Conclusions Our results demonstrate that the existence of a relationship between training load and injury continues to be well supported in the literature and is strongest for subjective internal training load .
The directionality of this relationship appears to depend on the type and timeframe of load measured
Background The relationship between training load and musculoskeletal injury is a rapidly advancing area of research in need of an up date d systematic review .
Reductions in pre-season training loads reduce training injury rates in rugby league players
Objectives : To investigate if reductions in pre-season training loads reduced the incidence of training injuries in rugby league players , and to determine if the reductions in training loads compromised the improvements in physical fitness obtained during the pre-season preparation period . Methods : A total of 220 sub-elite rugby league players participated in this 3 year prospect i ve study . Players underwent measurements of speed , muscular power , and maximal aerobic power before and after three 4 month ( December to March ) pre-season preparation periods ( 2001–2003 ) . A periodised skills and conditioning program was implemented , with training loads progressively increased in the general preparatory phase of the season ( December to February ) and reduced slightly in March in preparation for the competitive phase of the season . Training loads were calculated by multiplying the training session intensity by the duration of the training session . Following the initial season ( 2001 ) , training loads were reduced through reductions in training duration ( 2002 ) and training intensity ( 2003 ) . The incidence of injury was prospect ively recorded over the three pre-season periods . Results : The training loads for the 2002 and 2003 pre-season periods were significantly lower ( p<0.001 ) than those in 2001 . The incidence of injury was significantly higher in the 2001 pre-season than the 2002 and 2003 pre-season periods . The increases in maximal aerobic power progressively improved across the three seasons with a 62–88 % probability that the 2002 and 2003 pre-season improvements in maximal aerobic power were of greater physiological significance than the 2001 pre-season improvements in maximal aerobic power . Conclusions : These findings demonstrate that reductions in pre-season training loads reduce training injury rates in rugby league players and result in greater improvements in maximal aerobic power
Conclusions Our results demonstrate that the existence of a relationship between training load and injury continues to be well supported in the literature and is strongest for subjective internal training load .
The directionality of this relationship appears to depend on the type and timeframe of load measured
Background The relationship between training load and musculoskeletal injury is a rapidly advancing area of research in need of an up date d systematic review .