Abstract:
Athletes participating in elite sports are exposed to high training loads and increasingly
saturated competition calendars. Emerging evidence indicates that poor load management
is a major risk factor for injury. The International Olympic Committee convened an expert
group to review the scientific evidence for the relationship of load (including rapid changes
in training and competition load, competition calendar congestion, psychological load, and
travel) and health outcomes in sport. We summarise the results linking load to risk of
injury in athletes, and provide athletes, coaches and support staff with practical guidelines
to manage load in sport. This consensus statement includes guidelines for (i) prescription
of training and competition load, as well as for (ii) monitoring of training, competition and
psychological load, athlete wellbeing and injury. In the process, we identified research
priorities.
