Peculiarities of Athletes’ Adaptation and Preparation for 24th World University Games in Bangkok

Jonas Poderys,Aleksas Stanislovaitis,Česlovas Garbaliauskas,Mindaugas Ežerskis

doi:10.33607/bjshs.v1i68.520

Abstract

Travelling across several time zones exposes the sportsman to a shift of his internal biological clock and the result is a transient desynchronization of the circadian rhythm lasting for several days until the body adapts to new environmental conditions. The subjects of this study were 12 Lithuanian Track and Field athletes participating in the 24th University Games in Bangkok. We used the model of integral evaluation of the body functioning during exercise which integrates changes of three functional elements: P — periphery system (muscles), R — regulatory system (brain), S — supplying system (heart, blood-vessel system). A Finger Taping Test, where the time intervals were recorded in milliseconds between separate motions, and a nonlinear dimensional reduction by grouping them to various components were used for analysis. We observed a lot of changes in various indices but the main attention was paid to the assessment of indices providing information about the mobilization and recovery of the cardiovascular system and the complexity of body functioning. After the arrival the characteristic feature was a slower mobilization of the body functions at the onset of exercise for the first 4—5 days, though the level of mobilization during the exercise remained the same. Another characteristic feature was the slower recovery of cardiovascular indices after exercise for the first 6—7 days. There were some phases in the process of adaptation after sudden change of geographical and environmental conditions before competition. The first phase of activation of regulatory systems occurred, and the phase of increased energy demands appeared after 48 hours and lasted for the next five days. A wide range of individual variations characteristic of adaptive changes in the body depended on training and competitive experience of athletes, their personality, sleep and behavior habits and training loads performed before departure to the venue of competitions as well. The behaviour of athletes and training strategies during the first days were important and could help accelerate the adaptation. And on the contrary, heavy training loads could decrease the speed of adaptive changes.Keywords: cardiovascular system, complexity, recovery, adaptation

Highlights

The Olympic Games is the most important competition for elite athletes, and for this reason there is an increased attention to studies designed to assess adaptation of the body to sudden changes in time and environmental conditions
Travelling across several time zones exposes the sportsman to a shift of his internal biological clock and the result is a transient desynchronization of the circadian rhythm lasting for several days until the body adapts to new environmental conditions
The subjects of this study were 12 Lithuanian Track and Field athletes participating in the 24th University Games in Bangkok

Summary

Introduction

The Olympic Games is the most important competition for elite athletes, and for this reason there is an increased attention to studies designed to assess adaptation of the body to sudden changes in time and environmental conditions. Additional decrement for physical performance at the venue of the Olympics Games in Beijing will be hot and wet environmental conditions. All of them require analysis and understanding of the problems of adaptation and peak performance. During the last three years many scientists from different countries have tried to assess the peculiarities of functional changes of elite athletes during such adaptation. The assessment of adaptation and preparation for the PECULIARITIES OF ATHLETES’ ADAPTATION AND PREPARATION FOR 24TH WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES IN BANGKOK competitions of athletes participating in the 24th University Games in Bangkok presents important information

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Conclusion