On the mechanism of meditation effects on sports

Introduction

Meditation is an excellent relaxation technique with regard to exercise reactivity and recovery after exercise. It is found that meditation training may modify the suppressive influence of strenous physical stress on the immune system [1], may enhance competitive shooting performance [2] , may reduce the lactate response to a standardised exercise bout [3]. The mechanism of meditation effects on sports was studied in this paper.

Methods

Noakes et al [4] have reviewed the evidence that peak cardiovascular function is reduced during maximal exercise in both acute and chronic hypoxia with no evidence for any primary alterations in myocardial function. Since peak skeletal muscle electromyographic activity is also reduced during hypoxia, these data support a model in which a central, neural governor constrains the cardiac output by regulating the mass of skeletal muscle that can be activated during maximal exercise in both acute and chronic hypoxia [4]. Recently, fatigue was further described as a conscious sensation rather than a physiological occurrence by St Clair Gibson et al [5]. The model of Noakes et al [4] was used to understand the mechanism of meditation effects on sports in terms of quantum mechanics in this paper.

Results

A free particle model of quantum mechanics was put forward to explain meditation effects on sports by using the model of Noakes TD et al [4]. The most ideal spiritual state of athlete is a free particle so that he can do anything according to its law. There are many potential wells for a general athlete so that he can not do anything exactly according to its law due to his prejudice. The more potential wells there are, the worse his performance in sports is. Meditation training can help an athlete to reduce the number of potential wells, i.e., to reduce his prejudice, and to improve body-mind synchronization. The less potential wells, the better his performance in sports is.

Discussion / Conclusions

Meditation might optimize performance in sports.

References

[1] Solberg EE, Halvorsen R, Sundgot-Borgen J, Ingjer F, Holen A. (1995). Meditation: a modulator of the immune response to physical stress? A brief report. Br J Sports Med. 29(4):255-7.
[2] Solberg EE, Berglund KA, Engen O, Ekeberg O, Loeb M. (1996). The effect of meditation on shooting performance. Br J Sports Med. 30(4):342-6.
[3] Solberg EE, Ingjer F, Holen A, Sundgot-Borgen J, Nilsson S, Holme I. (2000). Stress reactivity to and recovery from a standardised exercise bout: a study of 31 runners practising relaxation techniques. Br J Sports Med. 34(4):268-72.
[4] Noakes TD, Peltonen JE, Rusko HK. (2001). Evidence that a central governor regulates exercise performance during acute hypoxia and hyperoxia. J Exp Biol. 204(Pt 18):3225-34.
[5] St Clair Gibson A, Baden DA, Lambert MI, Lambert EV, Harley YX, Hampson D, Russell VA, Noakes TD. (2003). The conscious perception of the sensation of fatigue. Sports Med. 33(3):167-76.
* It is supported by Guangdong Science Foundation of China (20031526) and Guangdong Qibaishi Fellow Foundation(Q02087).
# correspondence author: liutcy@scnu.edu.cn