Monitoring of internal and external loads to interpret acute and chronic fatigue in indoor team sports: A systematic review

Abstract

The aims of this study were: (1) to analyze how the periodization of workloads can induce states of accumulated fatigue in the short, medium and long term in indoor team sports and (2) to identify these periods of fatigue through the interpretation internal and external performance variables. This systematic review was carried out under PRISMA guidelines. The Web of Science, PubMed and Scopus databases were searched for relevant published studies between 1st January 2010 and 25th April 2021. The STROBE scale and MINORS checklist were used to assess the reporting and methodological risk of bias, respectively. Of the 2219 studies initially identified, 20 were selected for a full review. The main conclusions were that a periodic and integrative evaluation of monitoring variables of a different nature is needed to identify states of fatigue accurately and rigorously. The end of the preparatory periods (PPs) and the second phase of the competitive periods (CPs) seem to be the most exhausting moments of the season (high values of RPE, CK, LDH, and oxidative stress markers, and decrease in the T/C ratio). Specifically, congested weeks promote the development of high levels of acute and subacute fatigue (high levels of DOMS and fatigue along with low levels of RPE). Therefore, it is recommended to extend the duration of the preseason and the implementation of more active recovery days during congested weeks, in order to improve resistance to acute and subacute fatigue, and therefore avoid reaching a state of overtraining.

Within-week and between-week variability of external and internal load demands of professional male volleyball players

“…This demonstrates the concern to increase the training intensity at the beginning of the week so the athletes undergo physiological adaptation, increasing their performance towards the end of the week [42,46]. Rating of Perceived Exertion, which is a valid and a reliable tool, is dependent on the external load [47][48][49]. As the external intensity in training sessions and/or in a match increases, there is an increase of the internal intensity, namely on s-RPE [45].…”

“…Furthermore, it is known that monitoring s-RPE is a valuable tool to provide information regarding how athletes cope with sports-induced stress and to guarantee the best recovery of athletes [29,39,52]. Additionally, other recommendations are presented in a systematic review which analysed the periodisation of the workload and recommended implementing more active recovery days in order to improve resistance to fatigue [48].…”