The effect of time-of-day and judo match on short-term maximal performances in judokas

The aim of the present study was to investigate the time-of-day effect on short-term maximal performances before and after a judo match in young judokas. Ten male judokas (age, 18.2 +/- 1.4 yrs; height, 176.5 +/- 4.6cm; body mass, 74.1 +/- 9.6kg) performed three test sessions at 09:00, 12:30, and 16:00h. During each session, they completed the hand grip (HG) and the Wingate tests before (T0) and after (T1) a 5-min judo combat. Likewise, core temperature was measured at T0 and T1 in all sessions. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scores were obtained at the end of each combat. Core temperature recorded before and after the judo match was lower at 09:00h than 12:30h and 16:00h, and at 12:30h than 16:00h (p<0.001). Furthermore, the results indicated a significant increase in core temperature after the combat with respect to before the combat at the three times of measurement (p<0.001). Muscle strength and power were significantly lower at 09:00h than 16:00h only before the combat (p<0.05). Furthermore, the results indicated a significant decrease in muscle strength and power at 09:00, 12:30, and 16:00h after the combat than before the combat (p<0.05), with higher decrease in performance at 16:00h than 09:00 and 12:30h (e.g. 3.7 +/- 6.2% vs. 3.7 +/- 1.7% vs. 6.4 +/- 5.0% for HG at 09:00, 12:30, and 16:00h, respectively). The RPE scores were not significantly different between 09:00, 12:30, and 16:00h. In conclusion, judokas' muscle power and strength were significantly higher in the afternoon than the morning. However, these diurnal variations disappeared after the judo match by a higher fatigue in the afternoon than the morning.