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Examining the Effects of Altitude on Workload Demands in Professional Basketball Players during the Preseason Phase.

Sergio José IbáñezCarlos David Gómez-CarmonaSergio González-EspinosaDavid Mancha-Triguero
Published in: Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) (2024)
Basketball involves frequent high-intensity movements requiring optimal aerobic power. Altitude training can enhance physiological adaptations, but research examining its effects in basketball is limited. This study aimed to characterize the internal/external workload of professional basketball players during preseason and evaluate the effects of altitude and playing position. Twelve top-tier professional male basketball players (Liga Endesa, ACB; guards: n = 3, forwards: n = 5, and centers: n = 4) participated in a crossover study design composed of two training camps with nine sessions over 6 days under two different conditions: high altitude (2320 m) and sea level (10 m). Internal loads (heart rate, %HR MAX ) and external loads (total distances covered across speed thresholds, accelerations/decelerations, impacts, and jumps) were quantified via wearable tracking and heart rate telemetry. Repeated-measures MANOVA tested the altitude x playing position effects. Altitude increased the total distance (+10%), lower-speed running distances (+10-39%), accelerations/decelerations (+25-30%), average heart rate (+6%), time in higher-intensity HR zones (+23-63%), and jumps (+13%) across all positions ( p < 0.05). Positional differences existed, with guards accruing more high-speed running and centers exhibiting greater cardiovascular demands ( p < 0.05). In conclusion, a 6-day altitude block effectively overloads training, providing a stimulus to enhance fitness capacities when structured appropriately. Monitoring workloads and individualizing training by playing position are important when implementing altitude training, given the varied responses.
Keyphrases
  • heart rate
  • high intensity
  • heart rate variability
  • blood pressure
  • virtual reality
  • high speed
  • resistance training
  • physical activity
  • clinical trial
  • body composition
  • quality improvement