The The role of heart rate variability in the prevention of musculoskeletal injuries in female padel players
Abstract
The engagement of athletes in competitive Padel is becoming progressively prevalent, and this heightened participation elicits apprehensions regarding the prevalence of overtraining and sports-related injuries. In this framework, the objective of the present investigation was to examine the potential role of Heart Rate Variability (HRV) monitoring in identifying overtraining injuries among female professional Padel athletes. A cohort of 66 elite female Padel players, with ages ranging from 17 to 32 years, was recruited for the study. The duration of the investigation extended over a 13-week period, during which the participants were observed concerning HRV indices and musculoskeletal injuries while adhering to their customary Padel training protocols. The assessment of HRV indices was executed to ascertain the autonomic nervous system’s response to a state of overload injury, while the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center (OSTRC) Overuse Injury Questionnaire was administered to assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal overuse injuries, both at baseline and upon completion of the observational period. Utilizing a Paired Samples t-test analysis, the results indicated a statistically significant difference between pre- and post-test assessments, which illustrated that the observational cohort experienced a notable decline in HRV concomitant with an escalation in the incidence of musculoskeletal overuse injuries. Consequently, the findings imply that the monitoring of HRV responses may facilitate the early detection of overuse injuries, inform rehabilitation strategies, and advance return-to-sport protocols, thereby safeguarding and promoting the recovery of injured tissues.
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