Stage-based medical and biological control as a factor of management of amateur triathletes' training

BACKGROUND: Problems of professional athletes' training in triathlon and its methodological and medical-biological support have been well-studied. However, the training process in amateur sports normally involving the loads similar to professional still lacks justified academic and methodological approaches. The objective of the research was to prove the necessity and high effectiveness of medical and biological control as a factor of training process management in amateur triathlon. METHODS: Thirty-two amateur triathletes were recruited as participants (24 men and 8 women. age 3315). The functional state of the participants was studied in the macrocycle for three times. Athletes' hemodynainic status was assessed via hemodynamics monitoring. The evaluation of the functional state was based on the maximum load testing using metabolic gas analyzer and load testing system. RESULTS: The initial examination revealed average volumetric cardiac indicators and indices low for athletes; along with that, the values of volemia, inotropy, and vascular tone were within the normal range, and the levels of maximum oxygen consumption and maximum achieved load power were low. Statistical processing involving correlation and factor analyses revealed the leading interrelated factors which might be effectively subjected in order to improve sport performance in triathlon. Training process personalization and introduction of low-intensity resistance training based on static-dynamic exercises contributed to improvement of strength characteristics of the lower limbs (the increase of maximum power from 254 W to 321.81 W). Introduction of short interval training and repeated working at the level of the anaerobic threshold at the third stage resulted in the significant increase both of maximum load power at the cycle ergometer (by 357.75 W), and of aerobic performance (from 44.78 to 55.21 mL/kg/min). CONCLUSIONS: The conducted study proved the necessity and effectiveness of managing training process with the help of medical and biological control and individualization of volume, intensity, and specialization of loads in amateur sports.