Mood responses to athletic performance in extreme environments

Abstract

Competition at elite level can require athletes to perform optimally in extreme environmental conditions. The present review focuses on mood responses in such conditions and proposes practical guidelines for those working with athletes. Different environments are considered, including altitude and extreme heat and cold.Performing in extreme heat, cold or at altitude can produce a stress response characterised by increased negative mood and relatively poor performance. Positive adaptations to extreme conditions can be accelerated but the rate of adaptation appears to be highly individualised. Monitoring mood responses to training under normal conditions provides a basis for identifying the psychological effects of extreme conditions. It is suggested that practitioners carefully monitor the interplay between vigour, fatigue, and depressed mood. Reductions in vigour and increases in fatigue are normal responses to hard training but other aspects of mood disturbance, especially symptoms of depressed mood, however small, may be indicative of a maladaptive response, and practitioners should consider intervening when such symptoms first appear.

Exercise performed at hypoxia influences mood state and anxiety symptoms

“…In the study from Piehl Aulin, Svedenhag, Wide, Berglund, and Saltin (1998), 15 volunteers were exposed to 2,000 or 2,700 m above sea level. The authors found that living in a hypoxic environment for 12 hours/day and maintaining a training load in normoxic conditions did not negatively affect mood state (Lane, Terry, Stevens, Barney, & Dinsdale, 2004). This discrepancy may be explained by the fact that our study was performed at a higher altitude (equivalent to 4,500 m).…”

Mood changes in individuals who regularly participate in various forms of physical activity

“…One of the scientific papers that stands out in this regard is LeUnes' study [21], in which the author presents 57 scientific papers on this subject. Significant changes in mood and emotion are noted among athletes who take part in intensive exercise whether as a part of training or athletic competition [21][22][23][24]. A large group of scientists versed in physical therapy stress the value of physical activity when dealing with anxiety, depression or pessimistic behavior [5,[25][26][27][28].…”

Estado de humor e periodização de treinamento: um estudo com atletas fundistas de alto rendimento

“…O perfil iceberg apresentado pelos atletas durante os períodos de treinamento também sugere uma boa adaptação às cargas de treinamento pelas quais estavam passando, uma vez que, além de manterem o vigor alto, apresentaram valores mais baixos e estáveis de depressão e fadiga (Gráfico 1), características que têm sido associadas a uma boa adaptação às cargas de treinamento (LANE et al, 2004).…”

“…Reduções no vigor e aumentos na fadiga podem ser respostas normais a treinamentos árduos, porém essa situação ocorrer com aumento na depressão pode ser um indicativo de resposta de má adaptação às cargas de treinamento (LANE et al, 2004 …”