Changes in Physical Fitness, Muscle Damage and Cognitive Function in Elite Rugby Players over a Season
Mohamed Houssem Karamti,
Hassane Zouhal,
Mariem Bousselmi,
Manel Darragi,
Hamdi Khannous,
Ahlem Ben Hmid,
Imen Zamali,
Mélika Ben Ahmed,
Ismail Laher,
Urs Granacher,
Amira Zouita Ben Moussa
Affiliations
Mohamed Houssem Karamti
Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of SFAX, University of Sfax, Sfax 3027, Tunisia
Hassane Zouhal
Movement, Sport, Health and Sciences Laboratory (M2S), UFR APS, University of Rennes 2-ENS Cachan, Av. Charles Tillon, CEDEX, 35044 Rennes, France
Mariem Bousselmi
Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of SFAX, University of Sfax, Sfax 3027, Tunisia
Manel Darragi
Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of SFAX, University of Sfax, Sfax 3027, Tunisia
Hamdi Khannous
Tunisian Rugby Federation, Tunis 1000, Tunisia
Ahlem Ben Hmid
Clinical Immunology Department, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis 1000, Tunisia
Imen Zamali
Clinical Immunology Department, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis 1000, Tunisia
Mélika Ben Ahmed
Clinical Immunology Department, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis 1000, Tunisia
Ismail Laher
Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
Urs Granacher
Department of Sport and Sport Science, Exercise and Human Movement Science, University of Freiburg, 79102 Freiburg, Germany
Amira Zouita Ben Moussa
Research Laboratory (LR23JS01) “Sport Performance, Health & Society”, Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Said, Tunis 1000, Tunisia
This study proposes to monitor the physical, immune and cognitive responses and adaptations of elite rugby players throughout the season based on the loads performed. Anthropometric measurements, physical fitness tests (e.g., muscle strength and power, linear and change-of-direction speed, cardiorespiratory fitness) and analyses of serum concentrations of markers of muscle damage (creatine kinase [CK] and lactate dehydrogenase [LDH]) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were carried out over a sporting season (24 weeks) for 17 elite rugby players (10 forwards and 7 backs) aged 18.91 ± 0.76 years. The physical fitness test results show improvements in the performance of both forwards and backs over the season (p p p p p < 0.05). The muscular and physical capacities of rugby players differ according to their playing position. Immune responses and adaptations, as well as BDNF levels, vary throughout the season and depend on the physical load performed.
