Is the development of functional overreaching an efficient strategy to improve swim performance in water polo after the tapering period?

Abstract

A strategy widely used in sports to promote increases in peformance in the main competition is a deliberate induction to the functional overreaching state (F-OR), followed by a period of reduction of training loads (tapering). However, although classically F-OR be a strategy widely used in sports, recent studies with more accurate and systematized F-OR diagnoses has shown that the development of this state can to limit performance gains during tapering in endurance efforts , making uncertain the efficiency of this strategy. In addition, it is still a little known about the effects of F-OR on a repeated sprints ability (RSA), which is considered a key-component of team sports such as the water polo. Thus, the present project aims to investigate whether the development of the F-OR state prior to the tapering period may limit water polo performance gains. For this, the present project will have two studies (study 1 and 2), where the purpose of the study 1 will be to characterize a distribution of the training loads during a season in the water polo and to detect as incidences of symptoms of functional/non-functional overreaching, (2) while the pupose of the study 2 will ivestigate if the development of F-OR status may limit an supercompensation of RSA and aerobic fitness in water polo athletes. Participants will be divided into two groups that perform training with different loads (one group will be induced in the state of F-OR) and will be evaluated before and after this training period. (AU)