Quantifying wheelchair basketball match load: a comparison of heart rate and perceived exertion methods

PURPOSE. The aim of this study was to describe the objective and subjective match load (ML) of wheelchair basketball (WB) and to determine the relationship between session heart rate-based ML (HR-based ML) and perceived exertion-based ML (RPE-based ML) methods. METHODS. HR-based measurements of ML included Edward’s ML and Stagno training impulses (TRIMPMOD) whilst RPE-based ML measurements included respiratory (sRPEres ML) and muscular (sRPEmus ML). Data were collected from ten WB players during a whole competitive season. RESULTS. Edward’s ML and TRIMPMOD averaged across 16 matches were 255.3 ± 66.3 and 167.9 ± 67.1 AU respectively. In contrast, sRPEres ML and sRPEmus ML were found to be higher (521.9 ± 188.7 and 536.9 ± 185.8 AU respectively). Moderate correlations (r = .629 – .648, P < .001) between Edward’s ML and RPE-based ML methods were found. Moreover, similar significant correlations were also shown between the TRIMPMOD and RPE-based ML methods (r = .627 – .668, P < .001). That said, only ≥40% of variance in HR-based ML was explained by RPE-based ML which could be explained by the heterogeneity of physical impairment type. CONCLUSION. Results suggest that RPE-based ML methods could be used as an indicator of global internal ML in highly trained WB players.