Dr.Sc.Tech., Professor K.G. Korotkov¹
PhD A.K. Korotkova^1
1St. Petersburg Scientific Research Institute of Physical Culture, St. Petersburg

Keywords: gas-discharge visualization method, mental condition tests, sport.

Background. Saint Petersburg Scientific Research Institute of Physical Culture has been successful for the last 20 years in applying the gas-discharge visualization method for psycho-physiological performance and competitive fitness tests [8]. The gas-discharge visualization test method is designed to read and quantify light emission induced by high-voltage electromagnetic fields.

Objective of the study was to analyze the history of the gas-discharge visualization method application in sports.

Study findings and discussion. The gas-discharge visualization method was developed in the late 1990s by Professor P.V. Bundzen who proved its benefits for the psycho-physiological performance and competitive fitness testing purposes [2]. The analyses and test findings were reported at international congress and highly valued by the research community [10]. Later on the further gas-discharge visualization research was geared to improve the mental conditioning systems and mental performance tests in the national Olympic sports [3] including the Olympic reserve training systems, with the gas-discharge visualization tools applied mostly for the fitness testing purposes. It was soon found that the individual gas-discharge visualization test data closely correlate with the genetic markers [4] and cortical-vascular regulation process rates as demonstrated by the studies of cardiac function variability in the national Olympic athletes. Since 2002 the gas-discharge visualization test method has been successfully applied in the Olympic reserve training systems [5], and its application experience has been actively disseminated in Russia [6]. The progress of the gas-discharge visualization test method was secured by a set of proven dependable correlations of the gas-discharge visualization psycho-physiological performance test data with the competitive performance rates in the Olympic reserve.

After the untimely death of Professor P.V. Bundzen, the Saint Petersburg Scientific Research Institute of Physical Culture research team was headed by Professor and Deputy Director K.G. Korotkov who contributed much to the gas-discharge visualization test method application in the bioelectrographic research field. For the last few years the method has been further advanced by PhD A.K. Korotkova [9], PhD A.K. Drozdovskiy [7] and A.A. Banayan [1]. A new-generation Bio-Well gas-discharge visualization Test System (www.bio-well.com) has been applied for express two-finger tests (taking 1 min at most) to obtain the athletes’ psycho-physiological performance test data. The method has proved beneficial for the national Palalympian teams training systems. A special test program has been developed to rate the individual energy levels and stress tolerance levels in athletes, with the test data accumulated in the individual test database to help the coach control and manage the individual training and competitive performance on a timely basis.

Let us give an example of the gas-discharge visualization test method application for the morning-time energy potential rating in the national Paralympic ski racing and biathlon teams with musculoskeletal system disorders (MSSD) versus the healthy Class I-II ski racers (by PhD A.K. Drozdovskiy): see Figure 1 hereunder. Note that the energy potential test rate varies within the range of 0% to 100% to indicate the individual energy resource. As demonstrated by the Figure 1, the energy potential rates of the beginner and elite athletes are expressly different. The energy potential rating tests have been successfully applied by the coaches to profile the psycho-physiological performance and manage the training process. It is also rather important that the energy potential test rate variations make it possible to assess the risks of health/ performance failures due to some health disorders, overtraining or inadequate adaptation to new environments – and thereby predict and prevent health issues in the training process.

Figure 1. Morning EP test rates (by PhD A.K. Drozdovskiy):

The multiannual research data and analyses have proved benefits of the gas-discharge visualization test method application for the training and competitive performance tests and forecasts in Russian national Paralympic team training systems [1].

Conclusion. The 20-year-long practical experience of the gas-discharge visualization method application has been successful as verified by the psycho-physiological performance and competitive fitness tests and forecasts. The gas-discharge visualization method has been increasingly and successfully applied in trainings of the Russian national Paralympic and Olympic teams for the last few years. The method is being actively used in the US, Spain, Malaysia, Belorussia and Ukraine, with the Saint Petersburg Scientific Research Institute of Physical Culture analysts providing necessary consulting and practical support to the users.

References

1. Banayan A.A., Grachev A.A., Korotkov K.G. et al Prognoz sorevnovatelnoy gotovnosti sportsmenov paralimpiytsev na baze otsenki tsirkadnogo ritma na sportivnykh meropriyatiyah metodom GRV [Forecast of competitive fitness of Paralympic athletes based on circadian rhythm assessment at sporting events using GDV method]. Adaptivnaya fizicheskaya kultura, 2016, no. 2 (66), pp. 2–5.
2. Bundzen P.V. Sovremennye tendentsii v razvitii tekhnologiy psikhicheskoy podgotovki sportsmenov [Modern trends in development of mental conditioning technologies for athletes]. Ezhegodny nauchny vestnik «Problemy sportivnoy nauki i fizkulturnogo obrazovaniya [Annual scientific bulletin "Problems of sport science and physical education]. St. Petersburg, 2000, pp. 40–44.
3. Bundzen P.V., Korotkov K.G., Balandin V.I. et al Innovatsionnye protsessy v razvitii tekhnologiy psikhicheskoy podgotovki i psikhodiagnostiki v olimpiyskom sporte [Innovative processes in development of mental conditioning technologies and psychodiagnostics in Olympic sport]. Teoriya i praktika fiz. kultury, 2001,no. 5, pp. 12–18.
4. Bundzen P.V., Zagrantsev V.V., Nazarov I.B. et al Geneticheskaya i psihofizicheskaya determinatsiya kvantovo polevogo urovnya bioenergetiki organizma [Genetic and psychophysical determination of quantum field level of body's bioenergy]. Teoriya i praktika fiz. kultury, 2002, no. 6, pp. 40–44.
5. Bundzen P.V., Korotkov K.G., Makarenko A.I. Rezultatyi i perspektivy ispolzovaniya tekhnologii kvantovoy biofiziki v podgotovke vysokokvalifitsirovannykh sportsmenov [Results and prospects of using quantum biophysics technology in training of elite athletes]. Teoriya i praktika fiz. kultury, 2003, no. 3, pp. 26–43.
6. Bundzen P.V., Korotkov K.G., Korotkova A.K. et al Psikhofiziologicheskie korrelyaty uspeshnosti sorevnovatelnoy deyatelnosti sportsmenov olimpiyskogo rezerva [Psychophysiological correlates of competitive success of Olympic reserve athletes]. Fiziologiya cheloveka, 2005, no. 31 (3), pp. 316–323.
7. Drodovskiy A.K., Gromova I.A., Korotkov K.G. Osobennosti psikhofiziologicheskoy adaptatsii paralimpiytsev k vysokogoryu i ikh svyaz so svoystvami nervnoy sistemy [Features of psychophysiological adaptation of Paralympic athletes to highlands and their relation to nervous system properties]. Adaptivnaya fizicheskaya kultura, 2013, no. 4 (56), pp. 43–46.
8. Korotkov K.G. Printsipy analiza v GRV bioelektrografii [Research principles in GDV bioelectrography]. St. Petersburg: Renome publ., 2007, 286 p.
9. Korotkov K.G., Korotkova A.K. Innovatsionnye tekhnologii v sporte: issledovanie psikhofiziologicheskogo sostoyaniya sportsmenov metodom gazorazryadnoy vizualizatsii [Innovative technologies in sports: study of psychophysiological condition of athletes using gas-discharge visualization]. Moscow: Sovetskiy sport publ., 2008, 278 p.
10. Bundzen P., Korotkov K., Massanova F., Kornycheva A., Diagnostics of Skilled Athletes Psycho-Physical Fitness by the Method of GDV: 5 th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science, Finland, Jyavaskyla, 2000:186.

Corresponding author: korotko2000@ gmail.com

Abstract

The article analyzes the history of the gas-discharge visualization method application in sports since the pioneering studies by Professor P.V. Bundzen in the late 1990s that showed benefits of the gas-discharge visualization method for the psycho-physiological performance and competitive fitness tests. The multiannual studies since then demonstrated benefits of the method for the competitive conditioning and forecasts as verified by the practical application experience of the Russian Paralympians. The 20-year-long practical experience of the gas-discharge visualization method application has been successful as verified by the psycho-physiological performance and competitive fitness tests and forecasts. For the last few years the gas-discharge visualization method has been increasingly and successfully applied in trainings of the Russian national Paralympic and Olympic teams. The method is being actively used in the US, Spain, Malaysia, Belorussia and Ukraine, with the Saint Petersburg Scientific Research Institute of Physical Culture analysts providing necessary consulting and practical support to the users.