Mixing the Sheep and the Goats: Reframing the Interpretation of Acceleration Data in Sport

Acceleration is a continuous variable, and current practices of categorizing it into nonconsensual arbitrary thresholds may potentially lead to imprecise and biased data interpretation, as well as limiting interstudy comparisons. This commentary proposes a reframing of the interpretation of acceleration data and their use for athlete monitoring and exercise prescription. Although this applies to multiple sports, we will focus on the example of team sports in which these metrics are commonly used.

Despite the recognized benefits of acceleration monitoring, 2 major limitations are evident. First, the common practice of classifying continuous acceleration data into discrete categories leads to a loss of relevant information, thus reducing the validity, reliability, and statistical power of analyses. Second, the use of arbitrary thresholds fails to account for individualized profiles, which are essential for monitoring. The limitations of these approaches are exacerbated by the lack of any objective justification for the thresholds used. We propose that acceleration be analyzed continuously, and, therefore, interpretation of data should be individualized. Accelerations should be analyzed as continuous variables rather than categorized into arbitrary thresholds. Individualized monitoring using players' maximum acceleration as a reference can provide a more accurate representation of players' physical demands.