Changes in Perceived Exertion, Well-Being, and Recovery During Specific Judo Training: Impact of Training Period and Exercise Modality

Ibrahim Ouergui; Luca Paolo Ardigò; Okba Selmi; Danielle Evé Levitt; Hamdi Chtourou; Anissa Bouassida; Ezdine Bouhlel; Emerson Franchini

doi:10.3389/fphys.2020.00931

Changes in Perceived Exertion, Well-Being, and Recovery During Specific Judo Training: Impact of Training Period and Exercise Modality

Front Physiol. 2020 Aug 14:11:931. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00931. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Ibrahim Ouergui¹, Luca Paolo Ardigò², Okba Selmi¹, Danielle Evé Levitt^{3

4}, Hamdi Chtourou^{5

6}, Anissa Bouassida¹, Ezdine Bouhlel⁷, Emerson Franchini⁸

Affiliations

¹ High Institute of Sports and Physical Education of Kef, University of Jendouba, El Kef, Tunisia.
² Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, School of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
³ Applied Physiology Laboratory, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, United States.
⁴ Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, United States.
⁵ Institut Supérieur du Sport et de l'Education Physique de Sfax, Université de Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.
⁶ Activité Physique, Sport et Santé, UR18JS01, Observatoire National du Sport, Tunis, Tunisia.
⁷ Laboratory of Cardio-Circulatory, Respiratory, Metabolic and Hormonal Adaptations to Muscular Exercise, Faculty of Medicine Ibn El Jazzar, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia.
⁸ Martial Arts and Combat Sports Research Group, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Abstract

The present study investigated the effect of intense and tapering training periods using different exercise modalities (i.e., Randori - grip dispute practice without throwing technique, Uchi-komi - technique repetition training, and sprinting) on rating of perceived exertion (RPE), well-being indices, recovery state, and physical enjoyment in judo athletes. Sixty-one adolescent male and female judo athletes (age: 15 ± 1 years) were randomly assigned to one of three experimental or one control groups. Experimental groups (Randori, Uchi-komi, and running) trained four times per week for 4 weeks of intense training (in addition to their usual technical-tactical judo training; control group underwent only such a training) followed by 12 days of tapering. RPE, well-being indices [i.e., sleep, stress, fatigue, and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS)], total quality of recovery (TQR), and physical enjoyment were measured every session. RPE, sleep, stress, fatigue, DOMS, Hooper index (HI; sum of wellbeing indices), and TQR were lower in the tapering compared with the intensified training period (P < 0.001). Moreover, the running group showed better values for sleep (P < 0.001), stress (P < 0.001), fatigue (P = 0.006), DOMS (P < 0.001), and HI (P < 0.001) in comparison with the other training groups, indicating a more negative state of wellbeing. The Randori and Uchi-komi groups showed higher values for TQR and physical enjoyment (both P < 0.001) than the running group, whereas RPE was lower in the control compared with all training groups (P < 0.001). Coaches should use more specific training modalities (i.e., Randori and Uchi-komi) during intensified training and should monitor well-being indices, RPE, and TQR during training periods. Moreover, for all variables, 12 days tapering period are beneficial for improving wellbeing and recovery after 4 weeks of intense training.

Keywords: judo; overreaching; overtraining; recovery; taper; training load.