Monitoramento de carga interna e respostas físicas e fisiológicas ao treinamento de CROSSFIT®

Abstract

CrossFit® is a training program recognized for its rapid growth in popularity in competitive and non-competitive forms, with the goal of developing different fitness domains simultaneously. Accurately and effectively identifying the effect of this training is indicated to periodically analyze the responses of a subject to a given overload, to safely prescribe and control training, and to promote adaptations. However, in this training model this is still not entirely clear, and a different response is expected because it is a self-regulated sport due to the high volume. Therefore, the objectives of this research was to describe the internal training load imposed on CrossFit® athletes over three months, and relate it to physical performance indicators. Additionally, to investigate the effect of training on aerobic fitness indicators and blood markers. To this end, competitive CrossFit® athletes were evaluated daily, weekly, and pre and post training. The instruments used were a notebook of perceptual measures regarding pain sensations, recovery, sleep quality and likely performance, heart rate variability and lower limb power and aerobic power tests. Data analysis was initially done by checking the normality of the data using the Shapiro-Wilk test. If normality was confirmed, the data were presented by mean and standard deviation and the daily, weekly, and post-competition data were compared by ANOVA for repeated measures, and the correlations between training load indicators and physical performance were tested by Pearson's coefficient. Otherwise, data were presented by median and interquartile range, and daily, weekly, and post-competition data were compared by Friedman's test and correlations were tested by Spearman's coefficient. All analyses were done in SPSS 20.0 software and the alpha value was set at 5%. The main findings suggest that the imposed training loads were not sufficient to induce detectable overreaching or recovery/compensation, at least by the variables used; that training did not promote relevant changes in the aerobic power tested and; that positive correlations were not identified among the variables analyzed. In summary, the training load imposed in the preparation of elite Crossfit® athletes was relatively stable, despite the constant variation of stimuli and settings, and of moderate level. Our findings may help to explain training patterns that involve high volume and frequency of training maintained for long periods, which does not match (at least theoretically) with high intensity efforts.