While addictive disorders involving substances are well researched, the field of behavioral addictions, including exercise addiction, is in its infancy. Although exercise addiction is not yet recognized as a psychiatric disorder, evidence for the burden it imposes has gained attention in the last decade. Characterised by a rigid exercise schedule, the prioritization of exercise over one’s own health, family and professional life, and mental wellbeing, and extreme distress when exercise is halted, the phenomenon shares many feature with substance use disorders.
Read More
The Youth Olympic Games were introduced in 2010 with the aim to bring young athletes not only an experience of competition on the world stage, but also to help them learn about the Olympic values, explore other cultures and develop the skills to become true ambassadors. The Lausanne 2020 Games provided an excellent opportunity to develop innovative concepts for health promotion and sports-related prevention. The enthusiasm across various sectors of society (political, academic and economy) empowered us to bring together multiple skills to materialize the IOC’s pledge.
Read More
Die Änderungen des öffentlichen Lebens, Isolation, Quarantäne und damit verbundene weitere Einschränkungen der gewohnten Routine sowie Ängste und Sorgen sind nur einige Beispiele für die psychischen Belastungen durch die COVID-19-Pandemie (1). Nicht nur die Normalbevölkerung, sondern auch bzw. vor allem Leistungssportler sind diesen Belastungen ausgesetzt, und Leistungssport ist in Zeiten von COVID-19 nur noch stark eingeschränkt denkbar. Von einem Tag auf den anderen änderten sich für Sportler über Jahre und Jahrzehnte etablierte Tagesstrukturen und Gewohnheiten.
Read More
Background: In high performance sports, a large variety of training and periodization concepts are used in daily training. However, at present it is unclear which combination of intensity, training duration and training frequency is superior thus producing the best adaptations. A promising, yet poorly scientifically investigated concept is the concept of a polarized training periodization.
Methods: Prospective Studies, which examined polarized training compared to other training concepts, were identified from searches in Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Google Scholar, PubMed, SciVerse Science Direct and Web of Science.
Read More
The intermittent fasting of Ramadan could affect various aspects of body physiology and biochemistry important to athletic success. Sleep time may be shortened. Disturbance of psychomotor performance, impaired vigilance and slower reactions can be observed particularly during afternoon.
Food intake is limited to night-time meals. Well disciplined athletes usually maintain energy balance unless daily energy expenditures are very high. Daytime fluid depletion is inevitable if athletes exercise in the heat.
Read More
Introduction: Les différentes techniques d’immersion, en eau froide ou en eau contrastée représentent un fort intérêt pour les sportifs afin d’optimiser leur récupération. Un manque de consensus existe quant aux effets de ces modalités de récupération. Objectif: évaluer les effets des deux interventions à 24 heures post effort musculaire dans les sports acycliques. Méthode: revue systématique et méta-analyse. Quatre bases de données explorées (Pubmed, Cinahl, Web of Science, Cochrane). Indicateurs observés: courbatures (DOMS: Delayed onset Muscle Soreness), créatine kinase (CK), et capacités fonctionnelles.
Read More
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the ability to perceive an Exertion quantified through BORG-Scale (6-20) and endurance level. Therefore 16 females and 28 males completed a lactate performance diagnostic as well as a 5000 meter course. Subjective Perception of effort was quantified according to BORG Scale (6-20). Participants were sex-divided and grouped in well endurance trained participants and not endurance trained participants. The analysis showed no clear differences between the two groups. Generally, lactate showed a closer correlative relationship with subjective perceived exertion than heart rate.
Read More