A comparison of methods for the calculation of the training impulse

![CDATA[Training impulse (TRIMP) (Banister, 1991) is a method used for the quantification of training load where the duration of a training session is combined with the mean Heart Rate (HR), which is weighted based on an exponential function representing the typical blood lactate (BLa) response to incremental exercise. This method provides higher weightings for more intense training sessions (bTRIMP). However, the use of mean HR may miss specific data during team sport training or matches where HR varies due to the intermittent activity profile. Stagno's modification of the Banister method first individualised the HR-BLa curve to the specific team used in their study and then created zones based on traditional lactate thresholds. Although this provides a curve individualised to the “group” (gTRIMP), the weighting in each zone is still the same for each player at a given intensity and therefore does not take into consideration the “individual.” Hence, we propose an individualised TRIMP (iTRIMP), where the HR-BLa curve is generated for each individual from their own data. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare bTrimp, gTRIMP and iTRIMP. Eleven team sport players completed a vV02max test and a protocol consisting of 4×4 min stages at 25, 50, 75 and 100% vV02max, with BLa measured at the end of each stage. HR data from the vVO2max test was weighted every 6 s using gTRIMP and iTRIMP. The values of bTRIMP, gTRIMP and iTRIMP were compared using a repeated-measures ANOVA. The results showed that both gTRIMP (53 AU) and iTRIMP (53 AU) were significantly higher than bTRIMP (26 AU) (p<0.01). Although there was no significant difference between gTRIMP and iTRIMP (mean difference −1%), the individual values of iTRIMP ranged from −14% to +19% of the same individuals gTRIMP value, highlighting the individual variation in values compared with the “group” derived gTRIMP.]]