Behaviour of training loads and physical performance during a period of 6 weeks in high-intensity functional training practitioners

Abstract

Purpose The present study aimed to analyse the behaviour of training loads and evaluate specific aspects of physical fitness during a period of 6 weeks in high-intensity functional training (HIFT) practitioners. Methods The study included 12 practitioners (4 men and 8 women; age: 31.08 ± 4.80 years) of HIFT. The session rating of perceived exertion was routinely collected after each training session for 6 weeks. The sum and average of the weekly loads of training, strain, monotony, and acute/chronic workload ratio were recorded for analysis. In addition, the athletes underwent sprint, countermovement jump, and handgrip strength tests before and after the 6 weeks of HIFT. Results A constant dynamic of the weekly internal training loads and the mean internal training loads was observed, with difference in the results from weeks 1 to 3 ( F = 3.283; p = 0.02). In addition, the practitioners obtained superior results in countermovement jump ( t = 3.573; p = 0.005) and lower limb muscle power ( t = 3.536; p = 0.005) after the 6 weeks. Conclusions The internal training load varied significantly only from weeks 1 to 3 over the 6 weeks. In addition, we observed that the 6-week HIFT was able to generate functional adaptations only in countermovement jump and lower limb muscle power.

Keywords

• perceived exertion
• sprint
• muscle power
• vertical jump
• training monitoring