Changes in selected biochemical, muscular strength, power, and endurance measures during deliberate overreaching and tapering in rugby league players

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of overreaching on muscle strength, power, endurance and selected biochemical responses in rugby league players. Seven semi-professional rugby league players (VO2max = 56.1 +/- 1.7 mL center dot kg(-1) center dot min(-1) age = 25.7 +/- 2.6 yr; BMI = 27.6 +/- 2.0) completed 6 weeks of progressive overload training with limited recovery periods. A short 7-day stepwise reduction taper immediately followed the overload period. Measures of muscular strength, power and endurance and selected biochemical parameters were taken before and after overload training and taper. Multistage fitness test running performance was significantly reduced (12.3%) following the overload period. Although most other performance measures tended to decrease following the overload period, only peak hamstring torque at 1.05 rad center dot s(-1) was significantly reduced (p < 0.05). Following the taper, a significant increase in peak hamstring torque and isokinetic work at both slow (1.05 rad center dot s(-1)) and fast (5.25 rad center dot s(-1)) movement velocities were observed.