Association Between Session RPE and Edwards’ TRIMP as Indicators of Internal Load in Elite Male Basketball Players
Volume 16, Issue 1 (2026)
Volume 16, Issue 1 (2026)
Association Between Session RPE and Edwards’ TRIMP as Indicators of Internal Load in Elite Male Basketball Players
Abstract:
Accurate monitoring of internal training load is essential for optimizing performance and minimizing injury risk in elite athletes. Session rating of perceived exertion training load (sRPE-TL) and Edwards’ training impulse (TRIMP) are commonly used methods for quantifying internal training load, yet their relationship in elite basketball remains underexplored. This study examined the association between sRPE-TL and Edwards TRIMP among elite male basketball players during pre-season practice sessions to provide evidence for the convergent validity of sRPE-TL. The sRPE-TL was calculated using session duration and RPE, and Edwards TRIMP was derived from time spent in heart rate zones multiplied by a weighting factor. A strong, statistically significant correlation was found between the variables (r = 0.86, 95% CI [0.82, 0.89], p < .001). Regression analysis indicated that sRPE-TL accounted for 74.2% of the variance in TRIMP (R² = 0.742). Both the slope (p < .001) and intercept (p < .001) of the regression model were statistically significant. Sensitivity analysis using Spearman’s rank correlation confirmed the robustness of the association (ρ = 0.81, 95% CI [0.75, 0.85], p < .001). These findings indicate that sRPE is a convergently valid tool for monitoring internal training load during practices in the pre-season training period in elite basketball, particularly when resource or logistical constraints are present.
Keywords:
Training Load, sRPE, TRIMP, Basketball, Elite Athletes
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