Improving athletic performance usually means fine-tuning any number of aspects of training, from preparation and nutrition to recovery. Coaches and sport scientists break down countless hours of analysis in cardiovascular training, muscular and movement efficiency, yet still something remains overlooked that is understood to impact every aspect of sports and athletic performance: vascular health. The vascular system is the network of transportation in the body. It manages the transportation of oxygen, and nutrients to the muscle, as well as the transportation of waste. Healthy blood vessels determine the effectiveness in the performance, recovery, and adaptive response of the body from any physical activity. This reliance on vascular health remains even if a person is a professional athlete or if a person is just an everyday active person. Vascular health remains the foundation, and its support of athletic performance goes unnoticed, behind the scenes, while strength, and endurance dominate the spotlight. This dominance of vascular health support is even more pronounced in long-term athletic health and performance. Once athletes recognize and appreciate the support of vascular health, the more they will be able to expand the wellness and health that they will be able to achieve. The vascular system includes the heart as well as arteries, veins, and capillaries. The heart and arteries in conjunction with veins and capillaries work together as blood is full of oxygen and is transported away from the heart to the rest of the body. The wastes that are depleted of oxygen and are returned to the heart from the body via veins as they are exchanged with nutrients in tissues along with capillaries. Athletes rely on a system that functions seamlessly with every movement. Muscles change their demands for oxygen during exercise. To meet the demand, blood vessels enlarge, the heart pumps faster, and blood […]
Introduction: The Missing Piece in Athletic Success When improving performance, athletes and fitness buffs dedicate time to practices for strength and endurance, proper nutrition and recovery, and mental preparation. Training programs, biochemical analyses, and nutrition plans create individualized customs for optimal performance. There is one aspect of health, though, that is often neglected, despite its importance. That is the health of the circulatory system. The body’s ability to deliver oxygen and nutrition to muscles is critical to the performance of every movement from sprinters leaving the blocks, to cyclists on climbs. This is accomplished by the circulatory system. When the circulatory system runs at optimal performance, so do muscles. Circulation that is compromised can lead to decreased endurance and performance, increased fatigue, and longer recovery times. Although circulation health is critical, it is often neglected and only considered when symptoms are apparent. The performance of athletes can be optimized if the relationship between circulation health and athletic ability is understood by athletes, trainers, and health care practitioners. Understanding the Role of Circulation in Athletic Performance The circulatory system is the transportation system of the body. Arteries, which are responsible for oxygenated blood, carry blood to the body and veins are responsible for carrying deoxygenated blood to the lungs and back to the heart. The need for oxygen and nutrients skyrockets during physical activity. Muscles need a steady fuel supply for proper function and to sustain contraction. Likewise, for optimal performance, waste byproducts need to exit the body to control fatigue and remove waste. Good circulation means your body has the ability to transport the required elements for and remove the byproducts of physical activity. During exercise, blood flow begins to increase to supply the fuel required to help the body support the activity while also helping normalize the body temperature. […]
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