PhD D.V. Gorbachev¹
PhD T.M. Zhidkikh¹
PhD, Associate Professor V.S. Mineev^1
1St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg

Keywords: biofeedback, health, intermuscular coordination, muscle groups, neural circuitry, program, functional asymmetry, electromyography, athletes.

Background. Modern computerized biofeedback-assisted functionality test and control systems are increasingly popular among the side-effects-free non-pharmacological methods applicable in sports. The relevant sports analysts [1, 4-6, 8] commonly classify the biofeedback procedures by the following grouped key parameters: (1) autonomic nervous system controlled parameters (body temperature, respiration rate, blood flow, dermal electrical responses, heart rate etc.); (2) skeletal muscle electromyograms in relaxation/ rehabilitation processes (protocols); and (3) electroencephalograms.

We believe that the study is highly relevant due to the biofeedback-assisted progress/ health control theory and practices being still underdeveloped for application in the long-term athletic training systems.

Objective of the study was to develop and test benefits of a new biofeedback-assisted progress/ health controls (dysfunction prevention) training system.

Methods and structure of the study. We sampled for the three-stage study 17-22 year old highly-skilled (Class I to MS) Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestlers equally split up into EG and RG. At Stage 1, we tested the sample for heart rates, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and adaptability [2, 3, 7]. At Stage 2, the EG was subject to the biofeedback-assisted functionality tests to obtain the autonomic nervous system controlled tests rates (body temperature, respiration rate, blood flow, dermal electrical response rates, heart rate); electromyograms of the skeletal muscles in the relaxation protocol; and electroencephalograms. And at Stage 3, the EG was subject to the electromyogram-based biofeedback-assisted shoulder biceps training system of our design including 2 training sessions a week prior to every athletic training (10 training sessions in total, with 5 trainings per arm). The trainees’ functionalities were tested in the process to profile the cardiovascular system responses to the trainings.

Results and discussion. The sample health/ functionality was tested excellent and good in both of the groups – that is obviously natural for the highly skilled and successful athletes whose competitive accomplishments are secured by the perfectly and harmonically operating functional systems rather than overstressed internal resources with detriment to health. Given in Table 1 hereunder are the heart rate, blood pressure and adaptability test rates after the electromyogram-based biofeedback-assisted shoulder biceps trainings. The intergroup resting heart rate differences were found significant (p≤0.01); with the pre-training and post-training (minute 5 of the recovery period) heart rate tested higher in the RG versus EG – that may be due to the benefits of the electromyogram-based biofeedback-assisted trainings for the cardiovascular system functionality. The post-training tests found significant intergroup differences in the hemodynamic and heart rate test rates, with the RG tested significantly (p≤0.01) higher than EG on the heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure test scales and significantly (p≤0.05) higher on the adaptability scale.

Table 1. Post-training RG versus EG hemodynamic and adaptability test rates in the electromyogram-based biofeedback-assisted training system piloting experiment

Note: * p≤0,05; ** p≤0,01

With time both of the groups were tested with the cardiovascular system adaptability falls on the 5^th minute of the recovery period after the biofeedback-assisted trainings. Since hemodynamic test rates are indicative of the general health, we assume that the control centers in the biofeedback-assisted training process are located not only in the hypothalamus (that coordinates and regulates the bodily responses to internal and external factors), but are dispersed across the neural network.

We found a clear correlation of the electromyogram with the inter-hemispheric functional asymmetry in the trainings. By the muscle tension control skills, the sample may be grouped into group 1 with dominating left hemisphere and a good progress in the electromyogram-testing biofeedback-assisted training; and group 2 with the lower dominance of the left hemisphere and lower relaxation rates. No correlation was found between the biofeedback-assisted cardio-respiratory system controls and functional asymmetry. We also found the alternating biofeedback-assisted cardio-training being beneficial for the anxiety/ aggressiveness prevention/ mitigation initiatives, regardless of the hemispheric dominance and gender.

The study data and analyses have helped us develop a new biofeedback-assisted athletic training system that includes the following four modules: (1) Test Module to obtain the current psycho-physiological test data; (2) Base Module with the biofeedback-assisted training procedures for the improved functionality and rehabilitation process control, with a phased progress from the simple to integrated training tools; (3) Special Training Module, with the sport- and skills-specific biofeedback-assisted training tools; and (4) Advanced Training Module, with the individualized/ customized biofeedback-assisted training tools. 

Conclusion. The study found the new biofeedback-assisted psycho-physiological control training system being beneficial for the wrestling sport elite, with the acquired biofeedback-assisted control of the key bodily functions clearly facilitating athletic progress at no detriment to the trainees’ health standards.

References

1. Anokhin P.K. Key issues of functional system theory. Moscow: Nauka publ., 1980, 197 p.
2. Apanasenko G.L., Chistyakova J.S. Athlete Health: evaluation and forecasting criteria. Teoriya i Praktika Fizicheskoy Kultury. 2006. no.1. pp. 19-22.
3. Bayevskiy R.M., Berseneva A.P., Paleev N.R. Assessment of circulatory system adaptive potential during mass prophylactic examinations of the population: express information. M.: VNII-1, 1987. no. 10. pp. 1-19.
4. Vasilevskiy N.N. Biofeedback. Biofeedback: theory and practice. Novosibirsk, 1998. pp. 17-42.
5. Kaygorodtseva O.V., Talamova I.G. Prospects for use of biofeedback technologies in rehabilitation. Actual problems of adaptive physical education and sports. Res.-practical conference, IV festival on adaptive physical education. Omsk, 2015. pp. 65-69.
6. Kogan O.S. Formation of health of elite retired athletes. Teoriya i Praktika Fizicheskoy Kultury. 2006. no, 5. pp. 20-21.
7. Kulagin B.V. The basics of professional. Leningrad: Meditsina publ., 1984. 216 p.
8. Shtark M.B. Notes on biofeedback (today and a little about tomorrow). Bioupravlenie-3: Teoriya i praktika. Novosibirsk, 1998.pp. 4 -14.

Corresponding author: v.mineev@spbu.ru

Abstract

Objective of the study was to develop and test benefits of a new biofeedback-assisted progress/ health controls (dysfunction prevention) training system.

Methods and structure of research. Sampled for the study were the 17-22 year-old Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestlers. The subjects were divided into the Control (CG) and Experimental (EG) Groups. At the first stage of the experiment, we evaluated the wrestlers’ heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure rates, and adaptive potential. At the second stage, the athletes of the EG were subjected to various types of biofeedback procedures. At the third stage, the EG subjects were involved in the biofeedback trainings of the biceps brachii of both arms based on the EMG envelope rates.

Results of the study. In terms of the heart rate, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure rates, the differences were significant at p<0.01. In terms of adaptive potential, the differences were significant at p<0.05. The set of conducted studies made it possible to develop a program of psychophysiological training of athletes based on the biofeedback method.

Conclusion. The study found the new biofeedback-assisted psycho-physiological control training system being beneficial for the wrestling sport elite, with the acquired biofeedback-assisted controls of the key bodily functions clearly facilitating athletic progress at no detriment for the trainees’ health standards.