ABSTRACT
Background: Little has been known about the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) axis response to pre-competition stress (PCS) and its response to relaxation therapies such as of Mindfulness Meditation Therapy (MMT) on sports population. In shooting sports good physical as well as psychological condition is highly demanded. Researchers have been performed on the psychophysiological responses of MMT on normal and diseased persons, but little has been done on sports population especially in shooters. Objective: The purpose of current study was to estimate the contribution of MMT on Salivary Cortisol (SC), a reliable physiological marker of HPA- axis response in reducing PCS, and its effect on shooting performance (PS). Methods: 96 male elite Shooters, with mean age of 29.5±4.3years were examined as in experimental and control (48 in each). Total duration of the study was five weeks, four weeks of experimental and one week study to determine the follow-up effect. Pre, post and follow-up data of quantitative phenotypic markers of HPA-Axis activity by analysis of SC and PS were analyzed. Results: Compare to control, experimental group has shown significant result, post-intervention (p<0.001) and in follow-up (p<0.001) in SC and in PS. Resulted in reduction of PCS level and increase in PS, whereas the control group has been shown non-significant result (p<0.05).Conclusions: Results indicated that relaxation therapies such as MMT may decrease PCS and will enhance PS. It is concluded that in four weeks of MMT has an effect on HPA-Axis by decreasing the level of SC as a reliable physiological marker of PCS.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Carbohydrate-electrolyte drink has a significant role on energy balance during exercise. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of oral carbohydrate-electrolyte supplementation on sports performance and cardiovascular status of the national level male athletes during exercise and recovery. METHODS: A total of 10 male athletes (age range: 20-25 yr) were selected. The experiment was performed in laboratory (25 degrees C and 60% relative humidity) in two phases; phase 1 - no supplementation, and phase 2 - a 5 g per cent carbohydrate-electrolyte drink was given orally during exercise and a 12.5 g per cent carbohydrate-electrolyte drink during recovery. Subjects performed an exercise test at 70 per cent of VO(2)max. Performance time, heart rate during exercise and recovery were noted, blood samples were collected during exercise and recovery for the analysis of glucose and lactate levels in both the phases. RESULTS: Significant improvements were noted in total endurance time, heart rate responses and blood lactate during exercise at 70 per cent VO(2)max after the supplementation of 5 g per cent carbohydrate-electrolyte drink. However, no significant changes were noted in blood glucose and peak lactate level irrespective of supplementation of carbohydrate-electrolyte drink. Significant improvement in cardiovascular responses, blood glucose and lactate removal were noted during recovery following a 12.5 g per cent carbohydrate-electrolyte drink. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION: Carbohydrate-electrolyte drink can increase endurance performance as well as enhance lactate removal and thereby delaying the onset of fatigue.