HEART RATE AND BLOOD LACTATE MONITORING DURING MICROCYCLE AND MESOCYCLE IN ACROBATICS GYMNASTICS

ABSTRACT Periodization and planning of the training load is an essential process in the preparation of an elite gymnast. On the one hand, the coaches and gymnasts have to achieve the necessary level (individual maximum) of the volume (quantity of elements and routines), and on the other hand, they have to do it at the “right time”. Last but not least is to prevent the gymnasts from injuries. That is why we need to study the dynamic of the training load from a physiological point of view and should have a better understanding of how the body’s system responds. This study aims to observe body reactions to the training load during one microcycle and one mesocycle in acrobatics gymnastics. One female youth Olympic champion (18 years old) and one male bronze medallist from junior WCH (26 years old) were tested. The study was made at the end of the preparation period and the beginning of the competitive period. The indicators measured were HR, blood La. Heart rate was recorded by Suunto Ambit 2. A drop of blood sample was taken from the fingertip to assess the average peak blood lactate concentration using an Accutrend Plus Roche. A heart rate record was made during one week of training (6 training days). Monitoring of the blood La took place once a week (every Thursday) for one month. The obtained results show how the gymnast body’s systems react to the training load in microcycles and mesocycle in acrobatics gymnastics. The data allow timely optimization of the training load and is a prerequisite for the improvement of the next periodization and planning of the training load not only for gymnasts that were tested but also for high-level gymnasts (Mixed Pair) with similar age and anthropometric indicators.