The functional readiness of athletes from cyclic sports

Aim. The study aims at assessing the functional status of highly skilled athletes from track-and-field and ski sports and determining fatigue criteria. Materials and methods. Highly skilled track-and-field athletes (43) and skiers (16) underwent examination at the preparatory stage of a training cycle. The functional readiness of athletes was assessed using questionnaires, anthropometric, physiological and biochemical research methods. Results. According to the medical history and questionnaire data, all athletes were divided into two groups: the first group included subjects without any signs of fatigue, the second group comprised athletes with fatigue complaints. In athletes with fatigue complaints, increased heart rate was recorded both at rest and after the recovery period; physical efficiency reduced by 28 %, maximum oxygen consumption - by 17.7 %. Heart rate variability in these athletes demonstrates the increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system and increased stress index of the regulatory systems. Glutathione content and the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase) were lower in the erythrocytes of the second group. Some alterations in physiological and biochemical data of the second group demonstrated the presence of physical fatigue. Conclusion. 37.3 % of athletes from cyclic sports experienced any fatigue. The data of antioxidant protection, physical efficiency, maximum oxygen consumption and heart rate variability can be used for a comprehensive assessment of functional readiness and physical fatigue in athletes.