Evaluation of Internal and External Load Demands in Amputee Football Players

Literature is scarce related to the evaluation of internal and external load demands in simulated amputee football. This study aimed to quantify internal and external load demands on players during amputee football matches (n =22). Heart rate (HR), blood lactate ([BLa-]), and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were analyzed as internal load. Total distance covered (TD), TD at five speed categories (SC), percentages of TD at five SC, time spent in four HR zones and peak speed were considered external load. The results revealed that mean RPE and [BLa-] were 10.59 +/- 2.93 and 5.36 +/- 2.93 mmol.L -1 , respectively, and were similar between the first and the second half (p >0.05). Mean HR was 145.5 +/- 12.5 bpm and mean HR was higher in the first half compared to the second half (p =0.049). Amputee football players covered 2445.40 +/- 416.36 m in matches and the mean TD in the second half was lower than the first half (p =0.000). TD at very low speed category corresponded to -73 % efforts. Low, moderate, high, and very high efforts corresponded to -27 % of the TD. Amputee football players spent -46 min at moderate and high intensity HR zones while these corresponded only about similar to 4 min at very low and low intensity HR zones during amputee football matches. This study concludes that match demands are high during amputee football matches. Internal and external load parameters have a great importance in the design of amputee football specific training protocols to enhance physical capacity, minimize injury risk and improve well-being.