ergogenic aids : physiological aids

Question 1

physiological aid

Answer 1

a technique that enhances performance by directly influencing the physiological capacity of a particular body system

Question 2

physiological aid examples

Answer 2

blood doping (illegal), intermittent hypoxic training (IHT) cooling aids

Question 3

blood doping

Answer 3

artificially boosting the red blood cell count by infusing blood into the body
- mostly endurance athletes who rely on aerobic respirations

Question 4

potential benefits of blood doping

Answer 4

• increased red blood and haemoglobin cell count
• increased O2 carrying capacity of the blood
• increased VO2 max
• delayed OBLA/lactate threshold/fatigue

Question 5

potential risks of blood doping

Answer 5

• increased blood viscosity
• decreased blood flow or Q
• increased risk of blood clots, heart failure, stroke
• increased risk of blood viruses like HIV, hepatitis

Question 6

intermittent hypoxic training (IHT)

Answer 6

HIIT performed in hypoxic conditions either with an exercise mask or in a hypoxic chamber, work interval 5-10 secs/ work rest ratio 1:2 then progressing to 2:1 with a total session time of 5-10 mins
- used by endurance and anaerobic athletes and games players

Question 7

potential benefits of IHT

Answer 7

• used to pre-acclimatise for a competition at altitude
• increased VO2 max
• increased glycolytic enzyme activity
• increased buffering capacity
• delayed OBLA/lactate threshold/fatigue
• increased speed of PC resynthesis during fast component EPOC
• enhances speed, power and RSA

Question 8

potential risks of IHT

Answer 8

• benefits lost quickly
• hard to reach normal work rates
• risk of decrease in immune function
• risk of infection from masks
• may lose motivation

Question 9

cooling aids

Answer 9

reduces core body temp to improve the recovery process e.g cold air exposure, cold water immersion

Question 10

advantages of pre-cooling

Answer 10

• maintains intensity and speed
• reduces thermal strain and CV drift
• allows different pacing strategies
• reduces fatigue

Question 11

disadvantages of pre-cooling

Answer 11

• metabolic rates- inaccurate perceived exertion
• reduces HR reduces O2 to muscles
• athletes cannot gauge how hard to pace themselves
• vasoconstriction and ice burns

Question 12

post-cooling aids

Answer 12

• cryotherapy used to treat injuries and recover
• can be used in acute chronic injuries
• numbs nerve endings to reduce pain and swelling (vasoc)

Question 13

ice baths

Answer 13

• used for pain relieving properties
• blood drained away from muscles to reduce lactic acid then ‘new’ blood flows to muscles to help the functioning of cells
•reduces DOMS

Question 14

disadvantages of ice baths

Answer 14

• could trigger angina through constricting coronary arteries
• sensitivity to ice - ice burns
• cannot be used by those suffering from high blood pressure