Comportamentos físicos off-training, carga interna e efeitos do treinamento em atletas de judô

Abstract

O judô is a dynamic and physically demanding sport. In modalities with such characteristics, it is desirable for the preparation routine to include strategies related to load control and the effects of training. However, the time allocated to training represents a small fraction of athletes' day. When added to sleep time, it can be stated that sports professionals are unaware of the physical activity behaviors adopted by athletes when they are awake. Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep are integrated physical behaviors. In this sense, the aim of this study was to investigate and compare such behaviors, as well as the internal load and acute effects of judo athletes' training. Twenty professional male judo athletes (21.6 ± 3.09 years) participated in the study. Data collection took place over three weeks, with physical behaviors measured using a triaxial accelerometer, Actigraph brand, GT3X model, over 14 days. Internal load was measured using session rating of perceived exertion and training impulse methods. The scale of subjective perception of recovery, well-being questionnaire, and the countermovement jump protocol were used to assess training effects. The normality of variables was checked by the Shapiro-Wilk test, and measures of central tendency and variability were defined based on the distribution of data. Paired t-test and Wilcoxon test were used in comparisons at different times. Additionally, the magnitude of identified differences was evaluated through effect size (r). The analysis of physical behaviors was performed using ActiLife software (version 6.13.4). Rstudio® software (version 3.5.3) was used for graph creation, and IBM SPSS Statistics 23 was used for statistical analyses, with a significance level of 5% adopted. Judo athletes allocated the majority of the off-training period to behaviors that require minimal effort, with 40.8% in sleep and 33% in sedentary behavior. For the remaining time, athletes engaged in physical activities, with 21.4% at a light intensity and 4.5% at a moderate to vigorous intensity. There was a significant reduction (p = 0.034) in moderate/vigorous physical activity from the first week (4.78%) to the second week (4.20%). Similarly, moderate/vigorous physical activity was lower (p = 0.001) on Saturdays and Sundays (2.85%) compared to the other days of the week (5.62%). However, there was a significant increase (p = 0.030) in sedentary behavior on weekends (35.5%) compared to other days (32.9%). Light physical activity and sleep were similar in both observed periods. Regarding internal load, no difference was noted between the two weeks of the study, both for session perceived effort (p = 0.832) and training impulse (p = 0.636). The analysis of acute training effects indicated that, at the end of the microcycles, a reduction in subjective perception of recovery, fatigue, muscle soreness, and subjective well-being was identified. In general, it can be concluded that this study contributes to the advancement of research in the field of evaluating physical behaviors in professional athletes. Judo athletes dedicated a significant portion of their time when not training to sedentary behavior and sleep. It is worth noting that, even though rest is considered essential during the training process, it should not exceed what athletes need. Finally, information about the type of off-training behavior athletes engage in can aid professionals in identifying inappropriate behaviors and developing individualized strategies to optimize the recovery process and, consequently, enhance sports performance. However, it is essential for investigations into physical behaviors in sports to continue advancing.