خلاصة:
Background. Although tapering techniques are widely used in a variety of sports, guidelines for the programming of
an optimal tapering strategy in wrestling have not been well established. Objectives. The purpose of this study was
to investigate the effect of two types of tapering on the plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the
performance of elite male wrestlers. Methods. Thirty elite male wrestlers participated in four weeks of incremental
high-intensity wrestling training (competition season), and were randomly divided into three equal groups to train for
one week as the Tapering 1 Group (50% reduction in training volume), Tapering 2 Group (75% reduction in
training volume), and Control Group (training with the same volume). Blood samples were collected from all
participants at the beginning of the first week and at the end of the fourth and fifth weeks. Plasma levels of IL-6 and
TNF-α were assayed using standard commercial ELISA kits. Aerobic and anaerobic power, sprint, agility, muscular
endurance, and strength tests were done to measure performance factors. Results. The findings revealed that the
performance score (F3,41=29.15; p<0.001), IL-6 (F2.729,36.839 = 116.7; p<0.001), and TNF- (F2.846,38.428 = 8.11;
p<0.001) elevated significantly after four weeks in all groups but decreased, increased, and increased significantly
during the fifth week in the Control Group. Besides, after one week of tapering (both 50% and 75% reduction in
training volume), performance score and plasma levels of IL-6 and TNF- increased significantly, decreased, and
suppressed, respectively. Conclusion. Elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine levels associated with decreased
performance score and one week’s taper with 50% and 75% reduction in the volume of training essentially reverse
these changes and there are no differences between the two strategies of tapering.
ملخص الجهاز:
The Effect of Two Types of Tapering on Plasma Levels of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines and Performance in Elite Male Wrestlers Mohammad Karimi* Faculty of Science, Qom University of Technology, Qom, Iran.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of two types of tapering on the plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the performance of elite male wrestlers.
Besides, after one week of tapering (both 50% and 75% reduction in training volume), performance score and plasma levels of IL-6 and TNF-a increased significantly, decreased, and suppressed, respectively.
Farhangimaleki, Zehsaz, and Tiidus (2009) studied the effect of two different tapering period lengths (one week and three weeks) on the concentration of plasma IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α, and performance in elite male cyclists.
So, based on the review of literature, we hypothesized two taper strategies in wrestling (50% and 75% reduction in training volume without changes in training intensity) and the primary purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the effect of the two tapering strategies on the plasma levels of IL-6 and TNF- α and also performance of elite male wrestlers.
CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that incremental, high- intensity training for four weeks of elite male wrestlers can significantly elevate the plasma levels of some pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-a, and performance related to wrestling's physical fitness factors and that one week’s taper with 50% and 75% reduction in the volume of training will essentially reverse these elevations, while, at the same time, improving their performance compared to the control group, which continued the training with the same volumes.