2026-09-20T10:23:20Zhttps://riubu.ubu.es/oai/request

oai:riubu.ubu.es:10259/121052026-09-18T00:05:30Zcom_10259_11209com_10259_5086com_10259_2604col_10259_11210

Miguel Ortega, Alvaro Fernández Landa, Julen Calleja González, Julio Mielgo Ayuso, Juan 2026-09-17T09:39:00Z 2026-09-17T09:39:00Z 2023-08 https://hdl.handle.net/10259/12105 10.3390/APP132011126 2076-3417 The testosterone–cortisol ratio is a concept in human biology that refers to the balance between testosterone, the main anabolic steroid, and cortisol, another steroid hormone. The two hormones are said to be habitually positively “coupled”. Increases or decreases in testosterone tend to be associated with corresponding increases or decreases in cortisol, and vice versa. The present study explored hormone coupling and its relationship to stress levels in the sport performances of an elite women’s volleyball team. (1) Aim: to assess the testosterone–cortisol concentration dynamic over 16 weeks and its link to sport performance in elite female volleyball players (height: 1.8 ± 0.1 m; 24.2 ± 2.7 years; playing experience 15 ± 2.8 years; years played at elite level 4.2 ± 2.2; testosterone–cortisol index time 1: 3.9 vs. time 2: 4.3) (n = 11). (2) Methods: blood samples (hormones among other biochemical parameters) and sports performance measurements (aerobic and anaerobic power among other tests) were taken from members of an elite women’s volleyball team over 16 weeks of competition. (3) Results: female volleyball players showed patterns of hormonal change and adaptation to stress. (4) Conclusions: the current investigation demonstrated that elite female volleyball players have higher basal levels of testosterone and cortisol than normal healthy women. The impact of training and competition is clearly reflected in the levels of T. Cortisol levels increase at the beginning of training and remain elevated throughout the season, but without significant changes. application/pdf eng MDPI Applied Sciences. 2023, V. 13, n. 20, art. 11126. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/app132011126 Atribución 4.0 Internacional http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Volleyball Women Testosterone Cortisol Performance Stress Dietary supplements Suplementos nutricionales Stress Levels and Hormonal Coupling and Their Relationship with Sports Performance in an Elite Women’s Volleyball Team info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Applied Sciences 13 20 11126