The influence of biofeedback training on the physiological, sensorimotor functions of athletes and technical indicators of kata performance in martial arts

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Kovaleva A.V.
Federal Research Center for Original and Prospective Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Moscow

Toloraya N.G.
The Russian University of Sport «GTSOLIFK», Moscow
Federal Research Center for Original and Prospective Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Moscow

Belousov I.A.
The Russian University of Sport «GTSOLIFK», Moscow
Federal Research Center for Original and Prospective Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Moscow

Andreeva A.M.
The Russian University of Sport «GTSOLIFK», Moscow
Federal Research Center for Original and Prospective Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Moscow

Objective of the study is to evaluate the impact of HRV-BFB training on physiological, sensorimotor and technical indicators of kata performance in professional athletes.
Methods and structure of the study. Athletes in the BFB group (n=20) underwent HRV-BFB training in combination with home training in slow abdominal breathing at a resonant frequency, and athletes in the relax group (n=20) watched relaxation videos instead of training. Before and after the impact (BFB or relaxation video), athletes underwent testing of sensorimotor functions (simple visual-motor reaction, choice reaction, reaction to a moving object, tremorometry), assessment of background physiological indicators (heart rate by photoplethysmogram with calculation of HRV indicators, breathing) and performed a set of kata, which was then assessed by video recording by three judges in the corresponding sport.
Results and conclusions. After the intervention, the BFB group showed a significant decrease in hand tremor indices (frequency and number of touches), as well as an increase in the average judges' scores for kata performance. In the relax group, the LFn.u. value significantly increased and HFn.u. decreased, which may reflect an increase in the tension of regulatory mechanisms. Thus, compared with the comparison group (relax), athletes who underwent BFB training aimed at increasing HRV and breathing control demonstrated positive changes in some sensorimotor functions and in the effectiveness of kata performance.

Keywords: athletes, martial arts, BFB training, resonant frequency breathing, heart rate variability, sensorimotor functions, effectiveness.

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