Urinary epinephrine and norepinephrine levels in women athletes during training and competition

Abstract
Training and competitive epinephrine and norepinephrine levels and proportions were compared in two groups of women athletes to determine whether changes in catecholamine excretion reflect the added mental stress of athletic competition on physical effort. An intercollegiate basketball team and a group of track and field athletes volunteered as subjects. Competitive epinephrine urinary levels were significantly (PP<0.01) higher epinephrine levels than the team members; thus suggesting that anticipation of competiton imposes a mental stress on an athlete. Constant changes in the catecholamine pattern as against a normal work load have yet to be established.