J. Sport. Res. and Innov., vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 3-10, January 2024
1Institute of Sports Sciences, University of Physical Education, 31-571 Kraków, Poland 2Institute of Health Sciences, İnönü University, 44000 Malatya, Türkiye 3High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Kef, University of Jendouba, Jendouba 8189, Tunisia 4Department of Physical Culture and Sports Rehabilitation, Kharkiv State Academy of PhysicalCulture; Kharkiv, Ukraine 5Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, University of Physical Education, 31-571 Kraków, Poland *Correspondence: lukasz.rydzik@awf.krakow.pl
Abstract
Background: Kickboxing is a sport that imposes significant physical and psychological stress on athletes, often pushing them to the limits of their physical endurance and mental resilience. This study focuses on analyzing changes in cortisol concentration, a key stress hormone synthesized in response to stress caused by physical and mental effort during kickboxing competitions in the K1 format. Methods: The study was conducted on 20 kickboxing athletes following K1 rules, in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration and the approval of the ethical committee. Cortisol concentration levels were measured before and after fights, and statistical analyses were performed using PQ Stat software to compare pre- and post-fight levels. Results: The results indicate a significant increase in cortisol concentration levels after the fight, suggesting a strong impact of kickboxing training on cortisol levels. This may indicate the body’s natural response to intense physical effort, highlighting the role of cortisol in energy mobilization and adaptation to increased training demands. Conclusions: Monitoring of steroid hormones – cortisol seems to be essential in coaching practice, and understanding these responses allows athletes to optimize their preparations for competitions.
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