Can the rate of perceived exertion and fatigue of one professional basketball player be modified through a long term nutritional intervention?

The rate of perceived exertion of one session (S-RPE) and fatigue of an intermittent exercise can be decreased by carbohydrate ingestion during that specific session. In addition, certain nutritional interventions (NI) improved dietary intake (DI) of athletes, but the effects on long term SRPE and fatigue are unknown. Our aim was to assess whether a long term NI could modify the RPE-S and fatigue of one professional basketball player in training and matches during competitive season. NI (2 months) was carried out with one professional basketball player who recorded daily (1 month pre NI; 2 months during NI) S-RPE and fatigue of training and matches as well as mood state, sleep hours and quality of sleep. Before and after intervention, DI (food diary, 7 days) and body composition (anthropometry) were evaluated. Nonparametric comparison of mean (Wilcoxon) was performed between pre and post/during NI data. Carbohydrate intake increased post NI (3.7 g vs. 5.1 g/Kg weight/day; p< .05). Training S-RPE decreased during the NI (5.3 vs. 5.0 ball; 4.9 vs. 4.4 physical; CR-10 scale) as well as all the variables of fatigue. Matches S-RPE increased during NI (7.5 vs. 8.0; CR-10 scale) as fatigue in the morning and at bedtime but not post-match, which was decreased. The S-RPE and fatigue of training of one professional basketball player could be decreased by a long-term nutritional intervention that leads to the compliance with the recommendations.La percepción del esfuerzo de una sesión (RPE-S) y la fatiga de un ejercicio intermitente pueden ser disminuidas con la ingesta de carbohidratos durante dicha sesión. Además, ciertas intervenciones nutricionales (IN) mejoraron la ingesta alimentaria (IA) de los deportistas, aunque se desconocen los efectos sobre la RPE-S y la fatiga en el largo plazo. Nuestro objetivo fue valorar si una IN a largo plazo podía modificar la RPE-S y la fatiga de un jugador de baloncesto profesional en entrenamientos/partidos durante la temporada. Se intervino nutricionalmente (2 meses) a un baloncestista profesional, quién registró diariamente (1 mes pre IN; 2 meses durante IN) la RPE-S y la fatiga de entrenamientos/ partidos, las horas y la calidad de sueño y el ánimo. Antes y después de la IN se valoró IA (diario de alimentos, 7 días) y composición corporal (antropometría). Se realizó comparación de medias no paramétricas (Wilcoxon) para los datos pre y post/durante IN. La ingesta de carbohidratos aumentó post IN (3,7 g vs 5.1 g/Kg peso/día; p< ,05). La RPE-S de entrenamientos disminuyó durante la IN (5,3 vs 5.0 balón; 4,9 vs. 4,4 físicos; escala CR-10) al igual que las variables de fatiga. La RPE-S de partidos aumentó (7,5 vs. 8,0; escala CR-10) al igual que la fatiga al levantarse y al acostarse, pero disminuyó postpartido. El sueño y el ánimo no variaron significativamente. La RPE-S y la fatiga de entrenamientos de un jugador de baloncesto profesional podrían disminuirse a largo plazo con una intervención nutricional que adecúe su ingesta a las recomendaciones