Concepción Tuero

Monitoring the effects of training load changes on stress and recovery in swimmers

This study was designed to investigate if monitoring of stress and recovery may be useful to detect overreaching in its early stages and may be used to evaluate effects of changes in training load. Nine swimmers were applied theRecovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-Sport) in four different occasions (M1, M2, M3, M4) along a 6-week training period prior to a competition. During the basal training period (M1), recovery scales scored higher than stress scales, being the scalesGeneral well-being, Social recovery andBeing in shape those reaching higher scores. Following the measure corresponding to the second training period (M2), in which training volume reached a maximum, there were significant increases in two stress scales (Injury andEmotional exhaustion), and decreases in three recovery scales (Success, Physical recovery, andSelf-efficacy). Values increased again and did not significantly differ from those corresponding to the first measure during measures M3 and M4, in which there was a decrease in training volume and training time. Only a recovery scale score (Success) increased significantly from period M2 to period M4. When the recovery-stress (total recovery — total stress) state was calculated, it was found that there was a significant decreases in M2, and values progressively increased in measures M3 and M4, with no significant difference from M1. Results obtained indicate that the RESTQ-Sport is able to show significant changes concurrently with training loads. Regular monitoring of stress and recovery by these measures may help to detect overreaching in its early stages.ResumenEl estudio se planteó para valorar si la monitorización del estrés y la recuperación puede resultar útil para la detección de los estadios precoces del sobreentrenamiento a corto plazo y emplearse para evaluar los efectos de los cambios en las cargas de entrenamiento. Se aplicó elRecovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-Sport) a nueve deportistas en cuatro ocasiones (M1, M2, M3, M4) a lo largo de un periodo de entrenamiento de 6 semanas previo a la competición. Durante el período de entrenamiento basal (M1), las puntuaciones en las escalas de recuperación alcanzaron valores más elevados que los correspondientes a las escalas de estrés, siendo las escalas deBienestar general, Recuperación Social y Estar en Forma las que presentaban las mayores puntuaciones. Durante el segundo periodo de entrenamiento (M2), en el cual se producía el máximo volumen de entrenamiento, se dieron incrementos significativos en dos escalas de estrés (Lesiones y Agotamiento emocional), y disminuciones en tres escalas de recuperación (Éxito, Recuperación física y Autoeficacia). Los valores aumentaron de nuevo y ya no diferían significativamente de la primera determinación durante los periodos M3 y M4, en los cuales disminuían el volumen y el tiempo de entrenamiento. Solo una escala de recuperación (Éxito) se increamentaba significativamente desde el periodo M2 al periodo M4. Cuando se calculaba la recuperación-estrés (recuperación total — estrés total), se observaba una disminución significativa en M2 e incrementos progresivos en M3 y M4, con valores que ya no diferían significativamente de M1. Los resultados obtenidos indican que el RESTQ-Sport se modifica significativamente en función de la carga de entrenamiento. La monitorización regular del estrés y la recuperación mediante este instrumento puede ayudar a detectar los estadios precoces de sobreentrenamiento a corto plazo.

DEVELOPMENT OF A SPANISH VERSION OF THE PARTICIPATION MOTIVATION INVENTORY FOR YOUNG COMPETITIVE SWIMMERS

The present study examined the validity of a Spanish version of the Participation Motivation Inventory, modified for swimming by Gould, Feltz, and Weiss in 1985, and investigated whether young swimmers differing in sex and age vary in their objectives for participation. Swimmers (204 boys and 224 girls, ranging in age from 8 to 22 years) were administered the inventory. Factor analysis with varimax rotation identified seven factors fairly consistent with previous research. Differences were found across age and sex. Females placed greater emphasis than males on Friendship and Fun and indicated lower importance rating to Status. Younger children (8–10 years) rated Fun/Friendship, Competition/Skills, Significant Others, and Status significantly higher in importance than did the other age groups.