Monitoring internal load in basketball.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to quantify the magnitude of the internal load induced by an official women’s basketball match and to determine whether the magnitude of the internal load is correlated with the number of basketball maneuvers perfomed. The sample consisted of 10 athletes (25 ± 4 years), who participated in the XI Brazilian Women’s Basketball Championship. Heart rate and rating of perceived exertion in response to the match were evaluated. The internal load was calculated by the methods of Edwards and Foster. In addition, the basketball maneuvers perfomed in the match were analyzed. The internal load estimated by the methods of Edwards and Foster was 255 ± 62 and 321 ± 127 arbitrary units, respectively. A moderate correlation was observed between the two methods used (r = 0.64, p <0.05). In addition, significant correlations (p <0.05) were observed between internal load estimated by the method of Edwards and the number of points scored in the match (r = 0.53), number of rebounds (r = 0.67), number of assists (r = 0.59), number of steals (r = 0.70), and the sum of all indicators (r = 0.64). The results of this study suggest that the internal load of the match was moderate and was influenced by the number of maneuvers performed by the athletes in the match.