Abstract
Objective: Factors affecting performance of archery are categorized into psychological, skill, and fitness perspectives. Increase in attention, relaxation and parasympathetic system activity is believed to enhance the shooting performance of archers during competition. This pilot study aims to investigate the effects of single-dose of Tai Chi practice on archer’s performance and the feasibility of an investigation protocol under a competition scenario. Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a crossover study design. Pre- and post-intervention measurements were conducted to evaluate the effects of Tai Chi practice on the archer’s autonomic nervous system activity, attention and relaxation through electroencephalography investigation, and shooting performance when compared with stretching as control. Results: The protocol of the study was found to be feasible during a competition setting. No significant difference was detected in the outcome measures under the two intervention conditions. Participants after practicing Tai Chi were found to improve significantly in their shooting performance (p = 0.021). Conclusion: This pilot study showed that a real-time measurement of autonomic nervous system and brain wave activities in the competition field was feasible and it did not hinder the archers’ performance. There was a significant improvement observed in the shooting performance of archers after Tai Chi practice when compared with baseline. The findings of this pilot study provide the basis for the conduction of a larger RCT study to examine the potential beneficial effects of Tai Chi practice on archers.
Highlights
Factors affecting performance of archery can be categorized into psychological, skill, and fitness perspectives [1]
Participants after practicing Tai Chi were found to improve significantly in their shooting performance (p = 0.021). This pilot study showed that a real-time measurement of autonomic nervous system and brain wave activities in the competition field was feasible and it did not hinder the archers’ performance
Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Tests were performed for those variables that did not meet the criterion of normality. Participants reported that their archery shooting was not affected with the heart rate variability and brain wave measurements
Summary
Factors affecting performance of archery can be categorized into psychological, skill, and fitness perspectives [1]. Archery experts believe that the psychological condition is the most important component in a match. Archery athletes with more than five years of experience have been regarded to possess similar fitness and skill. Increase in attention and concurrent relaxation allows archers to concentrate on the aiming of the arrow and release it without hesitation or anxiety. The most ideal psychological state proposed includes both increase in attention and relaxation [2]. Even elite archers have fluctuation in the psychological condition which may affect their performance. An unstable psychological condition can often induce tension which leads to body stiffness and hamper the archers’ performance [1]. The belief towards the psychological influence has not been supported with scientific evidence
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
