Training Load and Recovery During a Pre-Olympic Season in Professional Rhythmic Gymnasts

• Published in: Journal of athletic training 2020-09, Vol.55 (9), p.977-983
• Main Authors: Debien, Paula Barreiros, Miloski, Bernardo, Werneck, Francisco Zacaron, Timoteo, Thiago Ferreira, Ferezin, Camila, Filho, Maurício Gattás Bara, Gabbett, Tim J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Academic Achievement; Adjustment; Adult; Athletes; Athletic Performance - physiology; Athletic Performance - psychology; Brazil; Cohort Studies; Competition; Conditioning; Correlation; Dance; Data Interpretation; Effect Size; Exercise - physiology; Exercise - psychology; Female; Flexibility; Gymnastics; Gymnastics - physiology; Gymnastics - psychology; Humans; Load; Male; Original Research; Physical Exertion; Recovery (Medical); Recovery of Function; Repetition; Sports injuries; Statistical Analysis; Stimuli; Technical Education; Time Factors; Total quality; Training Objectives; Workload - statistics & numerical data; Workloads
• ISSN: 1062-6050; 1938-162X; 1938-162X
• DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-402.19

Rhythmic gymnastics requires a high level of complexity and perfection of technical gestures, associated with well-developed physical and artistic capacities. The training-load and recovery profiles of rhythmic gymnasts across a season are unknown. To analyze the training load and recovery of professional rhythmic gymnasts during 1 season. Cohort study. Brazilian National Training Center of Rhythmic Gymnastics and competition facilities. Eight gymnasts from the Brazilian national senior rhythmic gymnastics group. Session rating of perceived exertion (session-RPE) and total quality recovery (TQR) scores were collected daily for 43 weeks. We obtained the session-RPE after each session and TQR score before the first session of the day. Performances during 5 competitions were also recorded. The season was divided into 8 periods. Total weekly internal training load (wITL), training intensity, frequency, duration, recovery, and acute : chronic workload ratio were calculated for analysis. The season mean wITL was 10 381 ± 4894 arbitrary units, mean session-RPE score was 5.0 ± 1.6, and mean TQR score was 12.8 ± 1.3. The gymnasts trained an average of 8.7 ± 2.9 sessions per week, with a mean duration of 219 ± 36 minutes. Each competitive period showed increased wITL compared with the previous period. Training-load variables (wITL and session-RPE) and recovery were inversely correlated. Gymnasts were poorly recovered (TQR < 13) during 50.9% of the season (n = 167 times), especially during competitive weeks. Spikes in load (acute : chronic workload ratio ≥ 1.5) occurred across 18.1% of the season (n = 55 times). The training-load variables and recovery changed throughout a professional rhythmic gymnastics group season, mainly during competitive periods. The correct distribution of training load is critical to ensure that gymnasts are entering competitions in a recovered state.