title: Monitoring internal load parameters during simulated and official basketball matches.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare the internal load responses (session rating of perceived exertion [RPE] and salivary cortisol) between simulated and official matches (SM and OM). Ten professional basketball players participated in 2 OMs and 2 SMs during the competition season. Subjects provided saliva samples 30 minutes before the prematch warm-up (PRE) and 10 minutes after the end of the match. Session RPE (CR-10 scale) was assessed 30 minutes after each match. The results from the 2-way analysis of variance showed significant differences for post-OM salivary cortisol as compared with pre-OM values (p < 0.05). No changes were observed for cortisol during the SM. Before the OM, a significant difference in salivary cortisol was observed as compared with pre-SM values (p < 0.05). Moreover, the OM session RPE was significantly greater than that of SM. There was a significant correlation between session RPE and cortisol changes (r = 0.75). In summary, the results of this study showed a greater magnitude of cortisol and session RPE responses after OM as compared with that after SM confirming the hypothesis that a real competition generates a greater stress response than a simulated condition does. The anticipatory effect was also observed in the OM. In addition, the results indicate that session RPE seems to be a viable tool in monitoring internal loads, and the results are useful in providing a better understanding of internal loads imposed by basketball training and competitions. The precise monitoring of these responses might help the coaches to plan appropriate loads maximizing recovery and performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. alemoreira@usp.br
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: McGuigan
authors.forename: Ademir F s
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Arruda
authors.forename: Camila G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.forename: Marcelo S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Aoki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001490:Basketball / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone