Comparing the Effects of Mindfulness Training and Music Therapy on Physical and Mental Fatigue and Inflammatory Markers in Elite Male Volleyball Players

Background and Aims Volleyball is a team sport that requires high physical and perceptual-cognitive skills; therefore, during the competition, an increase in physical and mental fatigue is observed among these players. The present study aims to compare the effects of mindfulness training and music therapy on physical and mental fatigue and inflammatory markers in elite male volleyball players. Methods In this quasi-experimental study, 29 elite male volleyball players were randomly divided into mindfulness, music, and control groups. Blood samples were collected in fasting conditions to measure creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and C-reactive protein (CRP) at the pre-test and post-test stages, and the mental fatigue scale and the running-based anaerobic sprint test (RAST) were completed. The music therapy sessions were 10 minutes and received three times a week during training, after matches, and before bed. The music group listened to songs without words from the Spring Rain album of Hennie Bekker. The mindfulness group received body scan meditation during training by listening to a body scan audio file recorded and read by a female speaker. Data analysis was done using the multiple analysis of variance and Bonferroni’s post-hoc test in SPSS software, version 26. Results The between-group comparisons of posttest scores showed no significant difference in physical fatigue (RAST score) and serum levels of LDH, CPK, and CRP between mindfulness training and music therapy (P>0.05). However, the difference was significant in mental fatigue (P<0.05). The mindfulness training had a more significant effect on mental fatigue and could reduce it. Conclusion There is no significant difference between the effects of mindfulness training and music therapy on physical fatigue and changes in the serum levels of LDH, CPK, and CRP in elite male volleyball players; however, mindfulness training is significantly more effective than music therapy in reducing the mental fatigue of athletes.