To Learn the Effects of Ramadan-Intermittent Fasting (RIF) and Time of Day on Physical Parameters of Taekwondo Athletes by Coaches

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Ramadan-intermittent fasting and different times of the day on the physical parameters of taekwondo athletes. A total of 15 professional Taekwondo athletes, 8 male and 7 female, participated in the study. Performance tests were performed one week before Ramadan (BR), the second week of Ramadan (SWR) and the end of the fourth week of Ramadan (ER) at 07:00 and 17:00. The descriptive statistics of the participants were as follows: mean age 21.131.90 years, height 169.53±8.64, weight 64.80±18.48 in BR and 62.33±16.91 in ER. Speed (30m), agility (hexagon), lower extremity flexibility (hip flexion angle=ROM), and vertical jump strength (counter movement jump=CMJ) performance determination tests were performed. Goniometer was used for lower extremity flexibility measurement and My Jump2 application, which has been proven to be valid and reliable, was used for CMJ performances. The data obtained were evaluated in the statistical package programme (SPSS) at a significance level of 0.05 using parametric (independent t-test) for agility and nonparametric (Mann-Whitney U) test for other tests according to normality test. It was observed that morning and evening hours of different days had no significant effect on speed, agility, flexibility and jumping force values (p>.05), agility test data differed only before and after Ramadan and this difference was in favour of after Ramadan. At the same time, it was observed that the values obtained from the agility test were higher in the morning before Ramadan (11.20 sec) and in the evening before Ramadan (11.28 sec) than in the evening after Ramadan (10.06 sec). As a result, we can say that long-term malnutrition of athletes does not have a positive or negative effect on many performance characteristics. It is thought that learning the findings obtained in this study and future studies by the coaches may provide important contributions to the coaches to prepare and organise more appropriate training programmes for the athletes.