Role of Environment in Sports and Games By Dr. Titto Cherian & Manju Unnikrishnan

 

Performance Enhancement Training in Athletes’

Manju Unnikrishnan¹& DR.Titto Cherian²

manjumanoj2016@gmail.com, tittocherian@gmail.com

1. Professor, Department of Physiotherapy, Little Flower institute of Medical sciences&

    Research centre, Ankamali, Kerala

2. Associate Professor, Patriarch Ignatius Zakka First Training College, Malecruz, Puthencruz,

    Kerala

 Abstract       

            The Performance enhancement is referred to as an ergogenic aid in sports to enhance the performance of athletes. The ever growing popularity of sports and covid -19 make a strong impact on the performance enhancement of athletes’. The ever growing popularity of sports has made the “sports industry” extremely competitive and financially lucrative for athletes, with many striving for elite professionalism (Dhilon et al., 2017).The corona virus pandemic has sent shockwaves around the world, leading to a public health emergency that has killed thousands and plunged the global economy. Not surprisingly, COVID-19 has also upended the sporting calendar, with professional leagues everywhere suspending their activities to limit the spread of the virus (World Economic Forum, 2020). It diminishes the performance level of many athletes’. This has consequently intensified the physical and emotional burden of sports, increased the training and practice regimens required, and exposed those involved in this quest to a higher risk of injury.

Keywords: Performance enhancement, Training (PET), Physical activity, Stress Reduction Strength, Agility.

Introduction

The Performance enhancement is referred to as an ergogenic aid in sports to enhance the performance of athletes.Sport is a major contributor to economic and social development. Its role is well recognized by governments, including the Political Declaration of the 2030 Agenda, which reflects on “the contribution sports make to the empowerment of women and of young people, individuals and communities, as well as to health, education and social inclusion objectives.”

The performance enhancement can be anything that improves our abilities for a specified activity, which needs an effective team  approach involving the sports physician, physiotherapist, strength and conditioning coaches, sports psychologist, nutritionist, coach, and the athlete is critical. Most importantly the rehabilitation needs to follow a biopsychosocial approach. (Dhillon et al., 2017). The quantity (volume), quality (intensity), and frequency of exercise performed during training are among the factors known to determine the degree of adaptation to training.

Performance Enhancement is more than drug intake

            Most people assume "performance enhancement" means taking steroids/drugs. . Although stimulants can boost physical performance and promote aggressiveness on the field, they have side effects that can impair athletic performance, including, Nervousness and irritability, which make it hard to concentrate on the game ;Insomnia, which can prevent an athlete from getting needed sleep; Dehydration; Heatstroke; Addiction(Mayo clinic, 2004). In recent years, many athletes have used performance enhancing training to combat athletes who use illegal performance enhancing drugs to gain unfair advantages when training and competing.  It is equally effective if not more beneficial than the aforementioned PED’s and in fact is legal/fair.

 Common Barriers for physical performance

The Barriers for physical activity  can be either personal or environmental.In a 2013 study that aimed to identify the external and internal barriers to physical activity and exercise participation among middle-aged and elderly individuals the most common external barriers among the middle-aged and elderly respondents were 'not enough time', 'no one to exercise with' and 'lack of facilities'. (Physiopedia, 2009). The most common internal barriers for middle-aged respondents were 'too tired', 'already active enough', 'do not know how to do it' and 'too lazy', while those for elderly respondents were 'too tired', 'lack of motivation' and 'already active enough'.The top three barriers to engaging in physical activity across the adult lifespan are time ,energy, motivation.

            The other common barrier for physical activity in athletes are climatic variations insufficient time to exercise, Lack of time, Friends and family don’t share your interest in physical activity, Lack of motivation and/or energy, Lack of resources/equipment, Family care giving obligation lack of self-motivation non-enjoyment of exercise, boredom with exercise, lack of confidence in their ability to be physically active (low self-efficacy)fear of being injured or having been injured recentlylack of self-management skills.(ADA2018)

 

Impact of performance Training in well-being.

            Sport Performance Enhancement helps individuals learn to control their thoughts, eliminate negative self-talk, substitute positive self-talk and increase the athlete’s focus and concentration, which is needed for a higher quality of sports performance. Athletes have been looking to increase their performance in sports (Kimberlys, 2015).

            Performance enhancement training will enhance level of knowledge and understanding. For example, performance enhancement can help clarify how much pre-performance anxiety is too much anxiety, and what other skills may be appropriate besides three deep breaths to decrease the anxiety. In this situation, performance enhancement can also help athletes determine when else the athlete may be experiencing anxiety, what it feels like, and how the athlete may decrease that as well.

            Performance Enhancement training should include services that emphasize education carefully monitored improvement plans and established techniques to increase speed, agility, strength, and power. The goal with this type of training is to build the complete athlete by focusing on sport-specific movements at game speed. It focuses on the drills and skills that address quickness, reaction time, dynamic flexibility and postural strength. PET train athletes to perform according to the sports in which they participate.

Impact of Covid -19 0n physical performance and well being of sports persons           

            The global outbreak of COVID-19 has resulted in closure of gyms, stadiums, pools, dance and fitness studios, physiotherapy centers, parks and playgrounds. Many individuals are therefore not able to actively participate in their regular individual or group sporting or physical activities outside of their homes. Low-income families are especially vulnerable to negative effects of lock-downstrategy. Studies have shown that this pandemic outbreak reduces the overall physical fitness, and immunological status of people, whose who had actively participated in the physical activities earlier, In order to overcome this, Prioritize participating in outdoor activities over indoor activities and stay within your local area as much as possible.If using an indoor facility, allow previous groups to leave the facility before entering with your team. If possible, allow time for cleaning and/or disinfecting.Check the league’s COVID-19 prevention practices before you go to make sure they have steps in place to prevent the spread of the virus.If you are at an increased risk for severe illness or have existing health conditions, take extra precautions and preventive actions during the activity or choose individual or at-home activities. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2020).

Role of Modern Digital Technologies in Performance enhancement

            Twenty years from now, there is a real possibility that young people could be completely overwhelmed by technology. It was no surprise to find the digital world at the heart of the research which looked at key influencers on young people’s relationship with physical activity and sport in the future.  The report demonstrates how technology can be used to advance PE and school sport, empower young people to take responsibility for their own activity levels, and importantly that PE can play an important role in educating young people about healthy balance in their lives.

            Wearable performance devices and sensors are becoming more readily available to the general population and athletic teams. Advances in technology have allowed individual endurance athletes, sports teams, and physicians to monitor functional movements, workloads, and biometric markers to maximize performance and minimize injury. Movement sensors include pedometers, accelerometers/gyroscopes, and global positioning satellite (GPS) devices.

Techniques for extreme performance enhancement techniques in sport

*Effective sports rehabilitation, Tommy John Surgery, Plate-Rich plasma therapy, Full body cryotherapy, hyperbaric therapy, Stem cell therapy.

*There are many potential benefits for athletes who undergo one of these sport performance enhancement techniques.

Conclusion

            Performance enhancement is not just a physical training. As many believes that performance improvements are directly related to the amount of work done during training and that athletes can only reach their full potential by undergoing extremely long arid intense training.Performance enhancement Training is not just a physical training., it’s a well planned, documented graded training which needs an effortful teamwork that enhance the overall physical and mental  wellbeing of an athlete.

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