Acute-to-chronic workload ratio and injury risk in professional volleyball: A two-month monitoring study

Monitoring training load is crucial for optimizing performance and minimizing injury risk in elite athletes. The acute-to-chronic workload ratio (ACWR) has gained attention as a potential tool for managing training loads. This study aimed to present ACWR in professional volleyball players and explore its relationship with injury occurrence. Fifteen male professional volleyball players from a Turkish team were monitored over two months. Training load was quantified using the rating of perceived exertion (RPE), recorded daily to calculate both acute (7-day) and chronic (28-day) workloads. The ACWR was then computed weekly to assess fluctuations in training intensity. Two players sustained injuries during periods of elevated ACWR, suggesting a potential link between rapid workload increases and injury risk. When ACWR exceeded recommended thresholds (>1.5), injury occurrences aligned with previous research indicating that sudden workload spikes may contribute to injury susceptibility. However, individual variability and other contributing factors, such as biomechanical and physiological responses, must be considered. The findings suggest that ACWR could be a useful tool for monitoring training loads and potentially reducing injury risk in professional volleyball players. However, further studies with larger sample sizes and additional monitoring methods are needed to establish definitive conclusions on its predictive validity. Implementing structured workload management strategies may enhance performance while minimizing injury occurrence.