Abstract
Purpose: The aim of the present study was to examine the reliability and usefulness of a proposed 4-min individualised submaximal shuttle run test (SSRIndiv) in elite rugby league players.
Materials and methods: Twenty-two elite rugby league players competing in the National Rugby League competition (23.2 ± 3.4 years, 186.8 ± 5.4 cm, 100.2 ± 8.5 kg) performed the SSRIndiv twice, seven days apart (test–retest design). The SSRIndiv was prescribed as 75% of the average speed during a 1500-m time trial. Exercise heart rate was calculated as the average heart rate (HR) over the final 30 s (HRex). Seated HR recovery (HRR) was recorded at 1- (HRR60) and 2-min (HRR120) post-exercise. Data were analysed with magnitude-based inferences.
Results: Test–retest typical errors were moderate for HRex (1.2 percentage points; 90% confidence limits: 1.0–1.7), HRR60 (3.4; 2.7–4.6) and HRR120 (2.9; 2.3–3.9). Intraclass correlation coefficients were extremely high for HRex (0.91; 0.78–0.94) and very high for both HRR60 (0.80; 0.61–0.90) and HRR120 (0.84; 0.69–0.92). Thresholds for an individual change that would be likely small and greater than the typical error were ±1.8 (percentage points), ±4.6 and ±4.1 for HRex, HRR60 and HRR120, respectively.
Conclusions: The SSRIndiv demonstrates acceptable reliability in the assessment of HRex and HRR, thus demonstrating its potential usefulness for monitoring fitness and fatigue in elite rugby league players.
Materials and methods: Twenty-two elite rugby league players competing in the National Rugby League competition (23.2 ± 3.4 years, 186.8 ± 5.4 cm, 100.2 ± 8.5 kg) performed the SSRIndiv twice, seven days apart (test–retest design). The SSRIndiv was prescribed as 75% of the average speed during a 1500-m time trial. Exercise heart rate was calculated as the average heart rate (HR) over the final 30 s (HRex). Seated HR recovery (HRR) was recorded at 1- (HRR60) and 2-min (HRR120) post-exercise. Data were analysed with magnitude-based inferences.
Results: Test–retest typical errors were moderate for HRex (1.2 percentage points; 90% confidence limits: 1.0–1.7), HRR60 (3.4; 2.7–4.6) and HRR120 (2.9; 2.3–3.9). Intraclass correlation coefficients were extremely high for HRex (0.91; 0.78–0.94) and very high for both HRR60 (0.80; 0.61–0.90) and HRR120 (0.84; 0.69–0.92). Thresholds for an individual change that would be likely small and greater than the typical error were ±1.8 (percentage points), ±4.6 and ±4.1 for HRex, HRR60 and HRR120, respectively.
Conclusions: The SSRIndiv demonstrates acceptable reliability in the assessment of HRex and HRR, thus demonstrating its potential usefulness for monitoring fitness and fatigue in elite rugby league players.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 184-190 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Science and Medicine in Football |
| Volume | 2 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Early online date | 12 Mar 2018 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 3 Jul 2018 |