Relationships Between GPS Measured External Load, Internal Load, and Sleep Quality in Collegiate Men’s Lacrosse Athletes
Location
Turner Gymnasium
Access Type
Campus Access Only
Entry Number
10
Start Date
4-5-2023 12:00 PM
End Date
4-5-2023 1:30 PM
College
College of Health Sciences
Department
Athletic Training
Keywords
global positioning systems, GPS, workload, heart rate, lacrosse, external load, internal load, injury risk, training volume
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to evaluate positional differences in high-speed running density (HSRd), intensity, work rate, average HR, HR efficiency, sleep time, and sleep quality during practices and competitions in men’s lacrosse players. 53 NCAA Division III lacrosse players (age: 20.62 ± 1.40 years; mass: 85.03 ± 7.52 kg; height: 181.69 ± 6.04 cm) volunteered to wear Sport Performance Tracking GPS units which tracked intensity, high-speed running density, and high-speed running efforts during the 2022 competitive season. 20 of the volunteers were chosen to wear heart rate monitors allowing calculations of heart rate efficiency and work rate. We found significant interactions between participant position and session type for intensity (F5,2611=13.99, P<.001, pη²=.03), work rate (F5,2610=14.29, P<.001, pη²=.03), average HR (F4,427=5.04, P<.001,pη²=.05), and HR efficiency (F4,426=2.90, P=.02, pη²=.03). Intensity was found to be higher during competitions compared to practices for attacks (mean difference=7.60, d=.70, d CI95=.46, .93, P<.001), defensive midfielders (mean difference=6.30, d=.68, d CI95=.43, .93, P<.001), and defensemen (mean difference=6.31, d=.61, d CI95=.42, .80, P<.001). Average HR was significantly higher in games compared to practices for attacks (mean difference=9.72, d=.58, d CI95=.10, 1.05, P=.04) and defensive midfielders (mean difference=20.97, d=.93, d CI95=.52, 1.33, P<.001). HR efficiency was higher during practices than in competitions for offensive midfielders (mean difference=-2.24, d=-.96, d CI95=-2.01, .09, P<.001). Work rate was found to be higher during practices compared to competitions for offensive midfielders (mean difference=-11.00, d=-1.13, d CI95=-1.33, -.92, P<.001), and the face-off position (mean difference=-6.67, d=-.85, CI95=-1.29, -.42, P<.01). Although several positions had different internal and external loads across practices and games, it remains unknown what optimal training intensities should be to maximize performance while minimizing injury risk. While overtraining may result in increased fatigue and increased injury risk, determining practice and game loads can inform practitioners and coaches how to maximize training sessions for improved performance while providing appropriate recovery.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Thomas G. Bowman Dr. Sean Collins Caroline Wesley Siler Dr. Robert A. Huggins
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Relationships Between GPS Measured External Load, Internal Load, and Sleep Quality in Collegiate Men’s Lacrosse Athletes
Turner Gymnasium
The purpose of this research was to evaluate positional differences in high-speed running density (HSRd), intensity, work rate, average HR, HR efficiency, sleep time, and sleep quality during practices and competitions in men’s lacrosse players. 53 NCAA Division III lacrosse players (age: 20.62 ± 1.40 years; mass: 85.03 ± 7.52 kg; height: 181.69 ± 6.04 cm) volunteered to wear Sport Performance Tracking GPS units which tracked intensity, high-speed running density, and high-speed running efforts during the 2022 competitive season. 20 of the volunteers were chosen to wear heart rate monitors allowing calculations of heart rate efficiency and work rate. We found significant interactions between participant position and session type for intensity (F5,2611=13.99, P<.001, pη²=.03), work rate (F5,2610=14.29, P<.001, pη²=.03), average HR (F4,427=5.04, P<.001,pη²=.05), and HR efficiency (F4,426=2.90, P=.02, pη²=.03). Intensity was found to be higher during competitions compared to practices for attacks (mean difference=7.60, d=.70, d CI95=.46, .93, P<.001), defensive midfielders (mean difference=6.30, d=.68, d CI95=.43, .93, P<.001), and defensemen (mean difference=6.31, d=.61, d CI95=.42, .80, P<.001). Average HR was significantly higher in games compared to practices for attacks (mean difference=9.72, d=.58, d CI95=.10, 1.05, P=.04) and defensive midfielders (mean difference=20.97, d=.93, d CI95=.52, 1.33, P<.001). HR efficiency was higher during practices than in competitions for offensive midfielders (mean difference=-2.24, d=-.96, d CI95=-2.01, .09, P<.001). Work rate was found to be higher during practices compared to competitions for offensive midfielders (mean difference=-11.00, d=-1.13, d CI95=-1.33, -.92, P<.001), and the face-off position (mean difference=-6.67, d=-.85, CI95=-1.29, -.42, P<.01). Although several positions had different internal and external loads across practices and games, it remains unknown what optimal training intensities should be to maximize performance while minimizing injury risk. While overtraining may result in increased fatigue and increased injury risk, determining practice and game loads can inform practitioners and coaches how to maximize training sessions for improved performance while providing appropriate recovery.