Quantification of Respiratory and Muscular Perceived Exertions as Perceived Measures of Internal Loads During Domestic and Overseas Training Camps in Elite Futsal Players

BACKGROUND: The rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scales with respiratory and muscular illustrations are recognized as simple and practical methods to understand individual psychometric characteristics in breathing and muscle exertion during exercise. However, the implementation of respiratory and muscular RPE to quantify training load in futsal training camps has not been examined. This study investigates respiratory and muscular RPE relationships during domestic training camps (DTC) and overseas training camps (OTC) in an under 20 futsal national team. METHODS: Data collected from eleven field players were used for comparison in this study (age = 18.7 ± 0.7 years, height = 171.9 ± 6.1 cm, body weight = 64.2 ± 8.4 kg). All players reported Borg CR10 RPE (RPE(CR10)) and 7-scales respiratory RPE (RPE(respiration)) and muscular RPE (RPE(muscle)) (Dalhousie pictorial scales) after training sessions and matches. Additionally, total distance covered (TD) and training impulse (TRIMP) were used to quantify external and internal loads via the Polar Team Pro system. Paired-sample t-tests were used to compare the RPE(CR10), RPE(respiration), RPE(muscle), TD, and TRIMP between DTC and OTC. Furthermore, linear regression was performed to determine the relationships among all RPE scales, TD, and TRIMP. RESULTS: The RPE(CR10) (p = 0.047), TD (p < 0.001), and TRIMP (p < 0.001) showed significant difference between DTC and OTC. Furthermore, linear regression analyses showed significant correlation between RPE(respiration) and RPE(muscle) (DTC: r = 0.857, p = 0.006; OTC: r = 0.924, p < 0.001), RPE(CR10) and RPE(respiration) (DTC: r = 0.857, p = 0.001; OTC: r = 0.863, p = 0.001), and RPE(CR10) and RPE(muscle) (DTC: r = 0.906, p < 0.001; OTC: r = 0.900, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Pictorial RPE(respiration) or RPE(muscle) can be used as an alternative to quantify perceived measures of internal loads during DTC and OTC in futsal players. Interpretation of perceived measures of training load and cardiac-related responses in association with external training loads during short-term training camps would be useful in further understanding the demands of futsal players’ experience in these circumstances.