Preventing chronic fatigue in Czech young athletes: The features description of the “SmartTraining” mobile application

BERNACIKOVÁ, Martina, Michal KUMSTÁT, Iva BUREŠOVÁ, Kateřina KAPOUNKOVÁ, Ivan STRUHÁR, Martin SEBERA and Ana Carolina PALUDO. Preventing chronic fatigue in Czech young athletes: The features description of the “SmartTraining” mobile application. FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY. SWITZERLAND: FRONTIERS MEDIA SA, 2022, vol. 13, 20.8.2022, p. nestránkováno, 8 pp. ISSN 1664-042X. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.919982.

Basic information

• Original name: Preventing chronic fatigue in Czech young athletes: The features description of the “SmartTraining” mobile application
• Authors: BERNACIKOVÁ, Martina (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Michal KUMSTÁT (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Iva BUREŠOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Kateřina KAPOUNKOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Ivan STRUHÁR (703 Slovakia, belonging to the institution), Martin SEBERA (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution) and Ana Carolina PALUDO (76 Brazil, belonging to the institution).
• Edition: FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY, SWITZERLAND, FRONTIERS MEDIA SA, 2022, 1664-042X.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 30306 Sport and fitness sciences
• Country of publisher: Switzerland
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: URL
• Impact factor: Impact factor: 4.000
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14510/22:00126711
• Organization unit: Faculty of Sports Studies
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.919982
• UT WoS: 000875414700001
• Keywords (in Czech): youth athlete; sport; fatigue; overtraining; mobile application
• Keywords in English: youth athlete; sport; fatigue; overtraining; mobile application
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

This study describes a beta version of a mobile application (app) that focuses on preventing chronic fatigue in Czech youth athletes. The first version of the SmartTraining app was developed for athletes as a way to prevent chronic fatigue via alertness and education. For alertness, a multistage process was developed using a combination of parameters about training responses, such as tiredness, well-being, heart rate, energy balance and psychological, and health-related aspects. According to the combination of the multistage parameter outcomes, the algorithm classifies the risk of fatigue based on semaphore light: green corresponds to low, yellow to moderate and red to high risk. The education presented in the app consisted of written and "animated videos " material about the variables involved in training, such as training demands and athletes' responses, regeneration, nutrition and communication between athletes, coaches, and parents. Subsequently, a beta version of the app was created and freely available to download for Android or iOS mobile. The app can be used in daily routines to reduce the risk of chronic fatigue from inadequate training dose response. Prevention can minimise the risk of injury or physical and emotional burnout in youth. Informing athletes on how to carefully handle the training factors can improve athletes' awareness of their performance and health status. Collaboration between sports scientists and the commercial sector allows for the efficient development of an easy-to-use and low-cost tool for use in sports settings. Future steps should be performed to validate the app's accuracy in its alertness and in the efficiency of the educational process.