Athletes undergo training to induce adaptations that can improve performance. Too little training can result in suboptimal performance but, conversely, too much training with inadequate recovery can also lead to adverse performance effects. In order to optimise athletic performance training programs must achieve the correct balance between training load and recovery.
Technological advances have allowed for training loads to be quantified quite readily, but quantification of the load being performed does not provide any insight into how an athlete is responding to that load. A large number of biomarkers have been evaluated to determine how athletes are responding to different training loads, but currently there is insufficient evidence to support the use of any given biomarker.
Our team has been evaluating various parameters that can be assessed during submaximal exercise that correlate with changes in athletic performance following changes in training load. These parameters include heart rate acceleration during the transition from rest to exercise, and changes in movement and gait patterns. This presentation will provide insights into these novel methods for assessing how an athlete is responding to training, and how they can be used to inform changes in athletic training programs to optimise performance.