Internal load in male professional volleyball: a systematic review

The aims of this systematic review were to synthesize the volleyball internal load values presents in the literature, verify the applicability of the different tools for quantification and monitoring these variables, and analyze the similarity with the matches and training loads.

This review followed the PRISMA statement recommendations, and the search was carried out in the databases: PubMed/NCBI, SportDiscus via EBSCOhost, SciELO and in the Brazilian Library of Theses. Twenty-six studies meet the criteria and were included.

The most used and indicate tools for quantification, monitoring and evaluation of volleyball internal load are the rating of perceived exertion (RPE), session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) and other metrics derived from these data. Volleyball training sessions range from 4 to 7 in Brog Scale and sessions with more jumps present a higher load. The sRPE values found ranged from 51.92 (AU) to 627 (AU) and presents an undulating kinetic intra and inter weeks. Higher total week training load values are observed in the preparatory period than in competitive periods and wellbeing and recovery questionnaires are sensible to increased loads.

In professional male volleyball, training load seem to be planned with variation according to the period of the season and days of week. The intraweek variation in load dynamics is necessary to allow the correct athlete's recovery and adaptation to volleyball efforts and the interweek load increase can be monitored by the ACWR.