2019 Volume 65 Issue 3 Pages 279-285
Objective: To examine the activity profiles of international goalball players and individual player profiles using wearable devices.
Materials: All participants were Japanese national goalball players. Nine players were male (age: 24.7±5.9 years, height: 169.1±0.06 cm, weight: 73.1±10.0 kg) and 5 were female (age: 20.8 ±7.1 years, height: 158.2±0.06 cm, weight: 55.6±7.2 kg).
Methods: Measured items were PlayerLoadTM, acceleration, deceleration, change of direction, and heart rate responses. Inertial measurement units (IMU) and heart rate sensors were embedded in the wearable device used by participants. Each player’s highest PlayerLoadTM value in a 10-sequence interval was referred to as the “peak value”, and the average 10-sequence interval value after the peak was expressed as “post value”. Percentage of HRmax (%HRmax) observed in one playing time was also assessed.
Results: In male players, an approximately 50% decline in the mean PlayerLoadTM value was observed (from peak to post). The same tendency was observed in the female players, although the amount of decline was not that high. In male players, 80%-90% HRmax was observed in approximately 60% of a game, whereas that of female players was 30%. Furthermore, in female players, 70%-80% HRmax was observed in approximately 50% of a game, whereas that of male players was 30%.
Conclusions: The results provide scientific evidence for constructing a useful measurement tool when planning trainings for goalball players to improve their competitiveness.
