Physiological Factors and Sports Science in Elite Power Athletes
Introduction
The Research in the Sports Sciences has had a significant impact on Sports Training for Elite Power Athletes. Examples include Anaerobic Threshold Training, Strength & Power Training and Periodization Programs for Sport Specific Training. Scientific Sports Training is the key component for the success of Elite Power Athletes. Only when their cardio respiratory function, blood lactate system and their utilization of strength and power is well controlled can they show their potential and maintain high performance (Hiroyuki et al., 1999).
Physiological Factors and Sports Science
Anaerobic Threshold (AT)
The determination of the physiological variables such as the anaerobic Threshold (AT) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) through incremental exercise testing, and the relevance of these variables to performance, is a major concern for coaches and athletes (Bentley, Mcnaughton, Thompson,& Batterhan,2001). Understanding these variables helps coaches and athlete prevent injury and overtraining while trying to maximize their physical ability. Arja and Uustitalo (2001) reported overtraining syndrome as a serious problem marked by decreased performance, increased fatigue, persistent muscle soreness, mood disturbances, and the feeling of being ‘burnt out’ or ‘stale’.
Understanding these variables will help the elite athlete recovery quickly to a resting state and have a lower heart rate. Heart rates of general athletes at rest, before and after exercise, were 71, 59, 36 time/min, and their maximum heart rates were 185, 183, 174 time/min, respectively (Jack & David, 1999). The measurement of maximum heart rate is important because it is often used to determine the intensity of the athlete’s cardiovascular training zone. In reality, a larger size athlete would tend to have a lower Hr-max value than the predicted value (McArdle et al., 2001). Based on the results of previous research, it was suggested that male and female contestants with VO2max of 65 ml/kg/min and 55 ml/kg/min respectively, had a better chance to win Olympic medals. Intensive aerobic training could improve the physiological functions of highly trained sport contestants ( Cooke et al., 1997).
Strength & Power Output
Bompa’s (1999) periodization model of strength training has become widely accepted in the Sports Science community is a key element in athletic performance. According to the model of periodization, gains in muscular strength (M-S) during the M/S phase should be transformed into either muscular endurance (M-E) or power (P) during the conversion phase so that athletes can acquire the best possible sport-specific output and are equipped with the physiological capabilities necessary for good performance during the competitive phase. To maintain good performance throughout the competitive phase, the physiological changes acquired must be maintained and specialized (Bompa,1999). Thus, the main objective of the conversion phase is to synthesize those physiological foundational components and bring forth advancements in athletic performance during the competitive phase. The determining factors in success of the conversion phase are its duration and the specific methods used to transform M/S gain into sport-specific strength.
Conclusions
Peaking, or the ability of an athlete to perform at peak performance during a specific competition, game or event is dependent upon the knowledge and proper implementation of sport specific scientific training principles. It’s important for the coaches and players to monitor the physiological factors of their sport and analyze the strengths and weaknesses related to their specific training programs based upon the sciences of sports training. Components like the cardiovascular responses, anaerobic threshold (AT), maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), blood lactic acid , strength and power outputs need to be addressed to be an Elite Power Athlete.
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