Ergogenic Aids Flashcards
What is an ergogenic aid?
Anything that improves performance
What do pharmacological aids consist of?
EPO
Human Growth Hormone
Anabolic Steroids
What do physiological aids consist of?
Blood doping
Intermittent hypoxic training
Cooling aids
What comes under nutritional aids?
Amount of food Composition of meals Timing of meals Hydration Glycogen/carbo-loading Creatine Caffeine Bicarbonate Nitrate
What is the aim on EPO?
To instruct the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells
What are some advantages of EPO?
- Increased amount of haemoglobin
- More oxygen is carried to working muscles
- Body can work aerobically for longer
- Research shows it’s effective
What are some disadvantages of EPO?
- Because there is more oxygen, body delays the use of anaerobic system which causes muscle fatigue
- Increased viscosity of blood
- Blood clots
- Increased blood pressure
- Higher risk of heart attack, stroke and infarction
What is the aim of steroids?
Produces testosterone to increase the amount of protein we can store
What are some advantages of steroids?
- Increased muscle mass
- Increased recovery time
- Handle heavier training regimes
What are the general disadvantages of Steroids?
- Liver and kidney tumours
- High blood pressure
- Severe acne
What are the disadvantages of taking steroids for a male?
- Damages testes
- Development of breasts
- Infertility
What are the disadvantages of taking steroids for a female?
- Deeper voice
- Facial hair and baldness
- Loss of breasts
What is the aim of the Human Growth Hormone?
The hormone regulates the growth of bones, muscles and collagen
What are some advantages of Human Growth Hormone?
- Increased muscle mass
- Increased recovery
- Decreases fat mass
What are some disadvantages of Human Growth Hormone?
- Irregular heart beats
- High blood pressure
- Joint pain and deformities
- Increased risk of diabetes
What is the aim of blood doping?
To increase the number of red blood cells
What are the advantages of blood doping?
- Increases the amount of haemoglobin
- More oxygen can be carried to working muscles
- Able to training aerobically for longer
- Research shows it is effective
What is Method 1 of blood doping and its step?
- Take out 2 pints of blood after altitude training
- Freeze it
- Inject it back into the body just before competition
What is method 2 of blood doping?
Injecting someone else’s blood
What is method 3 of blood doping?
Injecting and artificial oxygen carrier (chemicals which have the ability to carry oxygen)