Background: Regular physical activity practice is considered an important factor in the population's health and quality of life promotion. In order to evaluate a population's physical activity level (PAL), many instruments are used, among them the IPAQ (International Physical Activity Questionnaire). Objectives: To evaluate the PAL of Physical Education (PE) undergraduate students concerning gender and study year as well as to compare the PAL of these students with others from different health/ biology courses. Methods: Two hundred and eighty subjects; being 194 PE students (100 men and 94 women) and 86 students (17 men and 69 women) of other courses (Pharmacy; Biochemistry, Dentistry and Biology). The instrument used to measure the PAL was the IPAQ in its short version. Results: Among the PE students, it was found that 92% of them were classified as active or very active; however, there was no significant difference (p > 0,05) between male and female groups. Concerning the other courses, it was observed that the female sample is less physically active than the male one (p < 0,05). Considering the whole group in the category Active/ Very Active, the Biology (86,9%) and PE students (90%) were classified as more active than the Biochemistry (56%) and Dentistry (61,1%) ones. However, there was no significant difference (p > 0,05). Conclusions: Generally, male students have a higher level of physical activity than female ones; the undergraduate students did not show similar patterns of PAL and this level remains constant during the PE course.

The ITL variables, recovery, and physical performance changed significantly throughout a professional volleyball season. Despite the decrease in ITL during the main competitive period, the correct distribution of weekly ITL seems to be very important to guarantee the best recovery of athletes.

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between training load (TL) and physical performance, biochemical markers, and psychological stress during a short preparatory period (PP) in Brazilian elite male volleyball players. Twelve volleyball players from a team competing in the Brazilian Men's Volleyball Super League were enrolled (26.9 ± 4.6 years). Countermovement Jump (CMJ), Creatine Kinase (CK), Testosterone (T), Cortisol (Cr), T/Cr ratio, and Recovery and Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-Sport) were collected at baseline, after 2, 4, and 6 week. TL was quantified daily using the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE). Differences were noted between Total Weekly TL (TWTL) (F3,33 = 50.907; p = 0.0001), CK (F3,33 = 16.157; p = 0.0001), and T (F3,33 = 3.283; p = 0.03). No differences were seen in CMJ (F3,33 = 1.821; p = 0.16), Cr (F3,33 = 2.409; p = 0.08), or T/Cr ratio (F3,33 = 1.527; p = 0.23). The RESTQ-Sport demonstrated differences between moments in Social Stress (F3,33 = 2.297; p = 0.04; Eta = 0.25), Success (F3,33 = 4.350; p = 0.01; Eta = 0.19), General Well-being (F3,33 = 4.465; p = 0.01; Eta = 0.36), and Injury (F3,33 = 2.792; p = 0.05; Eta = 0.62). The results showed a significant correlations of small to moderate magnitude between TWTL and CK (r = 0.32; p = 0.05). In conclusion, a short PP in volleyball leads to increased TL, CK level, and psychological stress. TL was related with the increase of CK, suggesting muscle damage without increased of physical performance.

RESUMO O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar diferenças e semelhanças nas características motivacionais de atletas brasileiros com base na Teoria da Autodeterminação (Deci & Ryan, 1985), comparando desportistas de diferentes idades, modalidades coletivas e individuais, de ambos os sexos, em distintos níveis de rendimento. A amostra foi constituída por 344 atletas, com uma idade média de 24.3 ± 6.0 anos. A maioria era do sexo masculino (64.5%), de desportos coletivos (59.9%) e que competiam em nível nacional e internacional (64.1%). Aplicou-se o Sport Motivation Scale (SMS), validado em português (SMS-Br) para medir os níveis de motivação. Foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas nas dimensões Motivação Extrínseca de Introjeção, Motivação Extrínseca de Regulação Externa e Amotivação, na comparação feita por género. Também foram encontradas diferenças estatísticas nas dimensões Motivação Intrínseca para Conseguir e Motivação Extrínseca de Introjeção, ao comparar o tipo de desporto. Os resultados sugerem que atletas brasileiros possuem características motivacionais únicas ao serem comparados com atletas de diferentes países.

Introduction Monitoring training loads, along with the recovery status, is important for preventing unwanted adaptations. Knowledge of these variables over volleyball seasons is still scarce. Objective To monitor and describe the training load and recovery status of volleyball players over a competitive season. Methods The sample consisted of 14 professional volleyball players. For the entire season, the training load was monitored daily by the SPE method during the session, and the recovery status was monitored by TQR and QBE on the first and last days of training for the week. Results There was a decrease in training load between Preparatory Period I and Competitive Period I (p = 0.03), followed by an increase in Preparatory Period II (p <0.001) and a new decrease in Competitive Periods II (p = 0.01 ) and III (p = 0.003). There was a significant reduction between Pre-TQR and QBE and Post-TQR and QBE in all mesocycles. In the Pre-TQR, there was a reduction between Preparatory Period II and Competitive Period II (p = 0.006), in the Pre-QBE, there was a reduction between Preparatory Period II and Competitive Period III (p = 0.002), and in the Post-TQR, this reduction was observed between Competitive Period I and Preparatory Period II (p = 0.03). In the Post-QBE, there was an increase between Preparatory Period I and Competitive Period I (p = 0.002), followed by a decrease in Preparatory Period II (p = 0.01). Conclusion Loads varied throughout the season, along with recovery, which varied according to the loads and characteristics of each period. Level of evidence I, Therapeutic Studies – Investigating the Results of Treatment.

Rev Bras Cineantropom Desempenho Hum 2009, 11(4): [457][458][459][460][461][462][463][464][465] Resumo -O treinamento desportivo é um processo que tem por objetivo romper o equilíbrio interno do organismo humano e assim, aperfeiçoar o desempenho do atleta. No entanto, o estresse provocado pelos treinamentos pode acarretar reações negativas, tal como a síndrome do overtraining. Esta inadaptação pode ser evitada pelo monitoramento dos efeitos do treinamento através de variáveis psicológicas, fisiológicas e bioquímicas. Estudos pesquisados suportam que não há um consenso sobre a eficiência de alguns marcadores, mas são unânimes quanto ao fato de um único marcador não ser capaz de monitorar e prevenir esta síndrome. Fica clara a necessidade de outros estudos para minimizar as dúvidas e aumentar o conhecimento a cerca deste assunto que é de grande interesse dos pesquisadores e profissionais que estão envolvidos com o esporte de rendimento. Mediante isso, o objetivo dessa revisão foi abordar, a partir dos dados da literatura especializada, como os marcadores psicológico, fisiológico e bioquímico, especificamente, estado de humor, escore do questionário de overtraining, variabilidade da frequência cardíaca (VFC) em repouso e creatina quinase plasmática (CK), relacionam-se com a demanda de treinamento e o overtraining. Palavras-chave: Treinamento; Marcadores; Rendimento.Abstract -Athletic training is a process aimed at breaking the internal balance of the human organism and thus to improve the athlete's performance. However, training stress may result in negative responses such as overtraining syndrome. This maladaptation can be avoided by monitoring the effects of training using psychological, physiological and biochemical variables. No consensus exists regarding the efficiency of some markers, but studies are unanimous that s single marker is unable to monitor and prevent this syndrome. Further studies are necessary to clarify doubts and to broaden the knowledge about this topic, which is of marked interest to researchers involved in high performance sports. Thus, the purpose of this review of the specialized literature was to discuss how psychological, physiological and biochemical markers, such as mood state, overtraining score, resting heart rate variability and creatine kinase, are associated with training load and overtraining.

Andrade, DM, Fernandes, G, Miranda, R, Reis Coimbra, D, and Bara Filho, MG. Training load and recovery in volleyball during a competitive season. J Strength Cond Res 35(4): 1082–1088, 2021—The objective of this study was to analyze the training load (TL) and recovery status (RS) of a volleyball team in different periods of the season. Fifteen male athletes participated in the study. Training load was quantified through the rate of perceived exertion of session. The total weekly TL of the preparatory period (PP), competitive period I (CPI), and competitive period II (CPII) was calculated. Total quality recovery was used to evaluate the initial and final RS. Training load was higher (p < 0.05) in PP than in CPI and CPII. The final RS was lower (p < 0.05) in PP than in CPI and CPII. There was a difference (p < 0.05) between the initial and final RS in the analyzed periods. An inverse correlation (ρ: −0.62) was observed between the TL and the initial and final difference RS in PP. In conclusion, PP in volleyball presented the highest TL, related to a greater difference between the initial and final RS.

RESUMOO propósito deste estudo foi verificar a relação entre o fluxo e as formas de motivação estabelecidas pela teoria da autodeterminação, a autoeficácia, a habilidade percebida e a orientação às metas. Os participantes foram atletas de voleibol do gênero masculino que responderam aos seguintes instrumentos: Avaliação Demográfica, Escalas de Motivação Esportiva, Orientação Tarefa-Ego no esporte, Escala de Autoeficácia Individual para o Voleibol, Escala de Habilidade Percebida e Escalas da Percepção do Fluxo. Os dados foram coletados em três jogos. Os resultados revelaram que a média do fluxo dos atletas foi baixa. Observou-se relação negativa com os componentes da motivação extrínseca e amotivação, e uma relação positiva entre o fluxo e autoeficácia na segunda fase, e entre o fluxo e a habilidade percebida na segunda e terceira fases do estudo. Em relação à orientação tarefa, a relação foi negativa na segunda fase e positiva na terceira fase, jogos de campeonatos estadual e regional, respectivamente. ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the flow and the forms of motivation established by the theory of self-determination, the self-efficacy, the perceived ability and the goal orientation. Participants were male volleyball players who responded to the following instruments: Demographic Evaluation, Sport Motivation Scales, Task-Ego Orientation in Sport, Scale of Individual Self-efficacy for Volleyball, Perceived Ability, and Scales of Flow Perception. Data were collected during three games. The results showed that the average flow of the athletes was low. There was a negative relationship between the components of extrinsic motivation and amotivation, and a positive relationship between the flow and the self-efficacy in the second phase, and between the flow and the perceived ability in the second and third phases of the study. Regarding the task orientation, the relationship was negative in the second phase and positive in the third phase, in state and regional championships, respectively.