Salivary steroids hormones, well-being, and physical performance during an intensification training period followed by a tapering period in youth rhythmic gymnasts

This study examined the effect of an intensification period (IT; 4 weeks; after a habitual training period; HT) followed by a tapering period (TP; 2 weeks) on salivary hormones (testosterone - T and cortisol - C), well-being (WB), and physical performance in 23 rhythmic gymnasts (RG; Under-11 group [G1], Under-13 group [G2], and > 13 group [G3]). The session-rating of perceived exertion was used to quantify the daily internal training load (ITL). The WB questionnaire was completed daily. Physical performance tests and saliva sampling were carried out at the beginning of the IT (T1), after IT (T2), and after TP (T3). A higher ITL was observed for IT compared to HT (2310 ± 327 vs 2940 ± 334, 2449 ± 237 vs 3902 ± 273, 2278 ± 436 vs 3954 ± 866 arbitrary units [UA], for G1, G2, and G3, respectively) and TP (vs 1781 ± 260, 2305 ± 298, 2415 ± 522 AU). No significant change was detected for T concentration (206 ± 39, 221 ± 35, 216 ± 51 ρmol/L, for T1, T2, and T3, respectively [whole group]; p = 0.16), C concentration (5.7 ± 1.0, 5.8 ± 0.8, 5.0 ± 0.7 nmol/L; p = 0.07), and WB (19 ± 3, 19 ± 2, 19 ± 2; p = 0.44). A significant lower WB score was observed for the G3. Physical performance increased for sit-ups from T2 to T3 (ES = 0.80), and T1 to T3 (ES = 0.78) and for push-ups (T2-T3; ES = 0.61; T1-T3; ES = 0.55). In summary, a period of IT followed by TP, seems to be a useful approach to improve physical performance of youth RG, while maintaining the perception of WB and the hormonal milieu.