TITLE:
Salivary Cortisol in an Extreme Non-Competitive Sport Exercise: Winter Swimming
AUTHORS:
Patrizia Loria, Stefano Ottoboni, Luigi Michelazzi, Roberto Giuria, Paola Ghisellini, Cristina Rando, Roberto Eggenhöffner
KEYWORDS:
Stress Hormone, Winter Swimmers, Sportsmen, Adaptation Syndrome, Immunological Analysis
JOURNAL NAME:
Natural Science,
Vol.6 No.6,
April
15,
2014
ABSTRACT: Salivary cortisol role in response to strong stressors implied in
extreme exercises and in sport practice was investigated with the aim to verify
the claimed benefits that steers winter swimmers to self-prescribe the trials.
Specific biochemical data allow to study a variety of stressors in sports and
physical exercises, including extreme ones as winter swimming. Salivary
cortisol behavior was examined in winter swimmers trials and canoe, canoe-polo
competitions and comparisons of results between days with and without
performances were reported. Cortisol circadian rhythm in sedentary subjects was
collected as control. All the subjects were selected after anamnestic-clinical
checks to evaluate their physiological conditions. The circadian cortisol
behavior was reported in days with competitions and trials as well as between
these events. Abrupt cortisol concentration changes were detected at the time
of the trials and competitions: surprisingly, large increasing and decreasing
concentrations were detected in both groups. Moreover, in winter swimmers,
cortisol concentration remained fairly elevated in the evening of the trial
days. In days without competitions, the usual cortisol circadian rhythm was
recovered in sportsmen whereas cortisol concentrations persisted at high levels
up to the evening in winter swimmers. The view that an extreme sport-like
exercise as the winter swimming may well pose some treats ranging from
subclinical aspects up to dismetabolic pathologies and even cardiovascular
risks is strengthened by results of cortisol trends, suggesting to check
physiological conditions. Results demonstrate that well-being feeling can be in
contrast to the claimed improvements of health.