FATIGUE AND FITNESS MODELED FROM THE EFFECTS OF TRAINING ON PERFORMANCE

The purpose of this study was to compare two ways of estimating both f atigue and fitness indicators from a systems model of the effects of t raining on performance. The model was applied to data concerning the t raining of a hammer thrower. The variations in performance were mathem atically related to the successive amounts of training. The model equa tion was composed of negative (NF) and positive (PF) functions. The NF and PF were associated with the fatigue and fitness estimated in prev ious studies. Using another method, fatigue and fitness indicators wer e estimated from a combination of NF and PF. The influence of training on performance was negatively associated with fatigue (NI), and posit ively to fitness (PI). The changes in performance were well described by the model in the present study (r = 0.96, N = 19, P < 0.001). Signi ficant correlations were observed between NF and NI (r = 0.93, P < 0.0 01) on the one hand and between PF and PI (r = 0.90, P < 0.001) on the other. The absolute values and the time variations of PI and NI were closer to the change in performance than NF and PF. The NF and PF were accounted for mainly by the accumulation of amounts of training. On t he other hand, NI and PI were accounted for rather by the impact of th ese amounts of training on performance.