Examining approaches to the monitoring of training load with specific reference to both the stimulus and response.

Hill, John Karl Anthony (2025). Examining approaches to the monitoring of training load with specific reference to both the stimulus and response. University of Birmingham. Other

Preview

Hill2025PhD.pdf
Text - Accepted Version
Available under License All rights reserved.
Download (2MB) | Preview

Abstract

The primary aims of sport scientists working in the applied field are focused on developing physical capabilities to enhance athletes’ performance and reduce injury incidence. Elite professional football is a fast paced and high-pressure environment where practitioners require an intimate understanding of both training load demands and players physiological responses to load to effectively prepare players for the demands of competition. However, current load monitoring strategies may not capture the full spectrum of loads that players experience, with key mechanical and technical components underrepresented in contemporary datasets within elite professional practice. This thesis aims to provide practitioners with insights to support decisions around training load prescription and monitoring. To achieve this, it explores methods for identifying multiple dimensions of loading, explores a novel approach to understanding and measurement of multiple dimensions of loading, and examines physiological responses of elite professional footballers over a competitive season.

Study 1
Load monitoring is essential in elite sports to prescribe training effectively, enhance performance, and mitigate injury risk. This study aims to investigate approaches to load monitoring within the published literature that encompass multiple dimensions of load, including locomotor, mechanical, and technical aspects. Given that peer-reviewed and published literature often trails technological advances and implementation in professional practice, a patent search was conducted to identify technologies that are potentially applicable in professional environments to monitor multiple aspects of load (locomotor, mechanical, technical). Using a mixed-methods approach, this study first conducted a systematic search to identify relevant approaches in the literature whilst simultaneously performing a patent search for applicable technologies. This approach identified 20 articles that addressed combined load factors. Of the 42 identified patents, none linked with a technology that met the criteria for practical use in the applied professional setting. Further refinement of the results revealed three separate studies used foot mounted inertial sensors (F IMU) to quantify loading across the three key parameters within a field-based environment. This review highlights the promising potential of F IMUs for quantifying multiple dimensions of loading in the professional practice environment.

Study 2
Monitoring multiple dimensions of load is essential to understand the demands of training and competition in elite sport. The aim of this study is to explore the potential of a novel approach to load monitoring using F IMU to detect and quantify locomotor, mechanical, and technical load in the real-world context. Data from seven elite professional footballers wearing F IMU were collected during on pitch rehabilitations sessions. Rehabilitation was categorised into three stages: reloading, return to football, and return to performance. The approach demonstrated face validity, successfully identifying expected loading patterns, and showing sensitivity to progressive load increases across multiple parameters. The findings indicate that F IMUs can be used effectively to quantify three primary dimensions of load in the applied setting of professional football, providing a more comprehensive view of the loading that is experienced by elite players during rehabilitation from injury. This information could be valuable to practitioners looking to advance their current load monitoring processes by including aspects of loading that may be underrepresented by contemporary locomotor-based metrics.

Study 3
Understanding a player’s physiological responses to training loads is essential for developing individualised training programs and appropriate loading schemes in elite professional football. Balancing load and recovery help ensure that players can perform optimally while minimising potential injury risk. Biomarker analysis through point of care testing (POC) has become increasingly common in elite sports to assess recovery status, however limited research exists connecting loading parameters with biomarker responses. This study aims to investigate the relationship between load (total distance TD, sprint distance SD) and physiological response. Using a sample of 21 elite professional footballers, inflammatory responses (high-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein, hs CRP) and oxidative stress markers (FORT, FORD, Oxidative Stress Index, OSI) were taken on match day plus two (MD+2) (n=40). Response data were correlated against with multiple loading windows (4, 7, 14, and 28 days) for total distance (m) and sprint distance (m) over a full competitive season. Overall results showed weak association between load and response variables. Most notably, results indicated weak positive correlations between both TD and SD and inflammatory response (hs CRP) in the 4-day loading window (TD=0.20, SD=0.22), with similarly weak positive correlations observed between OSI and in the 28-day window TD=0.29, SD=0.27). While no definitive relationships were established, findings suggest nuanced interactions between hs CRP, OSI, and loading across different time frames with large individual differences. These results highlight the complex and multifactorial nature of load-response interactions, underscoring the need for further hypothesis-driven research in elite professional football.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Other)

Award Type:

Other

Supervisor(s):