The effect of basketball competition on resting level of Immunoglobulins in elite female basketball players

This research aimed to investigate the effect of one period of first division basketball competition
on some immune system factors in elite female basketball players. For this reason, 20 basketball
players with average age of 23 ±3 years ,weight: 62.1± 9.50 kg, height:167.5 ± 5.04 cm ,
BMI:22.03 ± 2.09 kg/m2 and maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max): 41.70 ± 11.50 ml.kg.min were
examined. Subjects were divided experimental group(10 selected players who attended actively as
main individuals in league competitions) and control groups(10 first division basketball players
who didn’t participate in competitions but continue to exercise 5 days a week for 1.5 h/d).
Competitions program was as follow: in first week 3 competitions and after one week interruption,
in third week 4 competition was carried out alternatively. Twenty four hours before first
competition and 24 h after last competition blood sample was taken for measuring serum
immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, IgG) by using Neflometery method. Data analysis was done by
dependent t- test and independent t-test for assessing mean changes in and between groups,
respectively. Results showed that one period of first division basketball competition leads to
significant increase in resting levels of serum IgA and IgG of elite basketball players while increase
in IgM was not significant. Overall, it appear that immune system of basketball players was
affected by physical and psychological stress at the end of competitions and this may Cause
athletes catching upper respiratory tract infections.