Influences of an official competition and a training session on the salivary cortisol.

The purpose of this study was the comparison of the influence of a training session and an official competition on the salivary cortisol concentrations. The study was performed on 36 women who practiced a team game (handball or volleyball) at a national (group A) or regional (group B) level. Salivary cortisol was analysed by a radioimmunoassay technique, Salivary samples were taken 5 to 10 minutes before and after the training session and the competition. Cortisol concentrations in saliva were not modified during the training session in the two groups, The levels of salivary cortisol before and after the training session were higher in group A, The influence of the training session on the cortisol levels demonstrated no significant differences between the two groups. Cortisol concentrations in saliva rose 77% during the competition in the national group and 25% in the regional group. The level of cortisol before and after the competition was higher in the national group. Results suggest that competition has a different influence on the salivary cortisol level than a training session. The stress related to competition might be an explanation for this.