Dynamics of functional state recovery indicators in athletes during training camps

Abstract

Background and Study Aim. Training camps are a stage in the annual training cycle of wrestlers. They are characterized by a high concentration of training loads and increased functional stress on the organism. Under such conditions, the effectiveness of recovery processes becomes a factor determining athletes' adaptive capacity, functional readiness, and training performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the dynamics of physiological, functional, and subjective recovery indicators in wrestlers during different stages of a training camp within the framework of medical and pedagogical monitoring. Materials and Methods. The study involved 24 male wrestlers of competitive level who participated in a centralized training camp. This was a single-group repeated-measures study with four measurement time points: baseline (3 days before the camp), initial (days 1–3), main (days 10–12), and final (days 19–21). The evaluated indicators included resting heart rate, heart rate variability parameters [root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), primary outcome], the Ruffier index, and subjective indicators of functional state (well-being, activity, and mood). Heart rate variability was recorded under standardized resting conditions. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and repeated-measures ANOVA with effect sizes (partial η²) and 95% confidence intervals for within-subject changes. Results. The results showed a trend toward improvement in recovery-related indicators during the training camp. RMSSD increased from 50.8 ± 6.1 ms at baseline to 55.3 ± 6.9 ms at the final stage (mean change 4.5 ms; 95% CI [2.1, 6.9]; p = 0.01; Cohen's dz = 0.7). A gradual decrease in resting heart rate (from 64.1 ± 2.9 to 61.8 ± 2.6 bpm; mean change –2.3 bpm; 95% CI [–3.5, –1.1]; p < 0.01) and Ruffier index values was observed. These changes indicate improved cardiovascular efficiency and functional readiness. Subjective indicators of functional state also showed positive dynamics. Their progression was not strictly parallel, which indicates individual differences in the perception of training load and recovery. Despite overall favorable trends, individual analysis revealed that a subset of athletes (29.2%) exhibited less pronounced or unstable recovery dynamics. Conclusions. The findings indicate that recovery processes during training camps are characterized by stage-dependent dynamics and inter-individual variability. The observed changes suggest improved parasympathetic modulation and cardiovascular efficiency. However, due to the single-group design, causal inferences are limited. The combined use of objective physiological indicators and subjective assessment tools provides a basis for evaluating recovery in the context of medical and pedagogical monitoring.