The Effect of the Tapering on the Concentration of Some Plasma Cytokines and Physical Performance in Endurance Male Runners

Moderate exercise training improves immune system function, but intensive and prolonged bouts of endurance training weaken immune function. Some athletes reduce their training load for 6-21 days before the major competitions. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of 7 and 21 days tapering period length on the concentrations of some plasma immunological factors and performance time in endurance male runners. This semi experimental study was performed on 22 well trained male runners with aged 24.5 ± 2.6 years. Before the beginning of exercise trainings, the subjects were randomly divided into two groups (control and taper). The blood samples were taken 1 and 3 days before the beginning of training and after 4, 8, 9, and 11 weeks training, immediately after 10 km treadmill test. IL-1β and IL-6 levels were assayed by using a validated commercial ELISA (Quantikine; Minneapolis, MN) and compared together. With comparison IL-1β and IL-6 concentrations and performance time between groups, after 11 weeks training, there were significant decreases in IL-1β and IL-6 concentrations and performance time in the taper group in comparison with control group (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001). According to the research results, during three week taper period, decreasing of training volume of the taper group in proportion to control group one can reduce IL-1β and IL-6 concentrations without having disorder on performance time. It is likely because of the muscle myocyte injury decrease in athlete's body. Therefore coaches regarding caution can use 2 to 3 week taper period for improving of athletic performance.