Monitoring Training Load and Fatigue in Rugby Sevens Players

Abstract

Purpose: Trainers and physical fitness coaches' need a useful tool to assess training loads to avoid overtraining. However, perceived scales or questionnaires were required. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess whether a short 8-item questionnaire of fatigue could be a useful tool for monitoring changes in perceived training load and strain among elite rugby Sevens (7s) players during preparation for a major competition.Methods: Sixteen elite rugby 7s players completed an 8-week training program composed of 6-week intense training (IT) and 2-week reduced training (RT). They were tested before (T0), after the IT (T1) and after the RT (T2). The quantification of the perceived training load and strain were performed by the session-RPE (rating of perceived exertion) method and concomitantly the 8-item questionnaire of fatigue was administered. Results: Training load (TL) and strain (TS) and total score of fatigue (TSF from the 8-item questionnaire) increased during IT and decreased during RT. Simultaneously, physical performances decreased during IT and were improved after LT. The changes in TL, TS and TSF correlated significantly over the training period (r=0.63-0.83).Conclusions: These findings suggest that the short questionnaire of fatigue could be a practical and a sensitive tool for monitoring changes in training load and strain in team-sport athletes. Accordingly, the simultaneous use of the short questionnaire of fatigue along with the session-RPE method for perceived changes in training load and strain during training could provide additional information on the athletes' status, allowing coaches to prevent eventual states of overreaching or overtraining.

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“…We decided to assess blood lactate levels since it is a biochemical marker related to anaerobic metabolism and muscular acidosis (7,14,21), and it is often monitored in sports settings to evaluate athletes' recovery. Finally, the fatigue questionnaire (8) …”

“…This version of rugby increases the physical demands on the athletes and potentiates perceived fatigue. Moreover, according to tournament format, teams will play several matches per day with only a few hours between to recover from physical and physiological stress (8). Johnston et al (15) state that symptoms of fatigue appear immediately after a match and usually persist for some days.…”

“…Preparation for play requires training to focus on a combination of muscular strength, power, agility, speed, aerobic and anaerobic endurance (4,8,9,15,25).…”

“…Each question was evaluated according to a score scale where 1-2 points corresponded to "not at all", 3-4 points to "normal", "very much". The scores were calculated according to the relative importance of each question and a lower score indicated better general well-being perception, and a higher score demonstrated greater fatigue perception(8). This questionnaire was used in a previous study(8), and demonstrated a high reliability and very good correlation (r=0.63-0.83) with objective measures of fatigue and performance.…”

Predicting Self-Reported Illness for Professional Team-Sport Athletes

“…18,23 The two-component questionnaire was completed by athletes on a weekly basis, prior to the first training day of the week. It was completed at the same time of day in order to minimize the potential for diurnal fluctuations in mood state and perceived wellness.…”