The impact of 8-week re-training following a 14-week period of detraining on Greco-Roman Wrestlers

doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-4924822/v1

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Research Article

The impact of 8-week re-training following a 14-week period of detraining on Greco-Roman Wrestlers

https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4924822/v1

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Background

The elite athletes are highly capable of regain their athletic performance and body composition after a period of lack of training. Heart rate variability is an useful indicator to evaluate the physical state of athletes. The objective of this study is to analyze the alterations in the physical, physiological, and performance characteristics of the elite Greco-Roman wrestlers who experienced a prolonged period of detraining (14 weeks) as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Methods

Twenty male elite wrestlers from the National Greco-Roman Wrestling Team participated in the research. Heart Rate Variability values were measured during the detraining period and for 8 weeks of subsequent training, and then interpreted for training periods with different workloads. Body fat percentage values, initially measured during detraining, were recorded at 2-week intervals during the training period. To determine the fitness status of wrestlers, the Specific Wrestling Fitness Test was used before and following the 8 weeks of training period.

Results

A gradual decrease in both body fat percentage and weight observed throughout the course of the training period. The SWFT scores showed significant improvements (31.40 ± 2.91 vs. 37.40 ± 3.22) following the training period. Our study indicate that heart rate variables are significantly influenced during different loads of training and competitions, with similar values observed between the competition and non-training periods.

Conclusions

Our results suggests that athletes undergo identical reactions in their autonomous nervous system during both competition and detraining. Obtaining a comprehensive understanding of these changes can enable coaches and athletes to make accurate decisions in order to optimize training adaptations and attain overall athletic success. Furthermore, over a period of eight weeks following a long non-training period, significant improvements in athletes' body fat, muscle mass and wrestling performance can be achieved along with training.

Wrestling

training

detraining

performance

heart rate variability

Elite athletes train continuously and at high intensity in a planned and regular basis in order to achieve success in the international competitions in line with the necessity of the competitive conditions, to maintain the success achieved and to preserve it for a long time. As a result of these high-intensity training, the physiological adaptations of elite athletes are different when compared to sedentary individuals and other athletes. For this reason, athletes who want to show high performance take care to maintain these adaptations as well as develop them. In addition, it is necessary to provide training stimuli at a regular and sufficient level in order to maintain or develop these adaptations Excessive training stimulus can lead to overtraining, while inadequate or complete cessation of training can result in a loss of performance known as detraining [1, 2].

High-level competitive athletes who do not want to experience this loss of performance avoid taking a long break from training by limiting the detraining period. However, in some cases (injury, chronic injury, pregnancy in female athletes, etc.) athletes are forced to enter a detraining period. In these cases of partial or complete cessation of training, it is predicted that the organism's response time to exercise is prolonged [3]. In case of interruption of training for up to 4 weeks, decreases can be seen in general endurance and muscular endurance performance without significant changes in muscle strength [4, 5], while losses in muscle strength are seen in addition to muscle endurance in periods exceeding four weeks ³. Research indicates that after a detraining period, there is a tendency for skinfold thickness, body fat mass, and percentage to increase, and for fat-free mass and athletic performance to decrease[6]. On the other hand, literature says that athletes can regain their muscle strength in a short time after short-term (3 weeks) detraining. Yasuda et al.[7] reported that as a result of the strength training practices applied with the blow flow restriction method after 3 weeks of detraining to individuals who had previously done strength training, muscle strength gains were rapidly achieved.

In addition to physical losses such as strength and endurance in the organism, the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which is an indicator of general health and an important reflector of optimal sportive performance in athletes, and heart rate variability scores, which are frequently used to determine ANS, may also show negative deterioration in the event of cessation of exercise. A prolonged period of detraining can cause significant deterioration in heart rate variability values and is often associated with a decreased athletic performance[8].

In early 2020, a worldwide outbreak of coronavirus disease has occurred, which is considered a global emergency. Preventive strategies aimed at minimizing the risk of infection include the utilization of social gatherings. The impact on elite sport has been significant, with ongoing championships halted and major international events postponed. Moreover, the majority of elite athletes are forced to participate in isolated and usually unsupervised training sessions within the boundaries of their own homes. Following the lockdown, it was recommended that trainings be carefully planned and that performance and health parameters be closely watched to ensure a safe return to the competitions. This approach helped prevent injuries and allowed athletes to gradually regain their physical condition[9, 10].

Although there are some studies on the effects of long-term inactivity on physical and physiological adaptations and sports performance parameters in elite athletes, there are not enough studies on elite wrestlers that examine the effects of such prolonged inactivity (14 weeks) on their physical and physiological recovery levels recovery and the present knowledge of the period required for elite-level wrestlers to attain optimal performance levels in getting ready for potential competitions remains inadequate[11–13].

The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in the physical and physiological conditions of elite wrestlers on the Turkish National Wrestling Team who were exposed to physical inactivity for 14 weeks after the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, followed by an 8-week training and competition period.

Experimental Approach to the Problem

This study is a cross-sectional investigation that aims to analyze the potential alterations in the physical, physiological, and performance metrics of the elite senior national wrestlers in the Greco-Roman style. These wrestlers had not participated in field training for a minimum of 14 weeks due to the Covid-19 epidemic, and this study focuses on their performance and autonomous system response after resuming field training.

During this detraining period, the athletes did not follow any external (personal) trainer-supported training program and their diet was not altered. Athletes have reported that they have stayed at home as a necessity of the Covid-19 pandemic process, and have done simple home exercises, walking and jogging exercises in a limited way during this time. Heart rate variability values, which are accepted as an indicator of the ANS, was measured to determine the general health and fitness status of the wrestlers during the 8-week retraining period after the untraining period and during the competitions following this period. To determine ANS in heart rate variability measurements, values of the most used standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN), root mean square of successive RR interval differences (RMSSD), Peak frequency of the high-frequency band (HF), Peak frequency of the low-frequency band (LF), and ratio of LF-to-HF power (LF/HF) parameters were collected. Heart rate variability values, which were measured and averaged for at least 10 days during the detraining period, were recorded with 5-min measurements in the lying position after waking up in bed every morning for 8 weeks after the start of training.

The athletes' body weight, subcutaneous fat thickness, and body fat percentage were measured on the first day they started training and at 2-week intervals during the subsequent training period. Athletes in the study also completed the Specific Wrestling Fitness Test (SWFT), a wrestling-specific test, on the first day of retraining and eight weeks later. Blood lactate samples were taken immediately before, immediately after and 4 minutes after the test to determine whether the SWFT was performed at the expected loading intensity.

Participants

This study included 20 male volunteer wrestlers (aged 21.75 ± 3.11 years) who were members of the national wrestling team and had been training for 10 years. The wrestlers in the research group consisted of elite level athletes. Two of them had European and World championship medals and 7 of them had other medals in the year before the untrained period. In the year after the untrained period, one of these athletes won world silver medal and the following year gold medal. In addition, 6 of the athletes won medals at the European and World Championships.

The inclusion criteria were as follows: being 19 years or older; being a national athlete and having international competition experience; having similar life regulations and sports experiences; not taking any medication that may affect heart capacity; absence of a disease that may affect the heart or autonomic nervous system. The exclusion criteria were as follows: athlete's desire to leave the study; athlete's failure to give measurements for a long time; injury or long-term illness during training period. All the participants experienced a similar process during the compulsory stay-home period, starting the trainings at the same time and performing the same training sessions throughout the retraining period. The trial design of the study is presented in Fig. 1. Participants completed the informed consent form, and the study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. This research was approved by the Akdeniz University Clinical Research Ethics Committee (KAEK-758 / 08.10.2020), and permission was obtained from the Wrestling Federation of Türkiye for the measurements.

Figure 1. Trial Design (Approximately Here)

Anthropometric assessments

In order to evaluate the changes in the physiological characteristics of the participants body weight (BW), body fat percentage (BFP), body muscle mass (BMM) and body mass index (BMI), measurements were taken at the last day of detraining period and 2-week intervals during the 8 weeks following the training period. Measurements were taken using a bioelectrical impedance measuring device (Tanita Body Composition Analyzer Type SC-330).

BW, subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT), BFP measurements were measured after detraining period, on the first day of the retraining period, and at 2-week intervals during the following 8-week training period. BMI has calculated using the formula of BMI = Weight (kg)/Height (m2). Height, weight, BMI, BFP values were recorded via a printer for the body composition evaluation of the participants.

Training program

Due to the impossibilities of the epidemic conditions during the long-term detraining period, the wrestlers cannot implement a systematic training program during this period. In line with the limitations of the pandemic conditions, the training in this period includes ordinary strength exercises, individual running and walking exercises with simple household appliances that the athletes can find at home. The exercises in this period completely covered individual exercise, and a training program supported by an external trainer was not implemented. The training period included the standard wrestling trainings, which were determined by the national team coaches and realized at different intensities, during the 8 weeks when the training started. Following the period of detraining (detraining period (DTp)) the level of training intensity was progressively increased throughout the initial 5 weeks (training period (Tp)). In the 6th and 7th week, training intensity peaked (high intensity training period (HTp)). In the 8th week prior to the competition, the training intensity was reduced (form training period (FTp) in order to prepare and recover for the following competition. After the training period, the wrestlers participated in an international competition (competition period (Cp)).

Heart rate variability measurements:

Heart rate variability was measured on a daily basis throughout the detraining phase, which occurred 10 days before the training sessions. This phase followed 8 weeks of training and a 4-day competition period. Participants were given a Polar H10 heart rate chest sensor (Polar Electro Oy, Kempele, Finland) that had a sampling rate of 1000 Hz. A mobile application The Elite HRV is used to record, store, and export the data. Prior to data collection, participants received instruction on how to use their assigned HR monitor and smartphone application (Elite HRV). Participants were directed to measure their resting heart rate for a duration of 5 minutes on consecutive measurement days just after waking up while lying down. The measurements included evaluating the intervals between the QRS complexes, executing statistical analyses such as SDNN and RMSSD, and performing frequency-domain analyses including LF, HF, and LF/HF[14]. The mean heart rate variability values were computed by considering the data from each training phase (DTp, Tp, HTp, FTp, Cp), which were categorized based on the training intensity.

Specific Wrestling Fitness Test:

The Specific Wrestling Fitness Test (SWFT) is used to evaluate the wrestlers' physical fitness capacity. Participants performed the SWFT both before and after an 8-week training period. Blood lactate concentrations were taken before, immediately after and 4 minutes after SWFT. The SWFT includes throwing maximum wrestling dummy against time. Since wrestling is a sport based on weight categories, participants should use a wrestling dummy suitable for their own weight (wrestlers up to 74.9 kg body weight a 22 kg dummy, wrestlers from 75.0 to 89.9 kg a 27 kg dummy and for wrestlers over 90 kg a 32 kg dummy). The participant was performed three sets of dummy throws lasting 30 seconds each, with a 20-second interval of rest between each set. Following the start signal, the participants were attempted to throw the wrestling dummy repeatedly within the given 30-second timeframe, using maximum effort[15].

The primary objective of the participant was to execute as many throws possible in all three phases of the tests, with the cumulative number of throws executed providing as the final test outcome. Before each test, the wrestlers did a 15-minute general warm-up, followed by an additional 5-minute warm-up by throwing a wrestling dummy. Lactate levels were measured before, immediately after and 4 minutes after SWFT by taking blood samples from the fingertip with a portable lactate analyzer (EDGE Blood Lactate Analyzer, Woodley Equipment Company, Lancashire).

Statistical analyses:

Various methods were used to check if the data had a normal distribution, including analyzing kurtosis-skewness values, histograms, normal Q-Q plots, and box plots, followed by a Shapiro-Wilk test. Dependent Sample T-Test and/or Wilcoxon test were applied to evaluate the difference between the in-group pre-test and post-test. For repeated measurements, Repeated Measurements of Anova test was performed. The Jamovi Ver. 2.3.18 was used for the statistical analysis of the data.

The participants' mean age was (21,75 ± 3,11 years, and they had 10 years of training experience. BW, BMI, and BFP decreased significantly, while BMM increased when comparing pre and post measurements (Table 1).

Table 1

Demographic Variables
n = 20	W0	W2	W4	W6	W8	F	p	ƞ2
BW (kg)	76.49 ± 12.27	75.29 ± 11.58	74.9 ± 11.33	75.08 ± 11.37	75.47 ± 11.61	6.918	0.000	.27
BW (kg)	70;82	70;81	70;80	70;80	70;81	6.918	0.000	.27
BMI (kg/m²)	25.11 ± 2.74	24.73 2.56	24.60 ± 2.48	24.67 ± 2.46	24.78 ± 2.44	7.237	0.000	.28
BMI (kg/m²)	24;26	24;26	23;26	24;26	24;26	7.237	0.000	.28
BFP (%)	12.38 ± 4.50	11.25 ± 4.19	10.77 ± 3.96	10.12 ± 3.77	9.66 ± 3.66	44.751	0.000	.70
BFP (%)	10;15	9;13	9;13	8;12	8;11	44.751	0.000	.70
BMM (kg)	62.51 ± 7.86	62.90 ± 7.95	63.25 ± 8.11	64.08 ± 8.37	65.00 ± 8.80	39.678	0.000	.68
BMM (kg)	59;66	59;67	59;67	60;68	61;69	39.678	0.000	.68
Data in the table; presented as mean ± standard deviation (Mean ± SD) and 95% confidence interval (5%; 95% CI). W0: pre-training period; W2: 2 weeks post-training, period; W4: 4 weeks post-training period; W6: 6 weeks post-training period; W8: 8 weeks post-training period; BW: body weight; BMI: body mass index; BFP: body fat percentage; BMM: body muscle mass; ƞ2: partial eta squared (effect size).

Table 1. Demographic Variables (Approximately here)

There was a time x group interaction in subcutaneous fat thicknesses and muscle mass. Subcutaneous fat thickness (measured in mm) of the participants decreased and muscle mass increased significantly during the training period (p < 0.001, ƞ2 : 0.460–0.712 )(Fig. 2).

Figure 2. Changes in subcutaneous fat thickness and muscle mass (Approximately here)

SWFT scores increased significantly after 8 weeks of training session (Table 2.). Despite the increase in SWFT scores, post-test blood lactate levels were lower than pre-training levels (Fig. 3.).

Table 2

SWFT scores and Lactate Levels
(n = 20)	T0	T4	t	p	E
SWFT (throws)	31.40 ± 2.91 30;33	37.40 ± 3.22 36;39	10.104	0.000	2.23
			F	p	ƞ2
LApre (mmol/L)	1.18 ± 0.33 1;1	1.03 ± 0.29 1;1	724.028	0.000	0.950
LApost (mmol/L)	5.21 ± 2.15 4;6	4.88 ± 1.55 4;6
LA4post (mmol/L)	10.45 ± 2.84 9;12	8.10 ± 1.55 7;9
Data in the table; presented as mean ± standard deviation (Mean ± SD) and 95% confidence interval (5%; 95% CI). W0: pre-training period; W2: 2 weeks post-training, period; W4: 4 weeks post-training period; W6: 6 weeks post-training period; W8: 8 weeks post-training period; SWFT: specific wrestling fitness test; LApre: Lactate levels pre SWFT; LApost: Lactate levels immediately post SWFT; LA4post: Lactate levels post 4 minutes SWFT; E: effect size, ƞ2: partial eta squared.

Table 2. SWFT scores and Lactate Levels (Approximately here)

Table 3 and Fig. 3 demonstrate the heart rate variability variables of the participants. There was a time x group interaction in heart rate variability scores, SDNN, RMSSD, LF, LF/HF values. HRV, SDNN, LF was significantly higher in FTp compared to DTp and Cp.

Table 3

HRV Values
(n = 20)	DTp	Tp	HTp	FTp	Cp	F	p	ƞ2
HRV	60.80 ± 8.83	65.37 ± 6.38	64.97 ± 4.63	70.12 ± 8.91	60.45 ± 6.94	11.384	0.002	0.487
HRV	55;66	62;69	62;68	65;76	56;65	11.384	0.002	0.487
SDNN	110.01 ± 55.03	122.76 ± 35.50	116.35 ± 35.02	131.43 ± 37.19	94.60 ± 25.63	5.330	0.001	0.308
SDNN	77;143	101;144	95;138	109;154	79;110	5.330	0.001	0.308
RMSSD	73.49 ± 40.63	80.66 ± 33.85	75.22 ± 21.86	86.98 ± 27.05	64.06 ± 14.91	2.719	0.040	0.185
RMSSD	49;98	60;101	62;88	71;103	55;73	2.719	0.040	0.185
LF	2456 ± 1049	3745 ± 1638	3941 ± 1818	3979 ± 1775	2314 ± 1137	6.191	0.000	0.340
LF	1821;3090	2755;4735	2392;4590	2906;5052	1626;3001	6.191	0.000	0.340
HF	2172 ± 1161	2732 ± 1487	2757 ± 1804	2946 ± 1583	2923 ± 1691	2.190	0.130	0.154
HF	1471;2874	1833;3630	1667;3848	1989;3901	907;2939	2.190	0.130	0.154
LF/HF	2.65 ± 0.86	4.04 ± 2.11	3.79 ± 1.71	4.08 ± 2.18	2.79 ± 1.24	3.162	0.022	0.209
LF/HF	2;3	3;5	3;5	3;5	2;4	3.162	0.022	0.209
Data in the table; presented as mean ± standard deviation (Mean ± SD) and 95% confidence interval (5%; 95% CI).
DTp :detraining period; Tp : training period ; HTp: high intensity training period; FTp:form training period ; Cp:competition period; HRV: heart rate variable score; SDNN: standard deviation of NN intervals, RMSSD: root mean square of successive RR interval differences, HF: peak frequency of the high-frequency band, LF: peak frequency of the low-frequency band (), and LF/HF: ratio of LF-to-HF power, ƞ2: partial eta squared (effect size).

Table 3. Heart rate variability values (Approximately here)

Figure 3. Heart rate variability values (Approximately here)

This study aimed to investigate the impact of an 8-week retraining program on several physical, physiological, and athletic performance indicators, as well as the autonomic nervous system tone exploring the balance of the sympathetic-parasympathetic nervous system, in elite national team wrestlers following an extended period of detraining (14 weeks). The research revealed significant improvements in body compositions, athletic performance, and heart rate variability values, which serve as indicators of the autonomic nervous system, following 8 weeks of wrestling training.

Detraining refers to the decrease or complete loss of adaptations that result from training, which occurs when physical activity is reduced or completely stopped [3]. It has been demonstrated that when detraining, or stopping an exercise or training regimen, extends for a period longer than 4 weeks, has a major impact on body fat percentages, muscle mass and athletic performance. If this period prolonged there will be a partial or complete loss of training induced adaptations. The magnitude of changes is different depending on the fitness level and the duration of detraining [16].

Studies show that there is a tendency for body fat mass and percentage to rise, as well as skinfold thickness, and a decrease in fat-free mass and athletic performance following a detraining period [6, 17]. However, wrestlers need to have an optimal body composition, consisting of a low percentage of body fat, because they are paired with opponents of similar body weight before every match. Lower percentages of body fat mass (FM) are considered advantageous, and fat-free mass (FFM) may serve as an indicator of anaerobic performance in wrestlers. Wrestlers have to maintain an ideal balance between their body fat and muscle mass in order to optimize their athletic skills [18].

Although elite athletes may have experienced short-term benefits such as super-compensation and recovery from reduced training for a few weeks, the long-term consequences of detraining are detrimental to their overall conditioning performance. Elite wrestlers normally engage in three to six hours of rigorous training each day to enhance their performance. Concurrently, their training program must be consistent with their strength, flexibility, and/or anaerobic/power development ^19,20. Furthermore, wrestlers take a break or engage in trainings with reduced volume and lower intensity for no more than three weeks after the end of competitive season. However, due to the COVID-19 elite athletes were required to cease from training for an extraordinary duration. Because of the restrictions, athletes were unable to undergo training and athletic performance monitoring and extended period of absence from the field resulted in physical, physiological, and mental impairments [9, 10]. The impacts of prolonged detraining on athletes include an impairment in their physical condition and athletic performance, an increase in body fat percentage, fatigue, an elevated risk of injury, and extended recovery times from injuries. Grazioli et al. [21] reported that an 8-week quarantine period negatively impacted football players' physical performance, including power, sprinting, body mass, and body fat mass, and suggested that athletes needed longer recovery periods than regular training programs. In our study, we aimed to ascertain the physical and physiological alterations that occur after participating in 8 weeks of training following a prolonged period of inactivity. During this training period, an evident and progressive enhancement was noted in the proportion of body fat, muscle mass, and athletic performance. However, there is no existing research in the literature that allows us to make a comparison about the duration of this development, as claimed by Grazioli et al. [21]. Wrestlers appear to be able to demonstrate a notable improvement in their body composition and athletic performance with training in just eight weeks, following an unusually extended break from training such as 14 weeks.

Anaerobic endurance development is crucial for high-explosive sports like wrestling. The Specific Wrestling Fitness Test is a common performance test used to measure wrestlers' anaerobic endurance and physical fitness. The total number of wrestling dummy throws indicates instant physical fitness and anaerobic endurance.¹⁵. Although there is currently no specific study examining the impacts of detraining and retraining periods, previous research indicates that wrestlers could enhance their SWFT score after six weeks of multi-component training [22, 23]. In our study, it was observed that elite level wrestlers improved the SWFT score statistically significantly at the end of the 8-week retraining period. Moreover, although the SWFT score increased significantly, the post-test lactate level was lower (8.10 ± 1.55 vs 10.45 ± 2.84) in the retraining period. The fact that the lactate level is lower despite the increase in the throws performed in the SWFT test indicates that the lactate threshold and lactate removal capacity were also developed.

Furthermore, a key finding of our study is the relationship between heart rate variability and training intensity as well as competition duration. Consistent long-term training can increase heart rate variability in athletes, but intense training can lead to significant decreases in daily variability, and lower morning variability may indicate a decline in performance capacity, with overtraining syndrome athletes showing reduced heart rate variability [24]. In addition, detraining might lead to a reduction in heart rate variability. According to the findings, after 5 weeks of stopping training, all the vagal-related heart rate variability measures before and after exercise showed a decrease, indicating a decline in the swimmers' physical condition [25]. The state of the autonomic nervous system depends on cumulated physical fatigue because of increased training loads. Therefore, monitoring heart rate variability can be an appropriate tool for assessing an athlete's training status and overall performance and could eventually be used to prevent overtraining [24–26]. Adequate training load at the individual level can enable the best gains in athletic performance, even though excessive and insufficient training loads can cause detraining and accumulated fatigue. Heart rate variability monitoring has been recognized as an efficient method for assessing the condition of an athlete related to sports performance [27].

In our study, the heart rate variability values were monitored during the eight-week training period and the subsequent competition period. The HRV data was assessed by considering the average values for specific time periods, which were categorized based on the training load. As a result of the training, the HRV values showed a progressive improvement and indicated a modest decline in response to a period of vigorous training. In the subsequent period of the form training phase, where the intensity of the workout is reduced, the heart rate variability has reached its highest level. Valenzuela ²⁷ stated that the COVID-19 lockout is expected to have a negative impact on heart rate variability values of elite athletes. Another study has reported that ceasing training for a period of eight weeks may reverse the cardiovascular autonomic adaptations that were established by the training ²⁸. Furthermore, Valenzuela et al. [28] revealed that elite athletes demonstrate complete recovery after undergoing 6 to 8 weeks of retraining, which is consistent with our own findings. However, following the 8-week training phase, the heart rate variability values in our study group during the competition period decrease to the values recorded in the non-training period. This suggests that the athletes may have experienced increased stress and fatigue during the competition phase, leading to a decrease in heart rate variability. Several studies [29–30] have shown that stress and anxiety affect the autonomic nervous system in competition period, resulting in a decline in heart rate variability values. The findings indicate that tracking HRV can offer useful insights into an athlete's physiological reaction to stress and anxiety during competition, perhaps guiding training strategies to improve performance. Furthermore, implementing methods focused at reducing stress and anxiety could assist athletes in maintaining optimal levels of heart rate variability (HRV) and improving their competitive performance.

The most important limitation of this study is the lack of a control group. After all athletes were allowed to start training after isolation, all athletes started training together. For elite athletes, a control group is usually difficult because program changes or training cessation are generally not accepted by coaches and athletes. Another limitation is the absence of our athletes' measurements prior to or during the pandemic. Due to the unexpected application of pandemic limitations, no measurements had been taken in order to adhere to the mandatory requirement for social distancing. Therefore, athletes were able to conduct initial measures at the beginning of their trainings, and progress could be measured throughout subsequent training period.

The elite athletes are highly capable of regain their athletic performance and body composition after a period of lack of training. The heart rate variability, which is also an indicator of the autonomic nervous system, shows significant differences depending on the load intensity of the workouts or the competition period. This highlights the significance of monitoring heart rate variability in order to enhance performance and recovery techniques. Obtaining a comprehensive understanding of these changes can enable coaches and athletes to make accurate decisions in order to optimize training adaptations and attain overall athletic success.

As a result of 8 weeks training, an evident and progressive decrease was noted in the proportion of body fat and an increase in muscle mass. Following 8 weeks of training the Specific Wrestling Fitness Test scores, which is used to evaluate the wrestlers' physical fitness capacity, was enhanced. With the training, the HRV values demonstrated a gradual enhancement and suggested a slight decrease in response to an intense training phase. During the form training phase, when the intensity of the workout is decreased, the heart rate variability has reached its peak. Our study indicate that heart rate variables are significantly influenced during different loads of training and competitions, with similar values observed between the competition and non-training periods.

ANS

Autonomic nervous system

SDNN

Standard deviation of NN intervals

RMSSD

Root mean square of successive RR interval differences

Peak frequency of the high-frequency band

Peak frequency of the low-frequency band

LF/HF

Ratio of LF-to-HF power

SWFT

Specific Wrestling Fitness Test

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study was conducted in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration and approved by the Akdeniz University Clinical Research Ethics Committee (KAEK-758 / 08.10.2020). All participants provided written informed consent.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Availability of data and materials

The data collected and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Funding

This work was supported by The Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Akdeniz University. Project Number: TYL-2021-5677

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the participants for volunteering their time and the Türkiye National Greco-Roman Wrestling Team.

Authors’ contributions

TM and BD: conceptualization, methodology & data curation; TM: funding acquisition; BD, AI, YS: investigation; TM: supervision; TM, BD, AI, YS: writing - original draft; TM: review & editing.

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No competing interests reported.

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Editorial decision: Revision requested
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The impact of 8-week re-training following a 14-week period of detraining on Greco-Roman Wrestlers

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Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Figures

Introduction

Methods

Experimental Approach to the Problem

Participants

Anthropometric assessments

Heart rate variability measurements:

Specific Wrestling Fitness Test:

Statistical analyses:

Results

Discussion

Conclusions

Abbreviations

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References

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Version 1