ABSTRACT
Neuromuscular fatigue is defined as a reduction induced by exercise in the maximal voluntary force that a muscle or group of muscles can generate. An accumulation of work or an incomplete force restoration can significantly influence the neuromuscular performance in both the short and long terms. Thus, fatigue management is essential for controlling the training adaptations of athletes and reducing their susceptibility to injury and illness. The main individualized monitoring tools used to describe fatigue are questionnaires and subjective assessments of fatigue, biochemical markers, sprint tests, and vertical jump tests. Among the subjective measures, the rating of the perceived exertion has been widely used because of its simplicity and high validity. In terms of the objective measures, one of the more frequently employed tools by practitioners to assess neuromuscular fatigue is the countermovement jump. Because of its high validity and reliability, it is accepted as the reference standard test in sports, in general, and particularly in team sports. Our review aims to clarify how all these indicators, as well as several devices, can help coaches in different sports contexts to monitor neuromuscular fatigue, and how these procedures should be used to obtain data that can be used to make decisions in complex environments.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many sectors of our global society since its detection in Wuhan in December 2019, and team sports have been no stranger to this reality. This special article presents a review of the literature exposing the dangers for athletes of this virus, reporting the effects of the pandemic on competitive sport, and making evidence-based recommendations to avoid the consequences of detraining in confined athletes. Furthermore, we present the results of a survey with 361 answers computed from coaches and different staff members from 26 different countries, representing the activity of more than 4500 athletes from all over the world. The aim was to know more teams activity during this cessation period. Finally, the article outlines recommendations based on the answers to help teams if a second outbreak of the virus forces massive confinements again, guiding a safe return to sport at any competitive level. (AU)
