The Influence of Different Training Load Magnitudes on Sleep Pattern, Perceived Recovery, and Stress Tolerance in Young Soccer Players.

ABSTRACT: Ferreira, ABdM, Ribeiro, BLL, Batista, EdS, Dantas, MP, and Mortatti, AL. The influence of different training load magnitudes on sleep pattern, perceived recovery, and stress tolerance in young soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 37(2): 351-357, 2023-The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of 3 weeks on sleep parameters, perceived recovery, and stress tolerance in young soccer players using different training load magnitudes. A total of 13 young male soccer athletes (15.9 ± 0.5 years; 68.7 ± 6.1 kg; 170 ± 7 cm) who performed 3 typical training weeks with different workloads were analyzed. The external training load (ETL) was verified by the PlayerLoad method, and the internal training load (ITL) was determined using the session rating of perceived exertion method. Sleep was monitored using a wrist-actigraphy monitor. Sleep variables, including total time in bed (TTB), total sleep time (TST), sleep latency (SL), wake after sleep onset (WASO), and sleep efficiency (SE), were evaluated across all nights of sleep. The recovery status was assessed with the perceived recovery status (PRS) scale, and the stress tolerance was monitored using the "daily analysis of life demands of athletes" questionnaire. There was an increase in sleep time during the week with the highest training load (week 2) (TTB: +35 minutes, TST: +46 minutes, SL: -5 minutes, SE: +3%). There was no difference in the PRS or in the stress tolerance during the evaluation weeks. A very large within-individual correlation was observed between ITL and ETL ( r = 0.78) and moderate within-individual correlation between ETL and TST ( r = 0.34), between ITL and TST ( r = 0.45), and between ITL and SE ( r = 0.359). These results showed that there was an increase in TST during a microcycle with intensified loads, without impairing bedtime and resulting in maintenance of the perceived recovery or stress tolerance values.

Effects of Training Loads on Stress Tolerance and Mucosal Immunity in High-Intensity Functional Fitness Athletes.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the effects of training load on stress tolerance (ST) and secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) in male and female high-intensity functional fitness (HIFF) athletes during two different 10 and consecutive weekly training volume loads [higher (week 1) and lower volume (week 2)]. Methods: 14 athletes [7 males: 29.3 (±5.8) years; 86.3 (±8.2) kg and 176.8 (±3.8) cm and 7 females: 32.7 (±4.4) years; 60.0 (±6.7) kg and 162.5 (±5.9) cm] participated. The ST, assessed by Daily Analysis of Life Demand in Athletes questionnaire (DALDA) and Saliva sampling were performed in four time-points (pre (T1) and post (T2) week 1; pre (T3) and post (T4) week 2). Results: Female athletes showed a decrease in ST (symptoms of stress) from 15 T1 to T3 [F(3,36) = 7.184, p˂ 0.001, ηp2 = 0.374], without difference in male athletes (p > .05). There is a significant difference of SIgA concentration [F(3.36) = 3.551; p = .024; ηp2 = 0.228], with a significant decrease in female athletes group in T2 compared to T1 (p = .013) and T4 (p = .023). In addition, the different training volume loads did not impact mucosal immunity in male athletes (p > .05). Conclusion: The current findings suggest that higher HIFF volume results in decreased ST and SIgA concentration in female 20 athletes and a subsequent decrease in training volume loads contributed to restoring these variables.