Internal Load From Hard Training Sessions Is Related to Changes in Performance After a 10-Week Training Period in Adolescent Swimmers

Abstract

Pind, R, Mäestu, E, Purge, P, Jürgenson, J, Arend, M, and Mäestu, J. Internal load from hard training sessions is related to changes in performance after a 10-week training period in adolescent swimmers. J Strength Cond Res 35(10): 2846–2852, 2021—The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) and its categorization with the changes in swimming performance in adolescent swimmers. National level swimmers (age 16.4 ± 2.1 years, V̇o 2max 50.0 ± 4.0 ml·min−1·kg−1) participated in a 10-week period preceding the National Winter Championships. Pre-training and post-training physiological parameters and swimming performance were measured. All training bouts with sRPE data were recorded. In addition, trainings were categorized as light, moderate, or hard. For calculating the corresponding internal training load (ITL), 2 fixed categorizations were applied based on earlier published sources and an individualized categorization based on ventilatory thresholds. During the 10-week training period, large to very large increases were found in aerobic (effect size [ES] = 1.58) and anaerobic threshold power output W·kg−1 (ES = 2.46), respectively, and smaller, but significant, improvement in 100-m swimming performance (ES = 0.36). Total ITL during the 10-week period was significantly related to changes in anaerobic threshold (r = 0.81). Fixed and individualized sRPE methods from hard sessions were associated with changes in V̇o 2max (r = 0.77) and performance of only 100-m leg kicks (r = 0.76), respectively. Internal training load was related to changes in performance variables during the 10-week study period. Using individualized sRPE values, the accumulation of the ITL from hard training sessions was associated with changes in V̇o 2max and swimming performance. The aforementioned categorization could help coaches in appropriate application of ITL for assessing the total training load in adolescent swimmers.

Increases in RPE Rating Predict Fatigue Accumulation Without Changes in Heart Rate Zone Distribution After 4-Week Low-Intensity High-Volume Training Period in High-Level Rowers

“…The quantification of training sessions into different zones is a common practice in endurance disciplines (Seiler and Kjerland, 2006 ; Esteve-Lanao et al, 2007 ) to optimize performance gains and to prevent overtraining. Mostly those quantifications have been based on HR usually applied to calculate training load, however, RPE-based quantifications have also been presented (Seiler and Kjerland, 2006 ; Pind et al, 2019 ; Jesus et al, 2021 ). When comparing the distributions of HR and effort-based zones, there were no significant differences in the baseline week ( Figure 2 ).…”

“…In addition to general “overall internal load” parameters of the training session, previous studies have also used rating of perceived exertion (RPE) as effort-based quantification to distinguish between easy or hard training sessions based on RPE value using the same VT1/VT2 anchor points as for Lucia TRIMP (Seiler and Kjerland, 2006 ; Wallace et al, 2009 ). Accordingly, we can further calculate training load as Easy, Moderate , or Hard sessions (Pind et al, 2019 ). In accordance with the suggestion that training load quantification methods should have high dose–response validity with the changes in fitness and/or performance (Sanders et al, 2017 ), it was recently presented that training load from hard sessions was related to VO 2max improvements in swimmers preparation for competitions (Pind et al, 2019 ).…”

“…Accordingly, we can further calculate training load as Easy, Moderate , or Hard sessions (Pind et al, 2019 ). In accordance with the suggestion that training load quantification methods should have high dose–response validity with the changes in fitness and/or performance (Sanders et al, 2017 ), it was recently presented that training load from hard sessions was related to VO 2max improvements in swimmers preparation for competitions (Pind et al, 2019 ).…”

Session Rating of Perceived Exertion Is Different for Similar Intensity and Duration Prescribed Low-Intensity Sessions and Has a Different Effect on Performance in Young Cross-Country Skiers

“…Therefore, the degree of fatigue varies considerably between athletes who exercise at the same prescribed intensity. In our study, we applied individual thresholds well-known to represent the different training zones (13,18) to overcome such problem. However, despite having similar exercise prescription, subjects still rated their effort during low-intensity training sessions differently for all effort categories, whereas no differences were found for time spent in different heart rate zones (Table 2; p $ 0.05).…”

“…Total training load during the study period was the sum of the internal training load of each session. The 10-point RPE responses were further used to categorize training sessions as easy , moderate, or hard according to previously used individual quantification methods (13). Individual RPE quantification was performed during the incremental test to match the perception of effort to turn point intensities, where mean RPE values of 4.3 ± 1.1 at VT1 and 6.9 ± 1.3 for VT2 were found.…”