[Somatic health of athletes during endurance training]

Aim of the work is to investigate changes of the somatic health and its components under the influence of training loads aimed at endurance training.

Material and Methods. We have examined 54 male athletes who are engaged in different sports. In order to assess the state of the athletes we have used traditional morphofunctional methods including different anthropometric measurements and a series of tests with standard physical exercise. The evaluation of the somatic health level (SHL) was carried out according to H. L. Apanasenko method. Based on the changes of the somatic health components we have conducted the analysis of changes in the athletes' body. To assess the research results we have used the distribution-free method of statistical analysis, using which we can evaluate the Wilcoxon criteria, and percentile method analysis based on determining the individual assessments of each of the indicators, taking into consideration falling in appropriate limits of percentile ranges.

Results and Discussion. The analysis of individual variants of SHL changes according to H. L. Apanasenko showed that among the athletes who trained their general endurance (EG₁) there was a significant increase in the number of people with high (5 times) and above average (almost twofold) SHL. There was an increase in variants of above average level of somatic health (more than twofold) in athletes who trained their strength endurance (EG₂). Herewith, low and lower average levels occurred in 12% (p<0,05) of cases despite the fact that they decreased by half. The influence of training loads aimed at developing strength endurance on the respiratory system was confirmed by the increase in vital index to the high level in 15,4 % of athletes from EG₂. The analysis of the individual variants revealed that the positive dynamics of vital index level was observed in one out of four athletes from both groups; at the same time there was the negative dynamics of vital index in 14,3% of athletes from EG₁ and in 7,6% of athletes from EG₂, requiring further explanation. The training loads aimed at development of the strength endurance quite often (in 38,5% of cases) caused deterioration in strength of hands and only in 19.1% of cases contributed to its enhancement. During the development of the general endurance in 32,1% of cases the power index (PI) improved and in 21,4 % of cases it deteriorated. The analysis of individual variants of Robinson index level changes showed that in 50% of athletes from EG₂ and in 42,9% of athletes from EG₁ the improvement of cardiovascular system economization occurred. At the sometime the negative tendency was observed in 15,4% of athletes from EG₁. The development of the general endurance improved significantly the training loads tolerance in 32,1% of athletes while the training of the strength endurance - only in 42,3% of athletes. On the other side, in 17,8 % of athletes from EG₁ and in 42,3% of athletes from EG₂ the training loads tolerance deteriorated, which requires further investigation of these athletes' state by using instrumental, biochemical and other methods of research that allow us to clarify such dynamics.

Conclusions. The investigation of the influence of training loads, aimed at the development of the general and strength endurance revealed that according to normal values of such indicators as vital capacity (VC), Robinson index (RI) and power index (PI), the increase in the level of somatic health was noted in both groups. However, the analysis of the individual variants of training loads influence on the general endurance pointed out the deterioration of SHR in 10,7% of cases, vital index in 14,3% of cases, the strength of hands in 21,4% of cases, Robinson index in 3,6% of cases and in 17,8% of training loads tolerance. The development of the strength endurance deteriorated SHR in 26,9% of cases, vital index in 7,6% of cases, the strength of hands in 38,5% of cases, in 15,4% of Robinson index cases and in 42,3% of the training loads tolerance cases.