Individualized Internal and External Training Load Relationships in Elite Wheelchair Rugby Players

Abstract

Aim: The quantification and longitudinal monitoring of athlete training load (TL) provides a scientific explanation for changes in performance and helps manage injury/illness risk. Therefore, accurate and reliable monitoring tools are essential for the optimization of athletic performance. The aim of the present study was to establish the relationship between measures of internal [heart rate (HR) and session RPE (sRPE)] and external TL specific to wheelchair rugby (WR).Methods: Fourteen international WR athletes (age = 29 ± 7 years; body mass = 58.9 ± 10.9 kg) were monitored during 18 training sessions over a 3 month period during the competitive phase of the season. Activity profiles were collected during each training session using a radio-frequency based indoor tracking system (ITS). External TL was quantified by total distance (m) covered as well as time spent and distance covered in a range of classification-specific arbitrary speed zones. Banister's TRIMP, Edwards's summated HR zone (SHRZ), and Lucia's TRIMP methods were used to quantify physiological internal TL. sRPE was calculated as the product of session duration multiplied by perceived exertion using the Borg CR10 scale. Relationships between external and internal TL were examined using correlation coefficients and the 90% confidence intervals (90% CI).Results: sRPE (r = 0.59) and all HR-based (r > 0.80) methods showed large and very large relationships with the total distance covered during training sessions, respectively. Large and very large correlations (r = 0.56 − 0.82) were also observed between all measures of internal TL and times spent and distances covered in low and moderate intensity speed zones. HR-based methods showed very large relationships with time (r = 0.71−0.75) and distance (r = 0.70−0.73) in the very high speed zone and a large relationship with the number of high intensity activities (HIA) performed (r = 0.56−0.62). Weaker relationships (r = 0.32−0.35) were observed between sRPE and all measures of high intensity activity. A large variation of individual correlation co-efficient was observed between sRPE and all external TL measures.Conclusion: The current findings suggest that sRPE and HR-based internal TL measures provide a valid tool for quantifying volume of external TL during WR training but may underestimate HIA. It is recommended that both internal and external TL measures are employed for the monitoring of overall TL during court-based training in elite WR athletes.

A Comparison of Speed Profiles During Training and Competition in Elite Wheelchair Rugby Players

“…However, it must be reiterated that 'high speed' activities do not always equate to high internal training loads. 17 Performing static blocking manoeuvres or repeated accelerations without reaching high speeds may have a greater physiological cost than maintaining continuous, high speed activity when the wheelchair already has momentum. This must be considered when monitoring the 'intensity' of any training drill and internal load monitoring should also be considered to support the speed profiles reported here.…”

“…Whilst internal responses correlated well with low speed activities, they underestimated high speed activities, which suggest that high speeds may not always reflect high internal training loads. 17 Despite this, neither of these previous studies have compared the demands of training in relation to the demands of competition, to determine the effectiveness of current training regimes. Speed profiles derived during competition performance can be used to enhance the specificity of training for team sport athletes.…”

“…However, a limitation of this study was that speed profiles were not available during training. More recently, Paulson et al 17 compared the relationship between speed profiles and various internal responses to WCR training. Whilst internal responses correlated well with low speed activities, they underestimated high speed activities, which suggest that high speeds may not always reflect high internal training loads.…”

“…16,17 Barfield et al 16 monitored the internal responses of tetraplegic WCR players (n = 9) during different training modes. Conditioning drills elicited a greater heart rate response (114 ± 13.2 b·minˉ¹) compared to skill-based (101 ± 13.7 b·minˉ¹) and game simulation drills (104 ± 17.8 b·minˉ¹).…”

The intensity and match load comparison between high spinal cord injury and non-spinal cord injury wheelchair basketball players: a case report

“…Probably, if only the absolute HR values are taken into account, the difference between high SCI and non-SCI players would be high due to the reasons previously described. However, the proposal made by some authors 10,11 to calculate the training load (TL) or match load (ML) based on the relative intensities of maximum HR could provide better information.…”