T2 and T3 compared to T1 but were not different between T1 and T4. Lean body mass was significantly reduced at T2 only. Urine specific gravity was significantly elevated at T3 compared to T1, T2, and T4. Resting cortisol concentrations did not change but resting testosterone concentrations were significantly reduced at T2, T3, and T4. Maximal grip strength was significantly reduced at T2. Vertical jump peak power was significantly reduced at T2, T3, and T4. Wingate peak power was significantly reduced at T2 and T3. However, Wingate average power and total work did not significantly change. Fatigue rate during the Wingate test was significantly improved at T2, T3, and T4 compared to T1. In conclusion, body mass, BF %, and measures of peak force and power were reduced for most of the competitive wrestling season. Competitive wrestling reduces resting total testosterone concentrations throughout the entire season.

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Abbreviations

1RM:

One repetition-maximum

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

BF %:

Body fat percent

BMI:

Body mass index

CORT:

Cortisol

ELISA:

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

HPL:

Human performance laboratory

LBM:

Lean body mass

NCAA:

National Collegiate Athletic Association

T1–T4:

Time points 1 through 4

TE:

Testosterone

USG:

Urinary specific gravity

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all of the wrestlers and head coach David Icenhower for their support and participation in this study. We would also like to thank Gregory Osgoodby, Tyler Branham, and Daniel Dicolo for their assistance with testing and Disa Hatfield, Maren Fragala, Jen Yu-Ho, and Gwendolyn Thomas for their assistance with the hormonal analyses.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health and Exercise Science, The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ, 08628, USA

    Nicholas A. Ratamess, Ryan E. Ross, Christopher P. Tranchina, Stefanie L. Rashti, Jie Kang & Avery D. Faigenbaum

  2. Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA

    Jay R. Hoffman

  3. Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA

    William J. Kraemer & Neil A. Kelly

  4. Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion, and Recreation, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA

    Jakob L. Vingren

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  1. Nicholas A. Ratamess
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  2. Jay R. Hoffman
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  3. William J. Kraemer
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  4. Ryan E. Ross
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  5. Christopher P. Tranchina
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  7. Neil A. Kelly
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  8. Jakob L. Vingren
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  9. Jie Kang
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  10. Avery D. Faigenbaum
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nicholas A. Ratamess.

Additional information

Communicated by Fabio Fischetti.

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Ratamess, N.A., Hoffman, J.R., Kraemer, W.J. et al. Effects of a competitive wrestling season on body composition, endocrine markers, and anaerobic exercise performance in NCAA collegiate wrestlers. Eur J Appl Physiol 113, 1157–1168 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2520-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2520-8

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