Ergogenic Aids Flashcards
Name the three pharmacological aids
Anabolic steroids
Erythropoietin (EPO)
Human growth hormone
Name the three physiological aids
Blood doping Intermittent hypoxic training (IHT) Cooling aids(pre+post)
Name the nutritional aids
Food volume/timing Hydration Carbo-loading Creating Caffeine Bicarbonate Nitrate
Anabolic steroids legal status
illegal
Anabolic steroids description
Artificial synthetic drugs which mimics natural male hormone testosterone
Taken via: injection, orally via pill, patches, gels or creams rubbed on skin
Potential benefits of anabolic steroids
- Increased growth of muscle mass, strength and power
- Increased promotion of synthesis of protein speeding up muscle repair and recovery
- Allows increased quantity, intensity and duration of training
- Increased recovery from strain and injury
- Increased aggression useful in some sports
Potential risks of anabolic steroids(everyone)
Increased risk of permanent liver damage and cancer
Increased blood pressure
Increased LDL cholesterol
Decreased HDL cholesterol
Increased feeling of paranoia, irritability, acne, aggressiveness, violence, dramatic mood swings
Risks of anabolic steroids for females
Facial hair Deep voice Enlarged genitals Breast reduction Disrupted menstrual cycle
Risks of anabolic steroids for males
Atrophy of testicles Decreased sperm count Impotence Baldness Enlarged prostate gland Breast enlargement Pain urinating
Who benefits from anabolic steroids?
High intensity, short duration performers such as weightlifters and sprinters
Used by injured performers to speed up recovery and repair of injuries
Erythroprotein legal status
illegal
EPO description
Synthetic protein stimulating rbc growth
Alternative to blood doping
Is a peptide hormone naturally produced by kidneys
Stimulates bone marrow to increase rbc production
Plasma infusions common alongside EPO to prevent hyper-viscosity in blood
Has enormous benefit in the treatment of anaemia
Urine tests show levels of rbc’s above norm values
Potential benefits of EPO
Increased haematocrit
Increased total rbc volume of 45% to 65%
Increased haemoglobin levels which increases o2 transport to muscles which increases o2 uptake
Increase in aerobic performance
Increased energy delivered and delayed fatigue for aerobic performance
EPO potential risks
Increase blood viscosity
Increased risk of blood clotting which can lead to heart failure/stroke
Increased danger if body becomes dehydrated as this decreases plasma volume which further increases blood viscosity
Misuse can lead to auto-immune disease with serious health consequences
Who benefits from EPO?
Endurance athletes relying on good o2 transport to the muscles
Human growth hormone legal status
illegal
Human growth hormone description
Injected/ingested in the form of pills, suppositories or creams
HGH is synthetic hormone that mimics a natural growth hormone produced by the pituitary gland which stimulates growth of cartilage, muscle and bone
Difficult to detect between synthetic and natural form as natural levels of HGH vary massively due to diet, stress, sleep and exercise
Potential benefit of HGH
Increase muscle mass and strength
Increased training intensity
Increased recovery(conflicting evidence for all of above three)
Increased production of cartilage cells
Increased bone growth/density
Increased healing of soft tissues
Increased metabolism of protein, fat and carbohydrates
Therefore increased breakdown of fats leading to decreased fat mass
Potential risks of HGH
Increased hypertrophy of internal organs
Increased risk of diabetes
Increased bon thickening leading to deformities
Increase of glucose intolerance
Increased size of organs leading to an increased risk of potentially life threatening diseases
Increased cancer risk due to abnormal growth of cells
Who benefits from HGH
Used mostly by power/sprint performers
Performers undertaking regular high intensity training requiring lots of soft tissues repair
Blood doping legal status
illegal
Blood doping description
Removing and storing of blood 4-6 weeks PRE - performance and re-infused hours before performance
Two different ways:
Autologous - transfusion of one’s own blood which is stored and re-infused later
Homologous - transfusion of another persons blood
Recent resurgence due to the introduction of efficient EPO detection methods
Potential benefits of blood doping
Increased total volume of rbc’s (20%)
Increased haemoglobin levels
Increased HbO2 transport to muscles increasing O2 uptake
Increased energy delivered and delayed fatigue for aerobic performance
Potential risks of blood doping
Increased blood viscosity and decreased HR, blood flow and cardiac output can overload the cardiovascular system leading to clotting, heart failure and strokes
Increased risk of HIV if Homologous blood doping is used
Increased risk if dehydrated due to decreased plasma volume further increasing blood viscosity forcing the heart to work harder
Who benefits from blood doping?
Endurance/aerobic performers who rely on the supply of O2 to the muscles
Intermittent hypoxic training legal status
legal
Description of IHT
IHT involves short intervals (4-6mins) of breathing hypoxic air (low pp of O2) interspersed with similar length intervals inhaling ambient air
Replicates altitude training drug free
Can be done using: sleep tents, chambers and non invasive pulse oximetry masks
Who benefits from IHT?
All athletes requiring pre - acclimatisation
All athletes wishing to increase O2 transport to increase performance at sea level
Potential benefits of IHT?
Increased performance and duration with delayed fatigue
Increased ability to buffer lactate and delay onset of blood lactate accumulation(OBLA)
Increased defence against oxidative stress
Increased O2 transport systems due to increased rbc’s
Increased natural EPO production
Pre-acclimatisation to high altitudes
Decreased mountain sickness and fatigue, recovery time after aerobic and anaerobic
Potential risks of IHT?
Reversibility-Benefits gained are quickly lost if IHT stops
Increased dehydration
Decreased work rate during IHT
Disrupts normal training habits
Altitude domes/tents with nitrogen inflow create a potential life-threatening low arterial O2 saturation below safe 70%
Must have safety cut offs to prevent above
Colling aids legal status
legal
Description of cooling aids pre exercise
Can be done by ice/cooling vests or soaked/towels/headbands
Critical core temp(Tc) exists after which athletes must decrease intensity or risk heat illness
Advisable 10-30 mins before prolonged exercise in hot temperatures
Best to start exercise with cooler body Tc as possible by pre-cooling to increase margin between starting and critical Tc
Potential benefits of cooling aids pre exercise
Decreases and maintains Tc and decreases thermal strain
Decreases dehydration enabling athletes to draw on reserves later in performance
Decreases CV-drift
Pre-cooling reduces need to increase Q to skin to help reduce Tc which maintains Q to muscles during exercise
Potential risks of cooling aids pre exercise
Potential heat illness if not used
Metabolic and CV responses can be decreased during initial 15 min of exercise, decreased HR and perceived exertion and may lead to working above target zones and pace
Used on chest region may cause increased angina pain from constriction of coronary arteries
Not used by hypertensive as vasoconstriction may increase Bp
Decreases efficiency of vasoconstriction/dilation
Who benefits from cooling aids pre exercise
Mainly endurance performers but anyone exercising in hot environments where body temperature regulation more of an issue e.g. cricket
Description of cooling aids post exercise
Used for injury treatment and post event recovery
Sprays, ice packs/gels/baths and cold water immersion
Injury specific-Ice packs/gels applied to specific body area
Some research suggests cool CWI (6 degrees) better than iced water
Potential benefits of cooling aids post exercise
Increased speed muscle repair/recovery
Decreased muscle soreness (DOMS)
Decreased pain at rest, decreased pain on stretch and decreased post active ROM due to
1.Decreased anti inflammatory response
2.Decreased swelling due to constriction of blood vessels
3.Increased pain tolerance due to decreased nerve conduction velocity
Who benefits from cooling aids post exercise
All performers with soft tissue injuries, DOMS, undertaking contact e.g. rugby players
After high intensity/repeated exercise bouts to speed up their recovery process after exercise
Potential risks of cooling aids post exercise
Ice burns if applied for 10+mins directly to skin
Ice may hide/complicate nerve impingement injuries
Do not use with hypertensive as vasoconstriction may increase Bp and decrease efficiency of vasoconstriction/dilation of elderly people
May decrease the inflammatory response responsible for initiating and resolving skeletal muscle injury
Increased stress hormones for 60 mins post cold water immersion which are catabolic which decreases positive training adaptations