Analysis of internal and external load in elite Chilean skydivers during a competition

In skydiving, the monitoring of external and internal load is essential to establish energy demands. The objective of the study was to analyze the internal and external load performed by the Chilean national skydiving team during a national championship. A non-experimental, cross-sectional and descriptive study was carried out with the participation of six Chilean elite male skydivers (32.0 ± 3.2 years). Body composition was assessed through electrical bioimpedance (BIA); the internal load was analyzed from heart rate monitoring, and the external load was evaluated from accelerometry. The results showed that the skydivers had a fat-free mass of 61.3 ± 4.5 kg (representing 80.1 ± 2.3%), while the fat mass was 15.3 ± 2.5 kg (equivalent to 19.9 ± 2.3%). Their muscle mass measured 34.8 ± 2.8 kg (accounting for 45.5 ± 1.5%). Additionally, the skydivers engaged in 76.4 ± 13.1 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day, with a daily step count of 11.040 ± 2,202. The average heart rate during the competition was 104.0 ± 14.0 bpm.