Why Athletes Should Measure Cortisol Levels

.....As a hormonal messenger, cortisol is thought to be involved in regulating essential functions in the body, including alertness, energy production and metabolism, blood pressure, blood-glucose levels, inflammation, and immune response. Additionally, cortisol is regulated by intricate feedback loops between the brain and the adrenals. Shadrack became increasingly convinced that cortisol was the biomarker to watch — more so than testosterone, heart-rate variability (the amount of time between heartbeats), and VO₂ Max (a measure of the maximum amount of oxygen the body can utilize during periods of increasing physical intensity). These other biomarkers vary little day by day, so that it’s hard to rely on real-time information about changes in the body that athletes and their coaches need to know. Indeed, research to date does not show any significant correlation between heart-rate variability (HRV), for example, and an athlete’s physical recovery post-exertion.....   ...more

Bethany`s Notes: A great read about cortisol levels and how that might be a measurement to take to better understand burnout, fatigue, and if someone is ready to train again.