Comparação da ansiedade competitiva, variabilidade da frequência cardíaca e cortisol salivar antes e durante uma competição com calendário congestionado em jovens atletas escolares de futsal

Abstract

Introduction: Pre-competitive anxiety and the physiological responses presented by athletes during competitive matches has become a focus of research in the field of sports training. However, few studies have observed this phenomenon in school children who participate in competitions held in successive matches. Objective: To analyze the somatic and cognitive anxiety of school athletes belonging to the U-17 futsal category and their autonomic and hormonal responses. Methods: Ten athletes (16.9 ± 0.7 years, 71.0 ± 5.1 kg, 174.9 ± 4.3 cm) were monitored during one-week taper phase (WT) and before each of the 3 competitive matches (2 qualifying matches and 1 eliminatory match, all lasting 40 minutes). The training load was estimated in all matches using the subjective rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and the session duration (session RPE). Approximately 60 minutes before each match, the CSAI21 questionnaire was completed to verify the pre-competitive anxiety state, as well as the players were submitted to evaluation of the heart rate variability (HRV) in the time domain (LnRMSSD). The one-way test of repeated measures for the analysis of the domains of precompetitive anxiety was used, the Friedman test was used for the analysis of the variables cortisol and HRV and Salivary cortisol, for the session-RPE analysis the equations generalized estimates (GHG), followed by Bonferroni post-hoc. Results: The session-RPE presented differences between the matches and training week (W(3) = 16,392, p = 0.001), showing reduction during the first match in relation to WT (5.2 ± 0.4 vs. 3.4 ± 0.7) and an increase in comparison between the first and third matches (3.4 ± 0.7 vs. 7.0 ± 1.3). The levels of cognitive anxiety were not statistically significant between the matches [F (1.644; 14.799) = 4.6, p = 0.73, partial eta ŋ² = 0.28], as well as, no significant levels of anxiety were found (F (2.09; 18.85) = 26.07 p = 0.057 partial eta ŋ² = 0.27] and in self-confidence [F (2.07; 18.85) = 15.875 p = 0.152 partial eta ŋ² = 0.18]. The cortisol values did not present changes between the matches χ² (3) = 4,320 p = 0,229 as well as the values of LnRMSSD [χ² (3) = 3,360, p = 0,339]. Conclusion: The competition model in which the athletes were evaluated did not significantly modify the state anxiety of the athletes, and also did not promote changes in the state of physiological excitation.