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The aim of this review was to identify the main variables for load monitoring in training and competition situations in wheelchair sports. Studies were identified from a systematic search of three databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and SportDiscuss), with search phrases constructed from MeSH terms, alone or in combination, limited to English-language literature, and published up to January 2016. Our main findings were that variables related to external load (distance, speed, and duration) are used to monitor load in competition. In training situations, researchers have used variables related to internal load (heart rate and VO2); in both training and competition situations, researchers used internal load measurements (training impulse and ratings of perceived exertion). We conclude that the main variables for load monitoring in competitive situations were distance, speed, and duration, whereas the variables for training situations were heart rate, VO2, training impulse, and ratings of perceived exertion.
Simim is with the Instituto de Educação Física e Esportes (IEFES), Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil. Simim, de Mello, and da Silva are with the Academia Paralímpica Brasileira (APB), Comitê Paralímpico Brasileiro, Brasília, Brazil. de Mello, Silva, Rodrigues, Rosa, Couto, and da Silva are with Escola de Educação Física, Fisioterapia e Terapia Ocupacional (EEFFTO), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Silva is also with the Centro Universitário de Belo Horizonte (Uni-BH), Belo Horizonte, Brazil.