The concurrent use of objective and subjective measures of overtraining syndrome in Pahlavani wrestlers : A longitudinal study

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the concurrent use of objective and subjective measures in detecting overtraining syndrome among professional Pahlavani wrestlers. Methods: Thirty professional Pahlavani wrestlers participated in this longitudinal study. One week before the start of a three-month official training program, serum levels of testosterone, cortisol, TNF-α, and IL-6 were measured. Additionally, the Société Francaise de Médecine du Sport Questionnaire (SFMS-Q) was administered. These variables were reassessed at the midpoint and the end of the training period. Results: Results showed that serum levels of cortisol, TNF-α, and IL-6, as well as SFMS-Q scores, were significantly higher at the end of the training program compared to baseline (p < 0.05). Serum testosterone levels were significantly lower post-training (p < 0.05). Significant positive correlations were found between SFMSQ scores and cortisol (p = 0.001), TNF-α (p = 0.022), and IL-6 (p = 0.001) at the end of the program. A significant negative correlation was also observed between SFMSQ scores and testosterone levels (p = 0.016). Conclusion: These findings suggest that Pahlavani wrestling-specific training may lead to shifts toward overtraining syndrome. Furthermore, subjective measures appear to be more sensitive to changes in training load and may aid in the early detection of overtraining. Overall, the combined use of objective and subjective measures within a longitudinal framework may serve as an effective strategy for the early identification and prevention of overtraining syndrome.