Training follow up by questionnaire fatigue, hormones and heart rate variability measurements

Introduction. - A short questionnaire of fatigue, urinary cortisol/cortisone ratio and heart rate variability were measured in 14 elite swimmers during heavy, light and moderate training periods. Results. - the questionnaire was strongly related to the variations of training and performance (r > 0.70). Correlations were lower with the hormonal ratio and insignificant with the heart rate variability. Conclusion. - The questionnaire and the hormonal ratio were good markers of the variations of training and performance contrary to the heart rate variability. (C) 2003 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS. Tous droits reserves.