Effect of Fencing Championship on Muscular Damage Indicators in Fencer Females

Introduction: Assessing muscle damage may help to improve the performance of athletes during the tournament. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a fencing tournament on muscle damage markers in fencer females. Methods: In a semi-experimental research ۲۰ fencer women with mean age ۲۱.۵۹ ± ۴.۰۳ years, BMI ۲۰.۷۹ ± ۳.۱۳ kg.m-۲ and VO۲max ۴۱.۰۱ ± ۴.۹۸ ml.kg-۱.min-۱ were selected purposefully and randomly divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group competed fencing in a periodically and single-off form. Blood samples were drawn before, immediately after, ۲۴ and ۴۸ hours after the tournament. Statistical analysis of repeated measures and independent t-test were used at P≤ ۰.۰۵. Results: The results showed that the differences in CK levels were significant before and immediately after, before and ۲۴ hours after, before and ۴۸ hours later, immediately after and ۲۴ hours later, ۲۴ hours and ۴۸ hours after the tournament (p<۰.۰۵). Meanwhile, the differences between CK levels immediately after and ۴۸ hours after the tournament were not significant (p>۰.۰۵). Differences in the levels of LDH before and immediately after, immediately after and ۲۴ hours later and immediately after and ۴۸ hours after the tournament were significant (p<۰.۰۵), but before, ۲۴ hours and ۴۸ hours after the tournament and ۲۴ hours later and ۴۸ hours after it (p> ۰.۰۵) were not significant. Conclusion: In professional fencers, a tournament could lead to muscle injury. This can be useful for fencers and coaches to examine the intensity of the exercises and adaptability of involved muscles.

Keywords:

Fencing , Muscle Damage , Creatine Kinase , Lactate Dehydrogenase