Effect of Hydrogen-rich Water During Tapering on Recovery After Functional Overreaching in Basketball Players

Overview

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether hydrogen-rich water supplementation during tapering improves recovery after functional overreaching in competitive male basketball players aged 18-35 years. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does hydrogen-rich water improve autonomic recovery after functional overreaching? * Does hydrogen-rich water improve recovery in biochemical, performance, and subjective feeling outcomes during tapering? Researchers will compare hydrogen-rich water to placebo (water containing no molecular hydrogen) to determine whether molecular hydrogen improves recovery after accumulated fatigue has been induced by functional overreaching. Participants will: * Complete a training cycle including normal training, functional overreaching, and tapering. * Consume hydrogen-rich or placebo water daily during the one-week tapering period. * Undergo repeated testing of autonomic nervous system, blood biochemical markers, performance, and subjective soreness.

The study consists of an initial screening and entry testing phase, followed by one week of normal training, two weeks of functional overreaching, and one week of tapering. During the functional overreaching period, training load is increased to approximately 120-130% of normal training load to induce accumulated fatigue. During the tapering period, training volume is reduced to approximately 50-60% of normal training volume to support recovery and performance rebound. The molecular hydrogen is administered only during the tapering period. Participants in the experimental group consume 2.5 L per day of hydrogen-rich water. The total daily dose is divided into 0.5 L in the morning, 1.5 L around training, and 0.5 L in the evening. Participants in the placebo group consume visually matched placebo water according to the same total daily intake and timing schedule. Supplementation adherence is monitored using logs, dose counts, and attendance records. Participants are randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the experimental group or the placebo group. Randomization is performed using a block scheme and a computer random number generator. Testing is performed at multiple time points: entry laboratory testing, baseline after normal training, post-functional overreaching, and post-taper. The primary interval for evaluation is the change from post-functional overreaching to post-taper. Statistical analysis is based on a t-test or analysis of variance. Data that not follow a normal distribution are treated using a logarithmic transformation or analyzed using nonparametric tests. The significance level is set at 0.05.