LEVEL 2 JASC SPORTS ESSAY

Level 2 JASC Sports Essay

How long after an athlete's last training session will the physiological adaptations, to both cardiovascular and muscular strength/power achieved through training remain there?

Abstract

The aim and objective of this paper is to explore that for how long after an athlete's last training session will the physiological adaptations, to both cardiovascular and muscular strength/power achieved through training remain there. This review of literature presents the findings related to particular physiological aspects of cardiovascular and muscular power. The following part of the paper discusses the findings and statistics of different researchers. First of all, in the introduction part the paper describes the term detraining as the principle of training reversibility or detraining is the stoppage or marked reduction of training leading to a partial or complete reversal of training induced adaptations, thus compromising athletic performance. After that first of all the paper aims to talk about the cardiovascular detraining. Six elements are discussed from the cardiovascular perspective. These six elements that are discussed with respect to the cardiovascular perspective include Maximal Oxygen Uptake, Blood Volume, Heart Rate, Stroke Volume, Mitochondria, and Insulin and Muscle GLUT-4 Content. Results of the various studies about the impact of detraining are discussed. After the cardiovascular perspective the paper moves towards the muscular strength/power aspect. With this regard the phenomena of strength, power, muscle fiber characteristics, CNS, levels of hormones are discussed. While discussing these different elements of cardiovascular and muscular power the results of the different studies of the researchers are shown. These studies show different results for the same element. This discussion reveals what are the major trends that are prevalent in most of the studies. After the discussion of the various studies and their results related to each element of cardiovascular and muscle power aspect practical and useful implications are discussed in the last part of the paper.

Keywords

Detraining, reversibility, training adaptations, cardiovascular detraining

Introduction

The timing and dosage of the last exercise bout in which an athlete indulge before a major competition can cause trainers many headaches. Giving training to athletes too close to competition can make the athlete to underperform due to lack of recovery and or fatigue, there is also the possibility that leaving the training sessions for so long between the period of training and competition can also make the athlete underperform due to the loss of previous training physiological adaptations which is called as detraining.  This review will endeavor to explore the time period on how long an athlete can go without training whilst not endangering their current physical condition brought about by weeks of training. The two physiological areas that will be focused on are the cardiovascular system and muscular strength/power.

This review will endeavor to reveal the time period on how long an athlete can go without training whilst not endangering their current physical condition brought about by weeks of training. The two physiological areas that will be focused on are the cardiovascular system and muscular ...