Lacrosse is the oldest team sport in North America and the fastest growing team sport in the United States. There is also a rise in the number of injuries associated with this collision sport.
Male lacrosse players wear protective equipment that includes a helmet with a full facemask similar to those worn in hockey. They also wear shoulder pads, a mouth guard and arm pads with gloves.
Injuries in men’s lacrosse can be divided into two categories:
• Injuries above the waist: These injuries are generally the result of direct contact. Rules allow for body and stick checking when players possess or are within 5 yards of the ball. Head injuries in the form of concussion are the most common above-the-waist injury. This is followed by shoulder and other upper extremity injuries.
• Injuries below the waist: These account for approximately 40% of lacrosse injuries and are non-contact in nature. Lower extremity injuries result from pivoting and twisting and most often involve the ankle, upper leg and knee. Damage to ligaments in the form of sprains and tears are common along with muscle strains.
Women’s lacrosse is a non-collision sport. Despite the lack of contact, lower extremity injuries are similar to those seen in men.
The use of protective equipment in the women’s game is controversial. Eye protection only became mandatory three years ago.
“The use of protective goggles in women’s lacrosse has resulted in a dramatic decline in eye injuries,” said Janeen Beetle, head athletic trainer at Norwich Free Academy.
Impact injuries to the head and face from flailing sticks and balls moving at high velocity continue to cause contusions and lacerations. Requiring head protection has been proposed.
As the sport of lacrosse continues to increase in popularity, appropriate safety equipment must also be reconsidered.
Concussion bill would protect young athletes
Much has been written about the tragedies resulting from repetitive concussions in sports. Connecticut may soon be the third state to attack this growing problem.
Concussion is a physiologic disruption of brain function caused by biomechanical forces. There are about 3.8 million sports-related concussions in the United States each year. As youth sports participation rises, so have the number of concussions.
Typical symptoms include headache, confusion and unsteadiness. Resolution of symptoms varies between minutes to months. In more severe situations, these symptoms are permanent and may be accompanied by depression or learning disabilities.
There are two important steps necessary to treat concussion:
- Recognition – Athletes, coaches and parents must be aware of the symptoms of concussion and responsibly report them to the athletic trainer or physician involved in the activity.
- Return – Determining when it is safe for an athlete to safely return after a concussion is a complex decision that takes into account many factors. This decision should only be made by a qualified physician with experience treating brain injuries.
“We can easily teach the public about the signs and symptoms of concussion, but the decision of safe return is infinitely more complex,” said Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, a sports neurologist who addressed the American Academy of Neurology at their recent annual meeting.
Connecticut Bill No. 456, introduced by state Senators Thomas Gaffey and Martin Looney, with local sponsorship from Senator Andrea Stillman, addresses these issues. If passed, the bill would require attendance at a certified course dealing with the recognition of concussion as part of obtaining a coaching permit. It would also require written clearance by a licensed health care professional trained in the evaluation and management of concussions.
Passage of this bill and its proper implementation represent a major step toward protecting young athletes.
Warm up before you ‘Play ball!’
Every spring like clockwork, athletes run to their closets and retrieve their baseball gloves to begin the summer ritual of tossing a baseball. Older participants in this time-honored ritual should proceed with caution or be faced with a possible career-ending injury.
Throwing a baseball or softball involves the coordinated movement of multiple joints.
Contracting and relaxing muscles control the bones that make up individual joints. The principal joints involved are:
• Shoulder — a ball and socket joint consisting of the humerus and scapula
• Elbow — a complex joint that contains three separate joints: the humerus-ulna, humerus-radial and radial-ulna
• Wrist — among the most intricate joints because of the interface of many bones.
Stressing these areas before stretching the appropriate muscles and tendons can result in tearing. Professional baseball players all have a program for stretching and strengthening the upper extremities that is followed religiously.
“A proper stretching routine should be performed with gentle movement and without pain. Bouncing or jerking movements must be avoided,” said Debbie Gardiner, a physical therapist and certified athletic trainer at Procare Physical Therapy in Willimantic. A short toss at half speed should follow stretching. Gradually increasing distance and power is advisable before throwing hard.
Baseball and softball coaches who throw long sessions of batting practice and warm up the pitchers can be particularly vulnerable to injury as they age. Coaches should stretch along with players.
Pain is the best indication that a problem exists and is most likely due to inflammation. Rest and ice are recommended. “Playing through” arm pain can have disastrous consequences.
Consultation with a certified athletic trainer to establish an arm program for any throwing athlete is a worthwhile investment. The program should be a year-round effort for optimal performance.
Throwing a baseball or softball involves the coordinated movement of multiple joints.
Contracting and relaxing muscles control the bones that make up individual joints. The principal joints involved are:
• Shoulder — a ball and socket joint consisting of the humerus and scapula
• Elbow — a complex joint that contains three separate joints: the humerus-ulna, humerus-radial and radial-ulna
• Wrist — among the most intricate joints because of the interface of many bones.
Stressing these areas before stretching the appropriate muscles and tendons can result in tearing. Professional baseball players all have a program for stretching and strengthening the upper extremities that is followed religiously.
“A proper stretching routine should be performed with gentle movement and without pain. Bouncing or jerking movements must be avoided,” said Debbie Gardiner, a physical therapist and certified athletic trainer at Procare Physical Therapy in Willimantic. A short toss at half speed should follow stretching. Gradually increasing distance and power is advisable before throwing hard.
Baseball and softball coaches who throw long sessions of batting practice and warm up the pitchers can be particularly vulnerable to injury as they age. Coaches should stretch along with players.
Pain is the best indication that a problem exists and is most likely due to inflammation. Rest and ice are recommended. “Playing through” arm pain can have disastrous consequences.
Consultation with a certified athletic trainer to establish an arm program for any throwing athlete is a worthwhile investment. The program should be a year-round effort for optimal performance.
Health history crucial to treat young athletes
The Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted in 1996 to protect the privacy and confidentiality of patients’ health information. Unfortunately, it has also created a potentially deadly situation in sports medicine.
It is imperative that coaches, athletic trainers and team physicians have complete medical information on every athlete. HIPAA has unintentionally created an obstacle to the free exchange of health records.
Professional athletes agree to release all medical information as part of their contractual obligation. In boxing, a fighter must allow free access to medical data before being allowed to fight in any jurisdiction. The health records shared among various state boxing commissions have avoided many disasters.
College athletes are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) that allows for the free flow of records within their educational institution.
Ironically, it is high school and youth sports athletes who are most impacted by this obstruction. In an effort to protect the rights of young athletes, many have been left vulnerable due to incomplete medical information regarding medical conditions, allergies and prescribed drugs.
Typically, the breakdown occurs between school health officials and athletic trainers. Athletic trainers are the conduit between coaches and health providers. Often, athletic trainers are employed by entities contracted to provide services to a school. This business relationship has mistakenly been interpreted as an obstacle.
“As we improve communication and protect patients’ privacy, HIPAA was never intended to compromise the communication among care givers,” said Glenn Stadnick, Corporate Compliance and Privacy Officer at Backus Hospital.
Penalties for violating HIPAA have only been levied when the information is used for malicious intent or financial gain.
Parents can protect their children by making sure they directly provide the athletic trainer or youth coach with accurate, complete medical information.
It is imperative that coaches, athletic trainers and team physicians have complete medical information on every athlete. HIPAA has unintentionally created an obstacle to the free exchange of health records.
Professional athletes agree to release all medical information as part of their contractual obligation. In boxing, a fighter must allow free access to medical data before being allowed to fight in any jurisdiction. The health records shared among various state boxing commissions have avoided many disasters.
College athletes are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) that allows for the free flow of records within their educational institution.
Ironically, it is high school and youth sports athletes who are most impacted by this obstruction. In an effort to protect the rights of young athletes, many have been left vulnerable due to incomplete medical information regarding medical conditions, allergies and prescribed drugs.
Typically, the breakdown occurs between school health officials and athletic trainers. Athletic trainers are the conduit between coaches and health providers. Often, athletic trainers are employed by entities contracted to provide services to a school. This business relationship has mistakenly been interpreted as an obstacle.
“As we improve communication and protect patients’ privacy, HIPAA was never intended to compromise the communication among care givers,” said Glenn Stadnick, Corporate Compliance and Privacy Officer at Backus Hospital.
Penalties for violating HIPAA have only been levied when the information is used for malicious intent or financial gain.
Parents can protect their children by making sure they directly provide the athletic trainer or youth coach with accurate, complete medical information.
You can’t coast through an indoor cycling workout
Indoor cycling programs were originally designed to prepare participants for the outdoor season. Over the past 25 years, group indoor cycling classes have risen in popularity and in many cases are the only exposure to the sport of cycling.
Indoor cycling has become synonymous with the trademarked term “spinning.” The stationary bicycles used are fully adjustable and have a weighted flywheel that provides increasing momentum with each rotation. A key element to each workout is the ability to rapidly change the resistance necessary to drive the flywheel.
Different muscles are exercised based on whether the rider is sitting or standing and the position of the hands. Varying the pedaling cadence will also alter the work out.
Classes generally last one hour and the person leading the group will design a workout that is accompanied by high-energy music. A grimacing facial expression is typical of participants, based on the grueling nature of these workouts.
“Indoor cycling workouts are more difficult because the rider must use different muscles to control the momentum of the flywheel. As opposed to traditional cycling, there is no way to coast,” said Marc Nee, a personal trainer and owner of “Training with Heart.”
Lisa Weir, a spinning instructor at World Gym in Norwich, has been teaching spinning for two years. She previously taught aerobics and step classes. “The biggest advantage to spinning is the outstanding cardiovascular workout along with strengthening core muscles,” said Weir.
After researching this column, the temptation of personally experiencing one of these sessions was too great. I invited my friend, former professional baseball player and talk show host, Lee Elci, to join me in this challenge. We decided to attend a class at the Fitness Club in Old Saybrook.
At the end of the one-hour session both Lee and I, who work out regularly, clearly understood why these classes are so challenging. “I was most impressed by the rapid pace, allowing my heart rate to remain elevated throughout the class,” said Elci.
Overall, indoor cycling classes are a great way to get in shape for summer cycling or simply to improve aerobic fitness. The camaraderie of a class lead by a good instructor makes the experience worthwhile and enjoyable.
Indoor cycling has become synonymous with the trademarked term “spinning.” The stationary bicycles used are fully adjustable and have a weighted flywheel that provides increasing momentum with each rotation. A key element to each workout is the ability to rapidly change the resistance necessary to drive the flywheel.
Different muscles are exercised based on whether the rider is sitting or standing and the position of the hands. Varying the pedaling cadence will also alter the work out.
Classes generally last one hour and the person leading the group will design a workout that is accompanied by high-energy music. A grimacing facial expression is typical of participants, based on the grueling nature of these workouts.
“Indoor cycling workouts are more difficult because the rider must use different muscles to control the momentum of the flywheel. As opposed to traditional cycling, there is no way to coast,” said Marc Nee, a personal trainer and owner of “Training with Heart.”
Lisa Weir, a spinning instructor at World Gym in Norwich, has been teaching spinning for two years. She previously taught aerobics and step classes. “The biggest advantage to spinning is the outstanding cardiovascular workout along with strengthening core muscles,” said Weir.
After researching this column, the temptation of personally experiencing one of these sessions was too great. I invited my friend, former professional baseball player and talk show host, Lee Elci, to join me in this challenge. We decided to attend a class at the Fitness Club in Old Saybrook.
At the end of the one-hour session both Lee and I, who work out regularly, clearly understood why these classes are so challenging. “I was most impressed by the rapid pace, allowing my heart rate to remain elevated throughout the class,” said Elci.
Overall, indoor cycling classes are a great way to get in shape for summer cycling or simply to improve aerobic fitness. The camaraderie of a class lead by a good instructor makes the experience worthwhile and enjoyable.
Red Sox prospect faces long road to recovery
When a patient presents with neurologic complaints of headaches and numbness, it is always cause for concern. If the patient is a healthy young professional athlete, it is alarming.
Last week, a cavernous angioma was discovered to be the reason for similar symptoms in Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland.
A cavernous angioma is an abnormal mass of blood vessels. Although often inherited, the condition can be seen sporadically. The shape is similar to a raspberry with dilated areas where blood pools. Small hemorrhage is often the first symptom as opposed to an aneurysm where bleeding is explosive.
Location of this mass of blood vessels dictates the surgical difficulty. In the case of Westmoreland, it was located in the brain stem, making the situation more challenging.
The brain stem is the lower part of the brain where vital reflex functions like breathing and heart rate are regulated. Coordinated eye movements are also controlled in this delicate network of nerves and blood vessels.
Dr. Gregory Criscuolo, a neurosurgeon on the Backus Hospital Medical Staff who practices at Eastern Connecticut Neurosurgery, has operated on a similar lesion in another patient. “Surgery is potentially curable but there is a high likelihood of some permanent deficit,” said Criscuolo.
Hitting a baseball demands extremely precise eye-hand coordination to visualize the spin and direction of a high velocity pitch and to react appropriately. Any neurologic deficits like disequilibrium or double vision are career-ending in baseball.
Even in the best clinical situation, where there is no neurologic deficit, it is unlikely that Westmoreland will return to full activity this season.
The potentially life-threatening nature of this condition will make Westmoreland’s recovery and hopeful return to professional baseball exciting to watch.
Last week, a cavernous angioma was discovered to be the reason for similar symptoms in Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland.
A cavernous angioma is an abnormal mass of blood vessels. Although often inherited, the condition can be seen sporadically. The shape is similar to a raspberry with dilated areas where blood pools. Small hemorrhage is often the first symptom as opposed to an aneurysm where bleeding is explosive.
Location of this mass of blood vessels dictates the surgical difficulty. In the case of Westmoreland, it was located in the brain stem, making the situation more challenging.
The brain stem is the lower part of the brain where vital reflex functions like breathing and heart rate are regulated. Coordinated eye movements are also controlled in this delicate network of nerves and blood vessels.
Dr. Gregory Criscuolo, a neurosurgeon on the Backus Hospital Medical Staff who practices at Eastern Connecticut Neurosurgery, has operated on a similar lesion in another patient. “Surgery is potentially curable but there is a high likelihood of some permanent deficit,” said Criscuolo.
Hitting a baseball demands extremely precise eye-hand coordination to visualize the spin and direction of a high velocity pitch and to react appropriately. Any neurologic deficits like disequilibrium or double vision are career-ending in baseball.
Even in the best clinical situation, where there is no neurologic deficit, it is unlikely that Westmoreland will return to full activity this season.
The potentially life-threatening nature of this condition will make Westmoreland’s recovery and hopeful return to professional baseball exciting to watch.
Echocardiograms can save athletes’ lives
Chicago Bears’ defensive end Gaines Adams died in January of this year. Despite being in excellent physical condition, he was the victim of a potentially deadly heart condition known as Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM).
HCM refers to abnormal enlargement of the heart muscle. It is an inherited disorder affecting one in every 500 people. Typical symptoms are brought on during exercise and include:
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Loss of consciousness
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Heart palpitations
Unfortunately, the first sign of HCM may be sudden death, as in the case of Adams. HCM accounts for 26 percent of all cases of sudden death in athletes.
The dilemma is that an enlarged heart is not uncommon in athletes. One of the benefits of intense training is that the heart muscle increases in size, allowing it to pump more blood with less effort. That is why most athletes have lower heart rates than the average person.
The definitive way of resolving this dilemma is by performing an echocardiogram. This test uses ultrasound technology to image the heart’s chambers and valves while measuring the volume of blood being pumped.
While cost is not an issue at the professional and collegiate levels, it is a tremendous obstacle for the millions of high school and youth sports athletes.
Norwich cardiologist Dr. John Foley, a member of the Backus Hospital Medical Staff, recommends a thorough pre-participation physical evaluation for every child partaking in a sports activity.
“Physicians performing these examinations should have a low threshold for ordering an ECG or echocardiogram when they suspect a problem,” said Foley.
Cost should not be an issue when dealing with a life-threatening problem like HCM.
HCM refers to abnormal enlargement of the heart muscle. It is an inherited disorder affecting one in every 500 people. Typical symptoms are brought on during exercise and include:
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Loss of consciousness
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Heart palpitations
Unfortunately, the first sign of HCM may be sudden death, as in the case of Adams. HCM accounts for 26 percent of all cases of sudden death in athletes.
The dilemma is that an enlarged heart is not uncommon in athletes. One of the benefits of intense training is that the heart muscle increases in size, allowing it to pump more blood with less effort. That is why most athletes have lower heart rates than the average person.
The definitive way of resolving this dilemma is by performing an echocardiogram. This test uses ultrasound technology to image the heart’s chambers and valves while measuring the volume of blood being pumped.
While cost is not an issue at the professional and collegiate levels, it is a tremendous obstacle for the millions of high school and youth sports athletes.
Norwich cardiologist Dr. John Foley, a member of the Backus Hospital Medical Staff, recommends a thorough pre-participation physical evaluation for every child partaking in a sports activity.
“Physicians performing these examinations should have a low threshold for ordering an ECG or echocardiogram when they suspect a problem,” said Foley.
Cost should not be an issue when dealing with a life-threatening problem like HCM.
Cardiac screening is crucial for athletes
Sudden cardiac death is always tragic. When it strikes highly trained athletes at the peak of their careers, further investigation must be carried out.
Locally, the 2007 death of Norwich Free Academy athlete Larry Pontbriant has resulted in legislation requiring the availability of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at all high school athletic events in Connecticut. AEDs provide an electrical shock to the heart in order to correct a potentially fatal condition called arrhythmia.
Designing an effective cardiac screening program presents a challenge.
Ways to perform non-invasive assessments of the heart range from simply listening with a stethescope to highly technical imaging procedures. Some of those are:
• Auscultation — listening to heart sounds with a stethoscope. This is performed routinely as part of a pre-participation physical that should be required for all athletic activities at every level. Detection of a murmur or abnormal sound indicates the need for further evaluation.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) — this examination provides an electrical map of cardiac function. It can detect a potentially fatal arrhythmia but provides only a snapshot while the athlete is relaxed.
• Cardiac Stress Test — evaluates the heart while the athlete is active, typically running on a treadmill.
• Echocardiography — allows visual examination of the heart’s chambers and valves through ultrasound.
The principle issue regarding the use of these examinations centers on cost.
At a recent American Heart Association meeting, one presentation addressed the ECG as a cost-effective way to screen student-athletes. The recent decline in the cost of laptop ECG machines allowed the authors to study every competitive sports athlete in a suburban high school for less than $3 each after an initial investment of $500 per school.
As technology progresses, sports medicine professionals must constantly re-evaluate the most efficient ways of screening athletes properly.
Locally, the 2007 death of Norwich Free Academy athlete Larry Pontbriant has resulted in legislation requiring the availability of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at all high school athletic events in Connecticut. AEDs provide an electrical shock to the heart in order to correct a potentially fatal condition called arrhythmia.
Designing an effective cardiac screening program presents a challenge.
Ways to perform non-invasive assessments of the heart range from simply listening with a stethescope to highly technical imaging procedures. Some of those are:
• Auscultation — listening to heart sounds with a stethoscope. This is performed routinely as part of a pre-participation physical that should be required for all athletic activities at every level. Detection of a murmur or abnormal sound indicates the need for further evaluation.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) — this examination provides an electrical map of cardiac function. It can detect a potentially fatal arrhythmia but provides only a snapshot while the athlete is relaxed.
• Cardiac Stress Test — evaluates the heart while the athlete is active, typically running on a treadmill.
• Echocardiography — allows visual examination of the heart’s chambers and valves through ultrasound.
The principle issue regarding the use of these examinations centers on cost.
At a recent American Heart Association meeting, one presentation addressed the ECG as a cost-effective way to screen student-athletes. The recent decline in the cost of laptop ECG machines allowed the authors to study every competitive sports athlete in a suburban high school for less than $3 each after an initial investment of $500 per school.
As technology progresses, sports medicine professionals must constantly re-evaluate the most efficient ways of screening athletes properly.
Olympian breaks down barriers for diabetics
Twelve kilometers into the Olympic 30-kilometer cross-country ski event, Kris Freeman literally ran out of gas and collapsed. Freeman, an American hoping to medal in the event, shocked everyone when he was found lying in the snow asking for sugar. He is the first Olympic distance athlete who has type 1 diabetes.
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. People with type 1 diabetes produce little or no insulin. Insulin allows glucose to move into cells and produce energy.
Distance athletes must be meticulous about balancing energy requirements and extreme physical demands. This challenge is infinitely more difficult for athletes with diabetes.
Technology has made a huge difference in preparing diabetic distance athletes for their quest. The insulin pump is a computerized apparatus that provides a constant infusion of insulin. It is programmed according the expected level of activity.
Dr. Leslie Domalik, Medical Director of The William W. Backus Hospital Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism Center, recalls her experiences at Duke University. She enjoyed the challenge of managing athletes with diabetes.
“In the past, patients would have to regulate their activities based on a fixed insulin dose. We can now alter the insulin based on the patient’s activity level,” she said.
In the case of Freeman, he anticipated a slower pace in the cross-country event and programmed the insulin pump to release more insulin. Unfortunately, the pace was faster and there wasn’t sufficient time to re-program the pump, resulting in a drop in blood sugar and loss of consciousness. A nearby German coach was able to give him some sugar and he eventually completed the race.
Although he didn’t do as well as he would have liked, Kris Freeman’s efforts in long distance sports have successfully broken a previous barrier, and isn’t that what the Olympics are really about?
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. People with type 1 diabetes produce little or no insulin. Insulin allows glucose to move into cells and produce energy.
Distance athletes must be meticulous about balancing energy requirements and extreme physical demands. This challenge is infinitely more difficult for athletes with diabetes.
Technology has made a huge difference in preparing diabetic distance athletes for their quest. The insulin pump is a computerized apparatus that provides a constant infusion of insulin. It is programmed according the expected level of activity.
Dr. Leslie Domalik, Medical Director of The William W. Backus Hospital Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism Center, recalls her experiences at Duke University. She enjoyed the challenge of managing athletes with diabetes.
“In the past, patients would have to regulate their activities based on a fixed insulin dose. We can now alter the insulin based on the patient’s activity level,” she said.
In the case of Freeman, he anticipated a slower pace in the cross-country event and programmed the insulin pump to release more insulin. Unfortunately, the pace was faster and there wasn’t sufficient time to re-program the pump, resulting in a drop in blood sugar and loss of consciousness. A nearby German coach was able to give him some sugar and he eventually completed the race.
Although he didn’t do as well as he would have liked, Kris Freeman’s efforts in long distance sports have successfully broken a previous barrier, and isn’t that what the Olympics are really about?
Biathlon strategy can be useful in daily life
Multi-sport Olympic events have always been considered the most difficult. In fact, the reigning decathlon champion is typically considered “the world’s best athlete.”
Sports consisting of both extreme athletic effort and a technical skill require very different approaches to training. Among these, biathlon is considered to be the most challenging.
Biathlon first became an Olympic sport in 1960, but its origins date back to 2000BC. It is a combination of cross country skiing and marksmanship. The object is to complete a skiing course (20km or 12.4 miles for men and 15km or 9.3 miles) in the shortest amount of time while stopping to shoot at targets in the prone and standing positions. Missed targets add minutes to the final time.
Cross country skiing is an intense aerobic activity requiring both upper and lower body strength as well as cardiovascular stamina. Training sessions often last 21⁄2 hours and it is not uncommon to average 13 such sessions per week.
During the season, workouts typically consist of a combination of skiing and shooting. Off-season activities include roller skiing, rowing and elliptical work outs.
Physiologically, the challenge in biathlon is going from a state of high adrenergic stimulation with rapid breathing, elevated heart rate and sweating to a condition of calm and precise movements. All humans have a slight, often imperceptible tremor. When agitated, this tremor becomes coarser. Biathletes must condition themselves to make this transition quickly.
The key to making this dramatic transition is the ability to control breathing. In doing so, the heart rate slows and a rhythm is established to perform a necessary skill.
Cadenced breathing is an effective tool for athletes to create calm in the midst of agitation. It is also a skill that will serve non-athletes when dealing with stress.
Sports consisting of both extreme athletic effort and a technical skill require very different approaches to training. Among these, biathlon is considered to be the most challenging.
Biathlon first became an Olympic sport in 1960, but its origins date back to 2000BC. It is a combination of cross country skiing and marksmanship. The object is to complete a skiing course (20km or 12.4 miles for men and 15km or 9.3 miles) in the shortest amount of time while stopping to shoot at targets in the prone and standing positions. Missed targets add minutes to the final time.
Cross country skiing is an intense aerobic activity requiring both upper and lower body strength as well as cardiovascular stamina. Training sessions often last 21⁄2 hours and it is not uncommon to average 13 such sessions per week.
During the season, workouts typically consist of a combination of skiing and shooting. Off-season activities include roller skiing, rowing and elliptical work outs.
Physiologically, the challenge in biathlon is going from a state of high adrenergic stimulation with rapid breathing, elevated heart rate and sweating to a condition of calm and precise movements. All humans have a slight, often imperceptible tremor. When agitated, this tremor becomes coarser. Biathletes must condition themselves to make this transition quickly.
The key to making this dramatic transition is the ability to control breathing. In doing so, the heart rate slows and a rhythm is established to perform a necessary skill.
Cadenced breathing is an effective tool for athletes to create calm in the midst of agitation. It is also a skill that will serve non-athletes when dealing with stress.
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