The Effect of Two Types of Tapering on Plasma Levels of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines and Performance in Elite Male Wrestlers

Background. Although tapering techniques are widely used in a variety of sports, guidelines for the programming of optimal tapering strategy in wrestling have not been well established. So, Objectives. The propose of this study was to investigate the effect of two types of tapering on plasma levels of pro- inflammatory cytokines and performance in elite male wrestlers. Methods. Thirty elite male wrestlers participated in four weeks of incremental high intensity wrestling training (competition season), and so they randomly divided into three equal groups to continue the training for one week as Tapering 1 group (50% reduction in training volume), Tapering 2 group (75% reduction in training volume) and Control group (training with same volume). Blood samples were collected from all participants at the beginning of the 1st week and at the end of the 4th and 5th weeks. Plasma levels of IL-6 and TNF-&alpha; were assayed using standard commercial ELISA kits. Aerobic and anaerobic power, sprint, agility, muscular endurance and strength tests were measured as performance factors. Results. The findings revealed that the performance score (F3,41=29.15; p<0.001), IL-6 (F2.729,36.839=116.7; p<0.001), and TNF-a (F2.846,38.428=8.11; p<0.001) elevated significantly after 4 weeks in all groups but it decreased, elevated, and elevated significantly during fifth week in Control group, respectively. Besides, after one week tapering (both 50% and 75% reduction in training volume) performance score and plasma levels of IL-6 and TNF-a significantly elevated, decreased and suppressed, respectively. Conclusion. Elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine levels associated with decreased performance score and 1 week taper with 50% and 75% reduction in volume of training will essentially reverse these changes; and there are not any differences between two strategies of tapering.