Franco M Impellizzeri

University of Technology Sydney | UTS · Faculty of Health

The ability to accurately control and monitor internal training load is an important aspect of effective coaching. The aim of this study was to apply in soccer the RPE-based method proposed by Foster et al. to quantify internal training load (session-RPE) and to assess its correlations with various methods used to determine internal training load b...

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of specific (small-sided games) vs. generic (running) aerobic interval training on physical fitness and objective measures of match performance in soccer. Forty junior players were randomly assigned to either generic (n=20) or specific (n=20) interval training consisting of 4 bouts of 4 min at 90-95...

Exercise is a stressor that induces various psychophysiological responses, which mediate cellular adaptations in many organ systems. To maximize this adaptive response, coaches and scientists need to control the stress applied to the athlete at the individual level. To achieve this, precise control and manipulation of the training load are required...

Background: While there are a few studies on measurement properties of PROMIS short forms for pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis, nothing is known about the measurement properties in patients with knee arthroplasty. Therefore, this study examined the measurement properties of the German Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Inf...

Purpose: To examine the construct validity and reliability of 2 single items for fatigue and recovery in dancers. The construct validity was assessed using reference instruments: the fatigue items of the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) and the Short Recovery and Stress Scale (SRSS). A secondary aim was to explore the respondent interpretation of these 2...

Background A comprehensive examination of the sport-specific activities performed around the time of injury is important to hypothesise injury mechanisms, develop prevention strategies, improve management, and inform future investigations. The aim of this systematic review is to summarise the current literature describing the activities performed a...

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of recreational football performed once (LOW) vs. twice (MOD) a week on cardiovascular risk factors in healthy, sedentary men. Body composition, resting blood pressure, blood lipid profile and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) were measured at baseline, after a 12-week control and training period, usi...

A recent paper called for the abandonment of the term load (and training load) when used outside its mechanical meaning, claiming it is “unscientific” and “breaches scientific principles.” In this article, we explain why its use does not breach any scientific principles and we clarify the process of labelling, conceptualising and operationalising a...

Introduction: Rugby Union is a team-based activity, in which 15 individuals must perform cooperative movements and actions to coordinate effective attacking and defensive manoeuvres against an opposing team. Wearable Global Positioning Systems are often used to monitor the physical aspects of match play (e.g., distances and speeds of individual ath...

A conceptual framework has a central role in the scientific process. Its purpose is to synthesize evidence, assist in understanding phenomena, inform future research and act as a reference operational guide in practical settings. We propose an updated conceptual framework intended to facilitate the validation and interpretation of physical training...

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Background Track cyclists must develop mental, physical, tactical and technical capabilities to achieve success at an elite level. Given the importance of these components in determining performance, it is of interest to understand the volume of evidence to support implementation in practice by coaches, practitioners, and athletes. Objective The a...

Introduction While the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) is mainly designed for computer adaptive testing, its static short forms (SF) are used when a paper-pencil format is preferred or item banks are not yet translated into the target language. This study examined the measurement properties of the German PROMIS-SF...

Poor reporting of medical and healthcare systematic reviews is a problem from which the sports and exercise medicine, musculoskeletal rehabilitation, and sports science fields are not immune. Transparent, accurate and comprehensive systematic review reporting helps researchers replicate methods, readers understand what was done and why, and clinici...

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effect of peer presence on session rating of perceived exertion (RPE) responses. Method: Fourteen males, with mean (SD) age 22.4 (3.9) years, peak oxygen uptake 48.0 (6.6) mL·kg-1·min-1, and peak power output 330 (44) W, completed an incremental cycling test and 3 identical experimental sessions, in group...

Objective The Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) is strongly recommended to reduce hamstring injuries in previous meta-analyses (50% reduction in risk of injury). To underline the importance and impact of adopting appropriate methodology for evidence synthesis, we revisited the study selection, re-analysed and updated the findings of the most recent m...

This study investigated cooperative passing interactions in elite rugby match play. Associations between team network metrics and match outcomes were also investigated. A cross-sectional approach was adopted, using data from four Australian Super Rugby teams, across five seasons. 44,178 passing actions were included across 321 team-fixture observat...

Analysis of key performance indicators (KPIs) in team sports has frequently involved multiple univariate analyses and modelling of direct associations between each KPI and match outcomes. This study aimed to show a more appropriate framework and modelling process to establish causal plausibility for future confirmatory studies. A cross-sectional de...

Causal pathways between training loads and the mechanisms of tissue damage and athletic injury are poorly understood. Here, the relation between specific training load measures and metrics, and causal pathways of gradual onset and traumatic injury are examined. Currently, a wide variety of internal and external training load measures and metrics ex...

This study investigated the variability in the worst-case scenario (WCS) and suggested a framework to improve the definition and guide further investigation. Optical tracking data from 26 male players across 38 matches were analysed to determine the WCS for total distance, high-speed running (>5.5 m.s-1) and sprinting (>7.0 m.s-1) using a 3-minute...

Aim The aim of this study was to examine the associations between the injury risk and the acute (AL) to chronic (CL) workload ratio (ACWR) by substituting the original CL with contrived values to assess the role of CL (i.e., the presence and implications of statistical artefacts). Methods Using previously published data, we generated a contrived A...

Aim: This study aims to scope available peer-reviewed literature published in a FIFA language to under- stand the current quantity of research on women’s football. Methods: Five databases were searched on the 15/12/2019. Studies were included when containing original research published in a peer-reviewed journal around female competitive football o...

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effect of peer presence on the session rating of perceived exertion (RPE) responses. Design: Within-participant design. Method: Fourteen males, with mean (standard deviation) age 22.4 (3.9) years, peak oxygen uptake 48.0 (6.6) mL·kg-1·min-1 and peak power output 330 (44) W, completed an incremental cyclin...

Background Measuring the physical work and resultant acute psychobiological responses of basketball can help to better understand and inform physical preparation models and improve overall athlete health and performance. Recent advancements in training load monitoring solutions have coincided with increases in the literature describing the physical...

Using a multivariate allometric scaling we compared the serve speed (SS) between male and female professional tennis players, free of the confounding effect of body mass (BM) and height (H). A mass exponent common to men and women was fitted according to the following model: log SS = a log BM + b log H + log c. The average value for the best serve...

A conceptual framework has a central role in the scientific process. Its purpose is to synthesize evidence, assist in understanding phenomena, inform future research and act as a reference operational guide in practical settings. We propose an updated conceptual framework intended to facilitate the validation and interpretation of physical training...

Objective: To describe how workload-related exposure variables have been defined in sports injury articles, and to identify the number of workload-related exposure variables included in comparative analyses. Design: Scoping review. Literature search: PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Scopus were systematically searched on March 13, 2020. Two reviewers...

The purpose of this 2-part commentary series is to explain why we believe our ability to control injury risk by manipulating training load (TL) in its current state is an illusion and why the foundations of this illusion are weak and unreliable. In part 1, we introduce the training process framework and contextualize the role of TL monitoring in th...

Background: Athlete-reported outcome measures (AROMs) are frequently used in research and practice but no studies have examined their psychometric properties. Objectives: Part 1-identify the most commonly used AROMs in sport for monitoring training responses; part 2-assess risk of bias, measurement properties, and level of evidence, based on the...

Background Exercise-based strategies are used to prevent muscle injuries in football and studies on different competitive-level populations may provide different results.Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of exercise-based muscle injury prevention strategies in adult elite football.MethodsA systematic search was conducted in PubMed (MEDLINE),...

Purpose: To define based on expert opinion and practical experience using a systematic and scientific approach, (1) the perceived most effective exercise-based strategies to prevent muscle injury in elite footballers; and, (2) when and how these exercise programs are prescribed based on the number of days between games i.e. implementation strategy...

In part 2 of this clinical commentary, we highlight the conceptual and methodologic pitfalls evident in current training-load-injury research. These limitations make these studies unsuitable for determining how to use new metrics such as acute workload, chronic workload, and their ratio for reducing injury risk. The main overarching concerns are th...

Context Professional dance is a demanding physical activity with high injury rates. Currently, no epidemiologic data exist regarding the incidence of injury and illness together with training load (TL) over a long period of time. Objective To provide a detailed description of injury, illness, and TL occurring in professional contemporary dancers....

Background: In this clinical commentary, we highlight issues related to conceptual foundations and methods used in the training load-injury research. We focus on sources of degrees of freedom that can favor questionable research practices such as p-hacking and HARKing (Hypothesizing After the Results are Known), which can undermine the trustworthi...

Background: This article sets the scene for a critique of the research underpinning two common clinical assumptions: (1) training workload is a key factor influencing sports injury risk, and (2) it can be manipulated to reduce injury risk. In this summary we address why it is important for clinicians to critically evaluate the evidence behind rese...

Purpose: To provide details on the nature and symptomatic profile of training maladaptation in competitive resistance-based athletes to examine whether there are symptoms that may be used as prognostic indicators of overtraining. Identifying prognostic tools to assess for training maladaptation is essential for avoiding severe overtraining conditi...

PURPOSE: Perceptions of effort (PE) and muscle pain (MP) influence performance and engagement in regular physical exercise. Literature-based standardized instructions describe PE as resulting from multiple sensory cues including “aches”. This description of PE creates a possible confound when PE and MP are being considered separately. This project...

The number of studies examining associations between training load and injury has increased exponentially. As a result, many new measures of exposure and training-load-based prognostic factors have been created. The acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR) is the most popular. However, when recommending the manipulation of a prognostic factor in order t...

Objective The changing demographics of our society will lead to an increasing number of patients presenting for orthopaedic surgery with increasing comorbidity. We investigated the association between comorbidity and both the risks (complications) and benefits (improved function) of total hip replacement (THR) for primary hip osteoarthritis, whilst...

During COVID-19 home confinement, athletes are likely exposed to some level of detraining (i.e. the partial or complete loss of training-induced morphological and physiological adaptations), as a consequence of insufficient and/or inappropriate training stimuli. Such changes may result in impaired performance and increased injury risk if, upon rest...

Background The balance between training stress and recovery is important for inducing adaptations to improve athletic performance. However, continuously high training loads with insufficient recovery may cause fatigue to accumulate and result in overtraining. A comprehensive systematic review is required to collate overtraining literature and impro...

Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the presence and implications of statistical artefacts created by a commonly used indicator of injury risk in both research and practice: the ratio between acute workload (AL) and chronic workload (CL), named ACWR. Methods: Using previously published data, we generated a contrived ACWR by dividing the AL by f...

Hip-related pain is a well-recognised complaint among active young and middle-aged active adults. People experiencing hip-related disorders commonly report pain and reduced functional capacity, including difficulties in executing activities of daily living. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are essential to accurately examine and compare th...

A multitude of athletic injuries occur when the various tissues that make up the human body experience stresses and strains that exceed their material strength. The precise amount of stress and strain that any given tissue can withstand is determined by the mechanical properties and resultant strength of that particular tissue. These mechanical pro...

There is no agreement on how to classify, define or diagnose hip-related pain—a common cause of hip and groin pain in young and middle-aged active adults. This complicates the work of clinicians and researchers. The International Hip-related Pain Research Network consensus group met in November 2018 in Zurich aiming to make recommendations on how t...

Hip-related pain can significantly impact quality of life, function, work capacity, physical activity and family life. Standardised measurement methods of physical capacity of relevance to young and middle-aged active adults with hip-related pain are currently not established. The aim of this consensus paper was to provide recommendations for clini...

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the collated integration of practitioner expertise, athlete values and research evidence aimed to optimise the decision-making process surrounding sport performance. Despite the academic interest afforded to sport science research, our knowledge of how this research is applied in elite sport settings is limited. Thi...

The 1st International Hip-related Pain Research Network meeting discussed four prioritised themes concerning hip-related pain in young to middle-aged adults: (1) diagnosis and classification of hip-related pain; (2) patient-reported outcome measures for hip-related pain; (3) measurement of physical capacity for hip-related pain; (4) physiotherapist...

A multitude of athletic injuries occur when the various tissues that make up the human body experience stresses and strains that exceed their material strength. The precise amount of stress and strain that any given tissue can withstand is determined by the mechanical properties and resultant strength of that particular tissue. These mechanical pro...

Purpose To examine the measurement properties of the German PROMIS short forms for pain intensity (PAIN), pain interference (PI) and physical function (PF) in orthopedic foot and ankle surgery patients. Methods Patient-rated outcomes were collected from consecutive patients of our foot and ankle registry before and 6 months after surgery. Measurem...

Background Patient expectations are an issue which is attracting increased interest in outcome research for knee surgery procedures. So far, research into patient expectations has mainly focused on the procedure and postoperative functional improvements. The purpose of this study was to identify patient expectations in the perioperative setting. Ma...

Australian football (AF) is a high-intensity field-based sport with regular collisions and intense physical demands such as jumping, tackling and jostling, resulting in neuromuscular fatigue and soreness, combined with external stressors (i.e., sponsorship, education, family). These can influence an athlete’s fatigue and recovery status, requiring...

Request of retraction or errata corrige (submitted to the British Journal of Sports Medicine) of the ACWR-likelihood of injury model proposed in two editorials by Blanch and Gabbett (2016) and by Gabbett (2016). The letter highlights the methodological errors making this figure (model) unreliable. According to the COPE criteria, we required a corre...

Background: Physical inactivity causes more than 5 million deaths every year, 1,2 while improvements in fitness are associated with reduced mortality risk 3. Among the barriers in participation to physical activity, lack of free time and low motivation are the most common. In this context an enjoyable, social and relative short duration activity su...

Aims: The classical longitudinal incision used for the direct anterior approach (DAA) to the hip does not follow the tension lines of the skin and can lead to impaired wound healing and poor cosmesis. The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the satisfaction with the scar, and functional and radiographic outcomes comparing the clas...

Background: Anatomical landmarks for templating of total hip arthroplasty (THA) that are visible both during surgery and on radiographs are rare. If surgery is performed through a direct anterior approach the external obturator tendon (EO) is consistently visible. To use this point as a reference the exact position and dimensions of the footprint...

PurposeStudies comparing the outcome of spine surgery with that of large-joint replacement report equivocal findings. The patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) used in such studies are typically generic and may not be sufficiently sensitive to the successes/failures of treatment. This study compared different indices of “success” in patients un...