In 1973, Blanksby, Elliot and Bloomfield conducted one of the first studies on squash. The study looked at the heart rate responses of various playing groups. Below is a summary of how the authors conducted their study along with the results of the study.
Method - How did the authors conduct the test:
Firstly, the authors split players into three playing groups:
Middle aged sedentary males (mean age – 42.4 years old)
Middle age active males (mean age – 43.9 years old)
Middle aged “A” grade squash players (mean age – 25.6 years old).
Each of the three groups had 25 participants, thus the total number of participants for this study was 75.
Players were to play a continuous game of squash for 25 minutes total following a three minute warm up; players were also allocated a two minute recovery period following the completion of the 25 minute game.
The heart rate of each player was tracked from the start of the warm up to the completion of the recovery period.
Results - What did the authors find:
Middle aged sedentary males:
Players in this group recorded a mean max heart rate: 174.8 beats per minute.
Players in this group worked at an average of 85% of their heart rate maximum form one minute onward.
Players in this group recorded a mean peak of heart rate max: 97.2%.
The mean playing time of the 25 minutes was 12.6 minutes; meaning on average, the ball was in play 50.4% of the time.
The overall playing time of this group ranged from 9.9 minutes to 15.5 minutes; meaning the time that the ball was in play ranged from 39.6% of the time to 62% of the time.
One-minute into the recovery period, the mean heart rate recorded was: 144.8 beats per minute.
Middle age active males:
Players in this group recorded a mean max heart rate of 153 beats per minute.
Players in this group worked at an average of 73% of their heart rate maximum form one minute onward.
Players in this group recorded a mean peak heart rate max of 85.5%.
The mean playing time of the 25 minutes was 13.6 minutes; meaning on average, the ball was in play 54.4% of the time.
The overall playing time of this group ranged from 11 minutes to 15.5 minutes; meaning the time that the ball was in play ranged from 44% of the time to 62% of the time.
One-minute into the recovery period, the mean heart rate recorded was: 125 beats per minute.
Middle aged “A” grade squash males:
Players in this group recorded a mean max heart rate of 162.7 beats per minute.
Players in this group worked at an average of 73% of their heart rate max from one minute onward.
Players in this group recorded a mean peak heart rate of 83.6%.
Mean The mean playing time of the 25 minutes was 17.2 minutes; meaning the ball was in play 68.8% of the time.
The overall playing time of this group ranged from 15.2 to 20 minutes; meaning that the time that the ball was in play ranged from 60.8% of the time to 80% of the time.
One-minute into the recovery period, the mean heart rate recorded was: 133.1 beats per minute.
Statistically significant differences could be seen between the sedentary male’s heart rate responses comparative to the active and “A” grade males heart rate responses during match play as well as during the recovery period.
Regardless of standard, all players exhibited a rapid increase in heart rate after the first minute of play followed by a gradual increase until peak heart rate occurred. After the initial increase in heart rate, only small fluctuations of heart rates were noted in between rallies with a reduction in heart rate of no more than 4 beats per minute.
Limitations:
This study did have various limitations.
The reporting of the data was not uniform and therefore quite difficult to interpret.
No scoring system was present and match-play was continuous. This may result in a different approach to game tactics which may not represent the true tactics of the game at the time (hand-in-hand-out to 9 points).
Lastly, the “A” grade playing group was of higher skill level and on average much younger than the active and sedentary group; and therefore would theoretically, have a much higher maximal operational output (an increase in age typically sees a decline in heart rate max and VO2 max), be more efficient due to specific physiological adaptations and have increased tactical/processing speed by which the athletes are able to slow the game down and respond more readily to the stimulus that the opponent presents.
At the time, this study was revolutionary, as it was quantifying the physiological response to a game of squash. In quantifying the responses of the various groups heart rate, this study would have allowed for specific training to take place (right back in 1973).
Note: as this is a summary of the actual study, some information was omitted. If you would like to read more about how this study was conducted, I have provided a link to the full article, click here. A reference of the article is also provided below.
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Reference:
Blanksby, B. A., Elliott, B. C., & Bloomfield, J. (1973). Telemetered heart rate responses of middle‐aged sedentary males, middle‐aged active males and “A” grade male squash players. Medical Journal of Australia, 2(10), 477-481.