Session-RPE for quantifying workload in olympic curling athletes.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between different workload methods among Olympic curling athletes.

Materials and methods: Eight curlers were monitored after training during Olympic seasons with three load quantification methods: external load measurements, physiological/biochemical markers, and Omegawave state indices. Intraclass Correlation Coefficient and Bland-Altman plots were used to analyze the Session-RPE index [sRPE workload (RPE × session duration), acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR), etc.], external [number of draws (the number of curling stones thrown during training/competition), training duration, etc.], and internal [physiological and biochemical indices (testosterone, etc.), and Omegawave sport performance evaluation system indices (comprehensive readiness, etc.)] workloads.

Results: The sRPE index was significantly correlated with external loads and Omegawave sport performance indicators at the 0.01 level (p < 0.01); it was significantly correlated with cortisol and creatine kinase at the 0.05 level (p < 0.05). In the standardized ICC and Bland-Altman plot concordance analyses, the sRPE correlates showed moderate (0.4 < ICC < 0.6) to strong (0.6 < ICC < 0.8) concordance with the corresponding external loading indices, the Omegawave athletic status indices, and average (0.2 < ICC < 0.4) to moderate agreement with the corresponding physiological and biochemical indicators.

Conclusions: The sRPE is a valid curling training-load tool capturing sport-specific demands but retains psychosocial limitations. Appropriate methods should be selected based on actual conditions and needs when choosing how to quantify and evaluate training load.