Examining the Effects of Altitude on Workload Demands in Professional Basketball Players during the Preseason Phase.
Sensors (Basel)
; 24(10)2024 May 20.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38794099
ABSTRACT
Basketball involves frequent high-intensity movements requiring optimal aerobic power. Altitude training can enhance physiological adaptations, but research examining its effects in basketball is limited. This study aimed to characterize the internal/external workload of professional basketball players during preseason and evaluate the effects of altitude and playing position. Twelve top-tier professional male basketball players (Liga Endesa, ACB; guards n = 3, forwards n = 5, and centers n = 4) participated in a crossover study design composed of two training camps with nine sessions over 6 days under two different conditions high altitude (2320 m) and sea level (10 m). Internal loads (heart rate, %HRMAX) and external loads (total distances covered across speed thresholds, accelerations/decelerations, impacts, and jumps) were quantified via wearable tracking and heart rate telemetry. Repeated-measures MANOVA tested the altitude x playing position effects. Altitude increased the total distance (+10%), lower-speed running distances (+10-39%), accelerations/decelerations (+25-30%), average heart rate (+6%), time in higher-intensity HR zones (+23-63%), and jumps (+13%) across all positions (p < 0.05). Positional differences existed, with guards accruing more high-speed running and centers exhibiting greater cardiovascular demands (p < 0.05). In conclusion, a 6-day altitude block effectively overloads training, providing a stimulus to enhance fitness capacities when structured appropriately. Monitoring workloads and individualizing training by playing position are important when implementing altitude training, given the varied responses.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Basketball
/
Workload
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Altitude
/
Heart Rate
Limits:
Adult
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Sensors (Basel)
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
España
Country of publication:
Suiza