Effects of physical training on endocrine and autonomic response to acute stress

The effects of physical training on autonomic response to acute stress are controversial. In this study, heart rate (HR) and skin conductance level (SCL) were continuously recorded in response to a mental stressor in a sample of elite athletes before and after a period of training and competition. The free testosterone to cortisol ratio (FTCR) and the Profile of Mood States (POMS) were used as markers of training impact. After the training, the men and women showed a significant FTCR decrement, although mood and the autonomic response to the acute stressor were not strongly altered. Although men showed significantly lower HR values after training, the results suggest that subjects suffered a transitory state of hormonal overstrain rather than a serious problem of adaptation to training.