Association of Hematological Variables with Team-Sport Specific Fitness Performance

PLoS One. 2015 Dec 7;10(12):e0144446. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144446. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Purpose: We investigated association of hematological variables with specific fitness performance in elite team-sport players.

Methods: Hemoglobin mass (Hbmass) was measured in 25 elite field hockey players using the optimized (2 min) CO-rebreathing method. Hemoglobin concentration ([Hb]), hematocrit and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were analyzed in venous blood. Fitness performance evaluation included a repeated-sprint ability (RSA) test (8 x 20 m sprints, 20 s of rest) and the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 2 (YYIR2).

Results: Hbmass was largely correlated (r = 0.62, P<0.01) with YYIR2 total distance covered (YYIR2TD) but not with any RSA-derived parameters (r ranging from -0.06 to -0.32; all P>0.05). [Hb] and MCHC displayed moderate correlations with both YYIR2TD (r = 0.44 and 0.41; both P<0.01) and RSA sprint decrement score (r = -0.41 and -0.44; both P<0.05). YYIR2TD correlated with RSA best and total sprint times (r = -0.46, P<0.05 and -0.60, P<0.01; respectively), but not with RSA sprint decrement score (r = -0.19, P>0.05).

Conclusion: Hbmass is positively correlated with specific aerobic fitness, but not with RSA, in elite team-sport players. Additionally, the negative relationships between YYIR2 and RSA tests performance imply that different hematological mechanisms may be at play. Overall, these results indicate that these two fitness tests should not be used interchangeably as they reflect different hematological mechanisms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Athletic Performance / physiology*
  • Exercise Test
  • Hemoglobins / analysis*
  • Hockey / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Physical Endurance / physiology*

Substances

  • Hemoglobins

Grants and funding

This research was funded by a Grant awarded by Aspetar (Qatar Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Hospital) at the Aspire Zone Foundation, Qatar (AF/C/ASP1905/11). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.