Using Slow-Paced Breathing to Foster Endurance, Well-Being, and Sleep Quality in Athletes During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Frontiers in Psychology

article

Uirassu Borges¹  Babett Lobinger¹  Florian Javelle³  Matthew Watson²  Emma Mosley⁴  Sylvain Laborde¹ 

[1] Department of Performance Psychology, Institute of Psychology, German Sport University Cologne;Department of Social and Health Psychology, Institute of Psychology, German Sport University Cologne;Department for Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, Institute for Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne;Department of Sport Science and Performance, Solent University, United Kingdom;Université de Caen Normandie

关键词: HRV;    cardiac vagal activity;    cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway;    cytokine storm;    mental health;    lung inflammation;    biofeedback;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2021.624655

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been causing major disruptions in the sporting world. Negative physiological and psychological effects on athletes have been reported, such as respiratory issues and increased stress. Therefore, it is timely to support this population by presenting cost-effective and accessible intervention techniques to reduce this impact. Slow-paced breathing (SPB) has the potential to counteract many of the detrimental effects of COVID-19 that can directly affect sports performance. In this article, we present and justify the use of SPB in athletes by focusing on three key outcomes, namely aerobic endurance performance, emotional well-being, and sleep quality. We examine the physiological mechanisms that underpin these three outcomes and review literature showing that SPB can activate anti-inflammatory pathways, increase lung capacity and, in turn, improve aerobic endurance, emotional well-being, and sleep quality. We conclude that interventions using SPB can have preventive and rehabilitative properties for athletes. Future studies should empirically test the potential of SPB to help this specific population.

【 授权许可】

CC BY