Perceived Training Load, Muscle Soreness, Stress, Fatigue, and Sleep Quality in Professional Basketball: A Full Season Study

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the perceived training load (session-RPE) and wellness status (muscle soreness, stress, fatigue, and sleep quality) within and between regular (one-match) and congested (two matches) weeks. Fifteen professional basketball players from a European First league club participated in this study. Wellness status (Hooper’s questionnaire) and perceived training loads (session-RPE) were measured for each training session and matches over a full season. Regular weeks presented moderately greater session-RPE than congested weeks (p = 0.201; d = 2.15, moderate effect). Both regular and congested weeks presented a decrease in perceived training load before matches, which was accompanied by improved wellness status on a match day. Congested weeks presented moderately lower sleep quality (p = 0.421; d = 1.320, moderate effect) and moderately greater fatigue (p = 0.468; d = 1.401, moderate effect) than regular weeks. Regular and congested weeks presented minimum differences for DOMS and stress. Lower wellness in congested weeks may be associated to an accumulative effect of training and match loads. Tapering phases before matches seem to play an important role for improving athletes’ wellness and preventing overtraining.

Differences in Weekly Load Distribution Over Two Euroleague Seasons with a Different Head Coach

“…In relation to the comparison of the internal load in weeks with different competitive densities, the results obtained in the present study for the season 2018-2019 were similar to those reported by Manzi et al [4] and Clemente et al [7], where no differences were found in the effort perceived by players in weeks with one or two games. The lack of consensus on the differences regarding the cumulative load in weeks with different competitive densities may be due to the fact that the data shown by Conte et al [7] and Manzi et al [4] were not collected throughout a whole season, but only for a specific period of time within a season. Teams use different load strategies during a season depending on the importance of the moment [4], and this would explain the different results obtained among the studies.…”

“…The weekly accumulated internal load values observed for the team in the present study (~3150 AU) were higher than the 2520 AU of the Lithuanian female players [5], similar to the 3200 AU of professional players [7] and lower than the Brazilian female team, where values above 4000 AU were reported [12]. A comparison with collage and Italian professional players showed that the sRPE values were lower than the results shown in this study for W1 and W2 in both seasons [4,6].…”

“…Conte et al [6] reported a greater workload on university players in weeks playing just one game, while Manzi et al [4] observed higher internal load values when the number of games per week was one instead of two. However, a recent work by Clemente et al [7] showed that there were no differences between normal (just one official match) and congested (with at least two matches) weeks on perceived exertion. One of the possible reasons for the differences observed among these studies could be due to the length of the period analyzed.…”

“…The number of games played in a week largely determines the accumulation of load on players in team sports during the competitive period [4] and seems to cause fluctuations in the weekly loads that players accumulate [5]. However, according to several authors, the more games played within a week does not necessarily mean a higher load [4,6,7]. Conte et al [6] reported a greater workload on university players in weeks playing just one game, while Manzi et al [4] observed higher internal load values when the number of games per week was one instead of two.…”

Ankle Taping Effectiveness for the Decreasing Dorsiflexion Range of Motion in Elite Soccer and Basketball Players U18 in a Single Training Session: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study

“…The results of the present study suggest that a prophylactic approach, such as ankle taping, is effective for the ROM restriction of the ankle joint immediately after the taping application in soccer and basketball players without differences between groups. However, in the final minutes of the session, where the intensity and the fatigue levels were at its highest peak [23], the ROM values were similar to the baseline values.…”