RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BLOOD LACTATE LEVELS, HEART RATE AND TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE IN ELITE MALE FREE STYLE WRESTLERS

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between heart rate (HR), blood lactate (La) level and game score during maximal effort, and alterations in HR and La levels during the recovery period. A total of 33 male free style wrestlers aged 26.1 ± 2.0 yr participated in the research voluntarily. Participants’ resting HR and La levels were determined and a 10-min warm-up was performed deploying maximal effort. “Fireman’s carry” technique was performed by the wrestlers as a maximal effort. HR and La levels were measured at the end of each two 2-min periods. Game scores of the wrestlers were recorded. HR and La measurements at the 3, 15 and 30th min into the recovery period were recorded to determine participants’ recovery features. Significant (p<0.05) relationships among HR, La and game scores were found in the first period only. In addition it was established that HR, La levels and game scores were statistically differentiated (p<0.05) as periods progressed: HR and La levels increased, and game scores declined. Also, it was observed that HR and La levels progressively declined (p<0.05) during recovery. To conclude, it was established that increases in HR and La levels effected game scores negatively. In the other words, it can be stressed that fatigue has negative effects on game scores. An important result of this study is that La levels declined slower than HR did. In this context, lactate level may be considered the main criterion of recovery.