Abstract

Thanks to systematic training in artistic gymnastics, diverse movement skills are formed and agility, strength and speed are perfected. Under influence of work that is repeated many times and continuously, biochemical, physiological, morphological and functional changes occur in human body, which depend on the characteristics of work being performed. During physical exercise, temporary changes in blood composition are observed, especially in number and distribution of leukocytes. An important role in this process is played by adrenal gland, which secretes hormones such as adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol. These hormones participate in regulation of energy metabolism, blood pressure, heart rate and inflammatory processes during and after physical activity. The intensity and duration of exercise directly affect level of these hormones in the blood. In our work, we studied fluctuations and changes in leukocytes, leukocyte formula, as well as changes in adrenal gland hormones. To determine above parameters, we monitored 20 adult gymnasts, of whom 10 were male and 10 were female. The obtained data were subjected to statistical processing with ANOVA (p ≤ 00.5). Systematic training and physical exercises increase function cortical layer of the adrenal gland, increasing body’s resistance to action of various stressors. Hormones play an important role, because they quickly mobilize forces of athlete’s body.