Research results have demonstrated depressed levels of salivary immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) following strenuous physical activity which may be causally related to the incidence of upper respiratory infection (Mackinnon, Ginn, & Seymour, 1991, 1993; Tharp & Barnes, 1990; Tomasi, Trudeau, Czerwinski & Erredge, 1982). Practicing eliciting the Relaxation Response has been found to enhance s-IgA levels in several studies (Green & Green, 1987; Green, Green & Santaro, 1988; Jasnoski & Kugler, 1987; Olness, Culbert, & Uden, 1989). The purpose of this study was to extend such findings to determine if an original relaxation routine Relaxation Circuit (RC) practiced following heavy swim training may enhance recovery of s-IgA levels to pre-training levels or better. / Twenty-eight swimmers from the Florida State University Swimming Team volunteered to participate in the study (14-female, 14-male). The subjects were provided a taped copy of the Relaxation Circuit, instructed to practice the routine for three weeks, and record their experience on a log sheet. The swimmers were then divided into two groups for the intervention phase. Half were instructed to practice the Relaxation Circuit between practices on Intervention Day 1, and the other half not to. This was reversed the following day for Intervention Day 2. Four samples of saliva were collected each day: immediately pre- and post-practice for both morning and afternoon practices during the heaviest training period. / The saliva samples were measured with a standard enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) (Engvall, 1980). / A two-way ANOVA for gender and condition was conducted for each day. Only those who did not report falling asleep during either the intervention condition or the control condition were included in the analysis. While no main effects were found, a significant group by gender difference was found for Day 2 (F$\sb{1,15}$ = 4.36, p $<$.05). A post-hoc comparison of means revealed that males undergoing the intervention on Test Day 2, showed significantly improved s-IgA concentration following the RC intervention relative to those in the control condition (t$\sb8$ = 2.96, p $<$.05). There was no significant difference between the two conditions for females. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-06, Section: B, page: 2432. / Major Professor: David Pargman. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1994.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_77751 |
| Contributors | Ievleva, Lydia Barbara., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 143 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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