Methods of Increasing Statokinetic Stability in Racers using

Normobaric Hypoxia and Neck Muscle Training

Alexander Bolotin

, Vladislav Bakayev

and Leonid Buynov

Institute of Physical Education, Sports and Tourism, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University,

St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

The Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

Keywords: Racers, Statokinetic Resistance, Normobaric Hypoxia, Neck Muscle Training.

Abstract: In recent years, against the background of a significant improvement in the equipment of pilots,

improvement of technical characteristics of cars, a significant increase in the speed of movement of race

drivers on the highway has been noted. At the same time, the psychophysiological capabilities of athletes

remained virtually unchanged. This discrepancy, in turn, led to the fact that when the dynamic factors of the

race and the speed of movement on the track are excessively affected, the athlete's body is affected by forces

that impair not only its functional state, but also negatively affect competitive activity. To improve

statokinetic stability of the experimental group subjects, a within a month normobaric hypoxia training

course in combination with cervical muscle exercises was used. The control group subjects were given

“fake” normobaric hypoxia courses and performed no dedicated cervical muscle exercise. The results of the

study showed that the experimental group subjects who received normobaric hypoxia in combination with

cervical muscle exercise demonstrated a reliably improved continuous cumulation of Coriolis acceleration

(CCCA) tolerance time (versus initial measurements). Besides, there was a decrease in the manifestation

degree of vestibulosensory, vestibulovegetative, and vestibulosomatic reactions, which generally indicates

improvement of CCCA tolerance in this group of subjects. athletes.

1 INTRODUCTION

Currently, the most important conditions for

achieving high results in the world of big sports is

the presence of a sufficient amount of psycho-

physiological reserves, a good functional state and a

high level of performance in an athlete.

Especially important is the presence of the

optimal state of the above-mentioned psycho-

physiological characteristics for athletes-racers,

whose competitive activity is associated with high

voltage psycho-physiological functions of the body

during movement on the track at high speeds.

During the competition race car drivers Formula 1

speed of movement on the highway exceeds 300 km

per hour. Pilots have great overloads and, against

this background, they must make the right decisions

for the minimum amount of time during a

competitive fight. Such activities place high

demands on the psycho-physiological systems of the

pilot's body.

Researches of some scientists provides evidence

that excessive exposure to dynamic loads negatively

influences the bioelectric cerebral cortex activity and

conditioned reflexes, memory and attention,

emotional responses and orientation in space.

Meanwhile, the time on the race track, as well as the

number of mistakes, including gross mistakes,

affecting the safety of the athlete’s racers movement,

increases.

This circumstance dictates the need to search for

new effective means and methods for training of

race drivers directed at improvement of their

functional state and the level of their physical

performance (Bakaev et al., 2015, Bolotin &

Bakayev, 2016, Dong, 2016, Malcata & Hopkins,

2014, Wrigley, 2015, Bolotin & Bakayev, 2017,

Bolotin & Bakayev, 2018, Gorshova, et al., 2017,

Ivashchenko, et al., 2017, Bakaev, et al., 2016, Bakaev,

et al., 2018). This is related to a high degree of

manifestation of sensory, vegetative and somatic

components of statokinetic reactions in race drivers.

The physiologic methods currently used for

improvement of the functional state and physical

performance of athletes, as a rule, directly influence

various physiologic systems of race drivers. Such

Bolotin, A., Bakayev, V. and Buynov, L.

Methods of Increasing Statokinetic Stability in Racers using Normobaric Hypoxia and Neck Muscle Training.

DOI: 10.5220/0008198001670172

In Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support (icSPORTS 2019), pages 167-172

ISBN: 978-989-758-383-4

167

methods include, inter alia, the method of

normobaric hypoxia training which, apart from

improving athletes’ tolerance to a lack of oxygen, is

used to enhance their bodies’ resistive and adaptive

capability to adverse effects of a number of other

agents (Mao, et al., 2014, Mekjavic, et al., 2016,

Gonggalanzi, et al., 2017, Naeije, 2014).

Currently, despite availability of a detailed

description of mechanisms of negative impact of

hypoxia on organs and tissues, in certain conditions

it can also be regarded as a driver of expansion of

physiologic ranges of functional systems and

facilitate improvement of athletes’

psychophysiologic capabilities. The use of

normobaric hypoxic training in combination with the

training of individual muscle groups can lead to an

optimization of the functional state of athletes and

an increase in their working capacity (Bolotin, &

Bakayev, 2017a, Bolotin, & Bakayev, 2017b,

Bolotin, & Bakayev, 2017c).

The aim of this research was to develop a

methodology for the use of normobaric hypoxia in

combination with special training of the neck

muscles, with race drivers, to increase their

statokinetic resistance to competitive activity.

2 ORGANIZATION AND

METHODS

The research was performed at the Department of

Medical and Valeological Specialties in Herzen

State Pedagogical University of Russia and the

Institute of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism in

Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic

University. Its subjects were race drivers aged 18–20

in whom the continuous cumulation of Coriolis

acceleration (hereinafter “CCCA”) test tolerance

time amounted to less than two minutes.

At the initial stage of the experiment, all the

subjects were introduced to the plan and procedure

of the forthcoming research, and the methods it

used. All subjects provided voluntary written

consent to participate in the experiment.

Next, random sampling was used to form two

groups of subjects: the experimental group (n-11)

and the control group (n-14). Subsequently the

experimental group subject were engaged in a within

one month course of normobaric hypoxia training

(hereinafter “NBHT”) in combination with dedicated

cervical muscle exercises (hereinafter “DCME”).

The control group subjects received “fake” courses

of NBHT and performed no DCME.

After a month-long experiment, all subjects were

re-examined in their original volume. Then the

survey in the original volume was repeated after one,

two and three months after the end of the

experiment.

In the course of the experiment, the CCCA test

tolerance time was determined using the procedure

and evaluation according to the traditional R. Barany

chair method.

The severity of sensory, vegetative, and somatic

components of statokinetic reactions was also

assessed. It was determined with the help of the

scoring system developed by us: 0 - no sensations; 1

- mild; 2 - strong sensations.

In the experimental group (EG) for the NBHT

we used the Bionova-Nova-204, AF system (Russia).

The NBHT was performed in a course of 14

sessions. Duration of each session was 30 minutes.

During the first session, the subjects were

administered hypoxic gas mix with 17.0% oxygen

content. During the following four sessions, oxygen

content was reduced to 1.0–2.0%. Starting from the

fifth session to the end of the NBHT course, oxygen

content in the hypoxic gas mix was maintained at the

level of 12.0–14.0%.

The DCME method included two exercises in the

supine position. In Exercise No.1, the subject was

supine on the gymnastic bench, with the head poised

(earphone helmet loaded with 500 g weight

prevented engagement of muscles adducting the

head to the chest). In Exercise No.2, a rubber band,

secured around the head with the loose end

protracting from the back of the head, was fixed 0.8

meters higher than the bench level, preventing

engagement of muscles extending the head. In both

exercises the subject evenly tilted the head upward

and downward, making one movement in two

seconds, with the tilt angle of 30.0°, duration of each

exercise 5 minutes, and break between exercises also

5 minutes.

Immediately after CCCA, the ST-02 stabilograph

was used for the subjects to perform a static

stabilometric test in the integrated functional

computer stabilography (hereinafter “SST IFCS”),

consisting of two tests: test No.1 was performed

with the eyes open and gaze of the subject fixed on

the remote (5 m) object; test No.2 was performed

with the eyes closed. The duration of tests amounted

to 20 seconds, with the break of 1 minute between

them. The following parameters were captured: the

average rate of increase of the statokinesiogram

length and area, oscillation amplitude (hereinafter

“OA”), coefficient of asymmetry (hereinafter “CA”)

of the projection of the common center of gravity

icSPORTS 2019 - 7th International Conference on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support

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(hereinafter “PCCG”) in the frontal and sagittal

planes and directions.

Statistical processing of the obtained data was

performed using Microsoft Excel software kit

according with accepted standards. For each sample

of parameters, numerical distribution characteristics

were calculated. The statistical significance of

difference between the compared samples was

evaluated using the parametric Student’s t-test.

3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The results obtained in the course of the experiment

justify a conclusion that the monthly combined use

of NBHT and DCME reliably improved CCCA

tolerance in the subjects of the experimental group.

This was accompanied by a reduced degree of

manifestation of sensory, vegetative and somatic

components of statokinetic reactions (Table 1).

As seen from Table 1, in the open eyes test there

was a reliable decrease in the parameters descriptive

of the rate of increase in the length (by 11.3%) and

area (by 12.4%) of the statokinesiogram, OA PCCG

in the frontal (by 14.1%) and sagittal (by 12.7%)

planes, CA in the frontal (by 13.6%) and sagittal (by

11.9%) directions. At the same time, in the closed

eyes test there was no statistically significant

difference between the parameter values before and

after course use of NBHT and DCME.

In comparison with the initial measurements, the

CCCA test tolerance time was improved by 93.7%.

Moreover, there was a 42.8% reduction in

parameters descriptive of heat sensation, 43.7%

reduction in head heaviness sensation, 57.2%

reduction in vertigo sensations, and 53.7% reduction

in stomach discomfort. Besides, there was a

reduction in hypersalivation by 54.3%, hyperhidrosis

by 53.7%, manifestation degree of protective

movements by 47.9%, and time of post-rotation

nystagmus by 17.8%.

The observed positive dynamics in the above-

listed parameters indicates that the experimental

group test subjects could tolerate CCCA loads on the

R. Barany chair longer and easier.

The obtained dynamics is concordant with the

nature of change in parameters obtained during SST

IFCS which the subjects underwent after the CCCA

test (Table 2).

One of the tasks we intended to solve by the

experiment was to determine the duration of the

achieved effect from the monthly combined use of

NBHT and DCME. To this end, after the course

performance of NBHT and DCME, the subjects

were retested in one, two and three months.

The analysis of the obtained data shows that the

highest value of CCCA tolerance time in the

experimental group subjects was reached

immediately after course application of NBHT and

DCME; later its values started to gradually decrease

and were back to the initial level by the end of the

third month (Figure 1).

Simultaneously there was a reduction of basal

metabolism and more economical use of oxygen by

tissues. These changes helped expand reserve

capabilities of the body’s functional systems and

increase physical performance of athletes (Hackett,

& Rennie, 2016, Luks, et al., 2017).

Table 1: Tested Functional Parameters for Subjects “Before” and “After” monthly Use of NBHT in Combination with

DCME (X±δ).

Test

parameters

Experimental

group

Control

group

Before

After

Before

After

CCCA tolerance time (seconds)

109.7±5.7

213.4±9.7*

98.5±6.6

98.9±7.5

Heat sensation (points)

0.5±0.05

0.3±0.04*

0.4±0.06

0.4±0.05

Head heaviness sensation (points)

0.5±0.06

0.3±0.07*

0.5±0.06

0.5±0.07

Vertigo sensation (points)

0.4±0.06

0.2±0.05*

0.4±0.05

0.4±0.06

Stomach discomfort (points)

0.4±0.05

0.2±0.06*

0.4±0.07

0.4±0.08

Hypersalivation degree (points)

0.6±0.05

0.3±0.06*

0.5±0.07

0.5±0.08

Hyperhidrosis degree (points)

0.4±0.04

0.2±0.05

0.4±0.06

0.4±0.07

Protective movements (points)

0.7±0.08

0.4±0.06*

0.6±0.07

0.6±0.08

Nystagmus duration (seconds)

21.0±3.3

17.3±3.5*

20.1±3.5

20.0±3.7

Number of subjects

Note: - reliability of differences: * - p<0.05 versus initial parameter values.

Methods of Increasing Statokinetic Stability in Racers using Normobaric Hypoxia and Neck Muscle Training

169

Table 2: SST IFCS Parameters for Subjects “Before” and “After” monthly use of NBHT in combination with DCME (X±δ).

Test

Parameters

Experimental

group

Control

Group

Before

After

Before

After

Open eyes test

Length increase rate (mm/s)

41.2±1.8

37.4±1.7*

38.5±2.3

39.0±2.0

Area increase rate (mm²/s)

68.4±3.4

61.3±3.3*

62.4±4.1

61.3±4.8

OA PCCG, frontal plane (mm)

6.8±0.4

5.9±0.3*

6.3±0.6

6.4±0.5

OA PCCG, sagittal plane (mm)

7.1±0.3

6.3±0.4*

6.4±0.7

6.6±0.8

CA, frontal direction (%)

7.4±0.4

6.4±0.5*

6.6±0.6

6.8±0.7

CA, sagittal direction (%)

7.6±0.3

6.7±0.4*

7.3±0.6

7.2±0.7

Closed eyes test

Length increase rate (mm/s)

46.2±4.5

44.3±4.6

44.4±5.1

43.6±4.9

Area increase rate (mm²/s)

64.3±5.5

62.0±4.8

69.8±5.4

60.1±5.0

OA PCCG, frontal plane (mm)

8.0±0.8

8.0±0.9

7.7±0.8

7.5±0.8

OA PCCG, sagittal plane (mm)

7.5±0.7

7.4±0.8

8.2±0.7

8.1±0.8

CA, frontal direction (%)

7.4±0.9

7.3±0.8

7.8±0.8

7.9±0.7

CA, sagittal direction (%)

7.2±0.8

7.1±0.9

8.1±0.9

8.0±0.8

Note: Reliability of differences: * p<0.05 versus initial parameter values.

Note: Reliability of differences: * - p<0,05 versus initial parameter values.

Figure 1: The CCCA test tolerance time in the experimental group subjects “Before”, “After”, and in 1, 2, and 3 months

following the course use of NBHT in combination with DCME (in seconds).

On the cellular level, the body responded by

enhancing the capacity of the energy supply system

due to the increase of mitochondria count and

activation of the respiratory chain ferments.

Therefore, improvement of non-specific

resistance of the body emerging as a result of

adaptation to normobaric hypoxia induces a whole

array of physiologic changes in race driver. These

changes play an important role in correction of the

athletes’ functional state and optimization of

capabilities of organs and systems in athletes

(Pieralisi, 2017, Mao, 2014).

Finally, this mechanism plays a role of a critical

link in the chain of adaptation changes and

ultimately facilitates improvement of tolerance to

statokinetic exposures and reduction of the

manifestation degree of sensory, vegetative and

somatic reactions (Gonggalanzi, et al., 2017,

Hopkins, et al., 2009, Luks, et al., 2017).

In their turn, physical exercises in the form of

regular and adequately selected types of loads assist

enhancement of the vascular tone, improve the

cardiovascular and external respiratory function.

They optimize gas exchange and redox processes,

thereby improving bioelectric activity and

reinforcing excitatory processes in the structures of

the central nervous system, facilitating overall

100

150

200

250

Before the

study

After research In one month After two

months

In three

months

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enhancement of the stamina and physical

performance of the body race drivers.

It has been established that the increase of

statokinetic stability under the influence of DCME is

caused by the change in the sensitivity threshold of

the vestibular, visual, interoceptive, tactile and

proprioceptive analyzers (Wrigley, 2015).

In turn, this improves tolerance to statokinetic

loads through faster and more adequate build-up of a

single statokinetic stability system in athletes.

4 CONCLUSIONS

1) The use of NBHT in combination with DCME

during the month of training significantly increases

the tolerance time of the CCCA test, while reducing

the severity of the sensory, vegetative and somatic

components of the statokinetic reactions of the race

drivers.

2) The highest value of the time of portability of

CCCA is noted immediately after the monthly use of

NBHT in combination with DCME. The achieved

effect lasts for two months, then gradually decreases

to baseline. This indicates the need for such training

with racers at the final stage of the preparatory

period for competitive activities.

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