Monitoring internal load parameters during simulated and official basketball matches

• Published in: Journal of strength and conditioning research Vol. 26; no. 3; p. 861
• Main Authors: Moreira, Alexandre, McGuigan, Michael R, Arruda, Ademir F s, Freitas, Camila G, Aoki, Marcelo S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.03.2012
• Subjects: Adult; Basketball - physiology; Basketball - psychology; Humans; Hydrocortisone - analysis; Hydrocortisone - physiology; Male; Physical Exertion - physiology; Saliva - chemistry
• ISSN: 1064-8011; 1533-4287
• DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e31822645e9

The purpose of this study was to compare the internal load responses (session rating of perceived exertion [RPE] and salivary cortisol) between simulated and official matches (SM and OM). Ten professional basketball players participated in 2 OMs and 2 SMs during the competition season. Subjects provided saliva samples 30 minutes before the prematch warm-up (PRE) and 10 minutes after the end of the match. Session RPE (CR-10 scale) was assessed 30 minutes after each match. The results from the 2-way analysis of variance showed significant differences for post-OM salivary cortisol as compared with pre-OM values (p < 0.05). No changes were observed for cortisol during the SM. Before the OM, a significant difference in salivary cortisol was observed as compared with pre-SM values (p < 0.05). Moreover, the OM session RPE was significantly greater than that of SM. There was a significant correlation between session RPE and cortisol changes (r = 0.75). In summary, the results of this study showed a greater magnitude of cortisol and session RPE responses after OM as compared with that after SM confirming the hypothesis that a real competition generates a greater stress response than a simulated condition does. The anticipatory effect was also observed in the OM. In addition, the results indicate that session RPE seems to be a viable tool in monitoring internal loads, and the results are useful in providing a better understanding of internal loads imposed by basketball training and competitions. The precise monitoring of these responses might help the coaches to plan appropriate loads maximizing recovery and performance.