Emerging applications of monitoring technologies for training load in sport and physical activity

Monitoring technologies in sports science have become increasingly pivotal for quantifying and understanding athletes’ responses to exercise. The advent of both internal and external load monitoring strategies has transformed how practitioners assess training, recreation, and physical education activities across diverse populations. Current research spans the development of wearable devices, sensor-based tracking, and subjectively reported metrics, aiming to generate a comprehensive profile of physical exertion and its impact on health and performance. Despite significant progress in this area, ongoing questions persist regarding the accuracy, relevance, and integration of different monitoring methods. There are debates about how best to leverage technology to not only measure performance but also support health and injury prevention, especially given individual variability and differences between sport modalities.Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of combining technological, physiological, and perceptual data to improve the granularity and reliability of training load assessment. Moving beyond single-marker approaches, the use of multi-modal data collection—such as integrating GPS tracking with heart rate and perceived exertion scores—has yielded new insights into fatigue, adaptation, and overall athlete management. Nevertheless, there are notable gaps regarding the standardized application of these tools across various sports, the translation of laboratory advances into field settings, and clear links between quantified load parameters and long-term well-being outcomes. There remains an urgent need for systematic, evidence-based approaches that account for contextual differences in populations, types of activity, and health risk factors.This Research Topic aims to advance the understanding of training load monitoring by providing a systematic overview of technologies and methodologies used in sport, physical education, and recreational activities. The primary objectives are to clarify the relationships among different training load measures, evaluate their application in various contexts, and investigate their role in promoting both performance and health. Through this integrative approach, the topic seeks to address fundamental questions about best practices in training load assessment and to support the development of more effective, individualized, and preventive monitoring strategies.The Scope of this Research Topic encompasses the assessment and application of monitoring tools for training load quantification across all sport-related activities, with particular attention to methodological diversity and practical implementation. Submissions focusing on field-based, laboratory, and educational settings are all welcome; however, studies should maintain a clear link to training load assessment and its implications for health or performance. To gather further insights in the application, evaluation, and innovation of monitoring systems, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Effects of training load monitoring tools on training and competition performance across different sport disciplines• Individual responses to physical activity, including fatigue development and recovery requirements• Application of training load measures in physical education settings• Evaluation and comparison of methodologies used for training load monitoring and assessment• Implementation of training load monitoring tools in recreational sport activities Topic editors: Radenko Arsenijević, Carlos Castellar Otin, Filip Kojić, Milan Zelenović, Fei Wang Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77321/emerging-applications-of-monitoring-technologies-for-training-load-in-sport-and-physical-activity