Ergogenic aids Flashcards
What is the definition of ergogenic aids?
Anything that enhances performance
What are the three types of ergogenic aids?
pharmacological, physiological, nutritional
What are the three pharmacological aids?
Anabolic steroids
Erythropoietin (EPO)
Human growth hormone (HGH)
What are the three physiological aids?
Blood doping intermittent hypoxic training (IHT) Cooling aids (Pre/post exercise)
What are the 9 nutritional aids?
Amount of food Composition of meal Timing of meals Hydration Glycogen/Carbohydrate loading Creatine Caffeine Bicarbonate Nitrate
What type of aid are anabolic steroids?
Pharmacological
What is the legal status of anabolic steroids?
Illegal
Describe the use of anabolic steroids
Man made synthetic drug, mimics testosterone, taken via injections/pills/patches/creams.
What are the benefits of using anabolic steroids?
Growth of muscle mass/strength/power.
Promotes synthesis of proteins, speeding up recovery so can increase quantity/intensity/duration of training
Decrease recovery time (rehab)
Increase aggression can be good.
What are the potential risks of using anabolic steroids?
Permanent liver damage/cancer Hypertension/increase blood pressure Increase LDL and decrease HDL Increase chance of coronary heart disease Increase paranoia/aggression Acne ...And more...
What are the risks of anabolic steroids dependent on?
The dosage (higher dosage, more risks)`
Who benefits from using anabolic steroids?
High intensity/short duration performers such as weight lifters/sprinters/throwers/power positions like wingers in rugby Injured performers (speed up recovery/muscle repair)
What type of aid are erythropoietin (EPO)
Pharmacological
What is the legal status of erythropoietin (EPO)?
Illegal
Describe the use of erythropoietin (EPO)
Synthetic protein stimulating red blood cell growth
Alternative to blood doping
EPO peptide hormone is naturally made by kidneys, stimulates bone marrow to increase red blood cell production.
Urine tests show that red blood cell level is higher than normal
Use plasma infusion to prevent hyperviscosity.
What are the benefits of using erythropoietin (EPO)?
Treat anaemia/kidney disease
Increase haematocrat
Increase haemoglobin levels so increase oxygen uptake/VO2 max, increase energy delivery, delay fatigue in aerobic performance.
What are the potential risks of using erythropoietin (EPO)?
Thickened blood (increase viscosity)
Decrease HR/cardiac output, overloads cardiovascular system
Increase risk of blood clotting/heart failure/strokes
More danger if dehydrated
Misuse can lead to auto immune disease
Who benefits from using erythropoietin (EPO)?
Endurance/aerobic performers that rely on good oxygen transport to muscles Eg Tour De France cycling/ rowing/ swimming/ marathon running
Cyclists have some main performers banned for using EPO (Eg Lance Armstrong)
What type of aid are human growth hormones (HGH)?
Pharmacological
What is the legal status of human growth hormones (HGH)?
Illegal
Describe the use of human growth hormones (HGH)?
Injections/pills/cream/suppositories
Difficult to detect-natural levels vary
Mimics the natural hormone that stimulates the growth of cartilage/muscle/bone.
Important role in metabolism
What effects the natural levels of the natural growth hormone produced by the pituitary gland?
Diet, stress, sleep, exercise
What are the benefits of using human growth hormones (HGH)?
Increase muscle mass/strength
Increase intensity/recovery of training
stimulate liver to produce IGF-1 which produces cartilage cells/bone density and increases healing of soft tissue
Increases metabolism which increases blood glucose and decreases fat mass.
What are the potential risks of using human growth hormones (HGH)?
Increase hypertrophy of internal organs Muscle/joint weakness Increase diabetes/hypertension/bone thickening/deformities/glucose intolerance Can cause cardiomyopathy Increase risk of cancer.
Who benefits from using human growth hormones (HGH)?
Used by power/sprint performers
Performers that need an increase in soft tissue repair in order to maintain their high intensity training.
What is cardiomyopathy?
Heart rhythm is disturbed so you have an irregular heart beat
what is IGF-1
Insulin-like Growth Factor-1
What type of aid is blood doping?
Physiological
What is the legal status of blood doping?
Illegal
Describe the use of blood doping?
Autologous-Transfusion of one’s own blood which is stored/refrigerated and reinfused later
Homologous-Transfusion of another persons blood
Removing and storing blood 4-6 weeks PRE-performance, the body then adapts to replace red blood cells and re-infuse just before performance.
What are the benefits of using blood doping?
Increase total volume of rbc’s so more haemoglobin
increase oxygen to muscles/aerobic capacity/energy delivered and delayed fatigue for aerobic performance
What are the potential risks of blood doping?
Increase blood viscosity
Decrease heart rate/blood flow/cardiac output which can overload the cardiovascular system leading to clotting/heart failure/stroke/pulmonary/cerebral ambolism
Risk of HIV if homologous
More dangerous if dehydrated
Who benefits from blood doping?
Endurance/aerobic performers which rely on the supply of oxygen to muscles Eg distance cycling, marathon running, rowing
What type of aid are cooling aids pre exercise?
Physiological
What is the legal status of cooling aids pre exercise?
Legal
Describe the use of cooling aids pre exercise?
Ice/cooling vest or soaked towels/headbands
Critical core temp exists after which athletes must decrease intensity or risk heat illness
10-30 min before prolonged exercise in hot temp
Best to start exercise with low body temp as it increases the margin between starting and critical temp.
What are the benefits of using cooling aids pre exercise?
Decreases temp/thermal strain/dehydration enabling athletes to draw on reserves later in performance
Decrease CV-Drift (HR increases as temp increases for the same exercise intensity)
Reduce need to increase cardiac output to skin-maintains cardiac output to muscles
What are the potential risks of using cooling aids pre exercise?
Increase risk of heat illnesses if not used
Metabolic/CV responses can be decreased during initial 15 minutes of exercise. decrease HR and perceived exertion and may lead to working above target zones/pace
Increase angina pain.
Don’t use with hypertensives as vasoconstriction can increase BP
Who benefits from using cooling aids pre exercise?
Mainly endurance athletes
Anyone exercising in hot conditions where body temperature regulation is more of an issue eg cricket
What type of aid are cooling aids post exercise?
Physiological