Pre-Exercise Mood and Physiological Responses to Maximal Effort in Elite Rowers

NCT07243613 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: RowersPOMS20236000
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 28
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study examined how the body and mood respond to intense physical effort in elite male and female rowers. Athletes completed a maximal rowing test after one week of hard training. Researchers collected blood samples before and after exercise to measure stress hormones and brain-related chemicals. They also used a short questionnaire to assess how the athletes felt emotionally before the test. The goal of the study is to better understand how physical and mental fatigue develop in well-trained athletes, and whether men and women respond differently.

Conditions

Health Adult Subjects

Keywords

Exercise-induced Fatigue; Elithe Athletes; Neurtransmitters; Mood State

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (6)

• Serum Testosterone concentration

  Testosterone concentration will be measured in serum using immunoassay. Units: ng/mL.

  Before exercise, immediately after, and 1 hour after recovery

• Serum Cortisol concentration

  Cortisol concentration will be measured in serum using an immunoassay. Units: ng/mL

  Before exercise, immediately after, and 1 hour after recovery

• Serum Serotonin concentration

  Serotonin concentration will be measured in serum using an immunoassay. Units: ng/mL

  Before exercise, immediately after, and 1 hour after recovery

• Serum Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentration

  GABA concentration will be measured in serum using an immunoassay. Units: µg/dL

  Before exercise, immediately after, and 1 hour after recovery

• Serum Tryptophan concentration

  Tryptophan concentration will be measured in serum using an immunoassay. Units: µg/dL

  Before exercise, immediately after, and 1 hour after recovery

• Profile of Mood States

  Self-reported mood assessed using the Profile of Mood States (POMS); total and subscale scores.

  Before exercise

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• T:C ratio

  Before exercise, immediately after, and 1 hour after recovery

• S:D ratio

  Before exercise, immediately after, and 1 hour after recovery

Study Arms (2)

Elite male rowers

Other: Maximal Rowing Test

Elite female rowers

Other: Maximal Rowing Test

Interventions

Maximal Rowing Test OTHER

Participants completed a 2000-meter maximal rowing ergometer test on day 8 following a standardized 7-day high-load training period. The test served as the physiological and psychological stressor used to assess acute fatigue responses.

Elite female rowers; Elite male rowers

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 19 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

All participants were recruited and tested at the Central Sports Centre - Olympic Preparation Center (COS OPO) in Wałcz, Poland, during a national team training camp under standardized conditions.

You may qualify if:

• Aged 19-25 years National-level competitive rower Minimum 5 years of structured rowing training Currently in full training and competition season Completed 7-day standardized high-load training program Provided written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Use of medications or supplements affecting hormonal or neurochemical markers Known endocrine, neurological, or psychiatric disorders Injury or illness interfering with training or testing Incomplete participation in the training camp or testing protocol

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Poznan University of Physical Education: lead

Study Sites (1)

Poznań University of Physical Education

Poznan, Greater Poland Voivodeship, 61-871, Poland

Location

Study Officials

• Anna Skarpańska-Stejborn, Professor

  Poznań University of Physical Education, Faculty of Sport Sciences in Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland;

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: RETROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 14, 2025
• First Posted: November 24, 2025
• Study Start: March 15, 2024
• Primary Completion: March 30, 2025
• Study Completion: June 30, 2025
• Last Updated: November 24, 2025

Record last verified: 2024-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PL (1)