This can be used by coaches, performance support team members and organisations in the national high performance sport system as a resource to guide conversations relating to holistic approaches to well-periodised and individualised training load planning following unloading. In 2015, the first version of this was published as part of a multi-disciplinary project including the AIS Disciplines of Medicine, Strength and Conditioning, Sports Nutrition, Physiology, and Physical Therapies. Version 2 has been developed in consultation with representatives from the National Institute Network and National Sporting Organisations with input from experts in the wider professional sport and university sectors. Background Sports performance is multifactorial in nature with exercise training, recovery, heath, nutrition, psychological skills and skill acquisition as key factors in athletic preparation.1 Systematic training prepares the athlete for the demands of their sport such that physical abilities and sport specific skills are enhanced.1 Well-planned training loads promote structural and metabolic adaptations that underpin training outcomes such as improved physical performance, injury and illness resistance, and optimised mental and physical health. Rest or `unloading` may be defined as a substantial decrease in training load from the normal. A decrease in training load can be absolute (no training) or relative (as a percentage drop from normal load). Long periods of absolute rest cause a detraining effect and a reduced physical capacity.2 Mathematical modelling and retrospective data analysis have assisted coaches, sports science and sports medicine personnel to better understand the training dose-response relationship in elite Australian athletes. Key findings support previous anecdotal evidence: Effectively planning load and monitoring the individual training response can enhance training exposure and improve performance.1 Consistent training availability increases an athlete`s capacity to perform in both team and individual sports.3 There is an increased risk of illness and/or injury when reloading after a planned, or unplanned period of unloading if the volume,4 intensity and frequency of training are accelerated quicker than the athlete`s ability to adapt to the training stress. The time required to return to a full training load is proportionate to the length of the reduced workloads and the amount of training completed during the unloading period.2 At an individual level in a real-world setting, it is important to understand the context of loading and unloading of training for each sport and athlete. Unfortunately, there are no hard and fast rules, or formula that can accurately prescribe training or predict a performance outcome due to the vast variability in attributes of individual athletes. Therefore, it is the aim of this document to highlight factors that should be considered when an athlete is returning to training from either a planned break or returning from illness/injury.
© Copyright 2021 Veröffentlicht von AIS. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.