Evaluating the utility of submaximal fitness tests for monitoring athletes’ physiological state in team sports

  • Tzlil Shushan

Western Sydney University thesis: Doctoral thesis

Abstract

An effective athlete monitoring process in professional sports is the goal of any coach, practitioner, or researcher. Consequently, data collection strategies to monitor athletes’ exposure, loads (i.e., dose) and response are commonplace in team sports. However, considering the logistical, physical, and mental challenges that practitioners face when monitoring athletes in applied settings, there has been an increased interest in pragmatic, submaximal, non-exhaustive exercise assessments. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the utility of Submaximal Fitness Tests (SMFT) for monitoring an athlete’s physiological state in team sports. In this thesis I examined the use of SMFT for evaluating athletes’ physiological state and training effects. The opening review provided the reader an extensive overview of SMFT in team sports. This part also provided clarifications of definition, protocol taxonomy, and evidence-informed knowledge regarding the putative mechanisms of SMFT-derived outcome measures, which consequently helped to develop the following studies’ research questions. Subsequently, study 2 meta-analysed the measurement properties of the most quantified SMFT outcome measure, providing researchers and practitioners robust evidence regarding the reliability and convergent validity of HRex. Considering the merit of acquiring information from professional practitioners, study 3 involved a survey regarding practices and perceptions of SMFT showcasing industry practice routines and whether they are evidence based. This knowledge is an essential part of a strong theoretical framework. In view of the wide array of protocols, technologies and methodological approaches to monitor outcome measures, study 4 explored the influence of exercise regimen, intensity, and analysis techniques on the reliability of multivariate SMFT outcome measures. Finally, study 5 evaluated the relationship between outcome measures collected in controlled laboratory versus field environments, along with the sensitivity of these measures to denote within-athlete aerobic-oriented training effects. The findings from this thesis have direct practical applications to coaches, practitioners, and researchers. Therefore, I have detailed below key recommendations to prompt improvements both in research and applied practice.

Date of Award2023
Original languageEnglish
Awarding Institution
  • Western Sydney University
SupervisorRic Lovell (Supervisor)

Keywords

  • Team sports -- Physiological aspects
  • Physical fitness -- Physiological aspects
  • Physical fitness -- Testing

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