Dr Mel Siff Blog

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The following article discusses use in weightlifting of the mental
preparation technique known as “autogenic training”.

Autogenic Training in the Heavy Training of Elite Weightlifters

Semuk A, Arkhangorodsky Z & Zaitsev Y

Weightlifting Yearbook 1982 (translated by Bud Charniga and available at
www.dynamic-eleiko.com)

It has been shown (AV Alexseyev, 1968, 1969, 1978; Zakharov, 1971; Filatova,
1975, 1979) that autogenic training (AT) is an important means of
restoration, a psychoprophylactic and a psychohygenic to the athlete’s body.
However, up to now few studies have investigated the effect of prophylactic
measures on the lifter’s body during training with large loads. Elite
weightlifters seldom utilize autogenic training.

The purpose of our work was to study the influence of modified (AT) on elite
weightlifters training with large loads.

Three Masters of Sport International Class (MSIC), 8 MS, and 3 candidates to
Master of Sport (CMS) in weightlifting ages 19-29 did autogenic training 2-3
times a day. They utilized the following verbal auto-suggestion scheme:

1. Introductory drills — tuning in to a state of impending rest or calm.
2. Relaxation, feeling heat and relaxation in arms, legs, pelvis, back,
stomach, chest, neck and face.
3. Regulation of respiratory and cardiovascular processes
4. Building confidence, a feeling of satisfaction and a positive attitude
towards heavy loads.
5. Mobilization and working-out of aims in the execution of the planned
training tasks.
6. Arousal.

After workouts, each athlete did autogenic training for a period of 17-21
minutes (depending upon the athlete’s individual state). Special attention
was given to the muscles which did the most work in executing the exercises.

We compared the effect of the autogenic training (AT) method in two 4-week
cycles [one cycle executed without (AT) and the other with (AT)] with
practical equivalently planned load volumes prior to two of the most
important competitions. The athletes’ trainability was approximately equal in
both periods of preparation.

The following tests were done on all the subjects before and after training
(at 1, 20, and 25 minutes) with those who were using and those who were not
using AT: heart rate (HR) – with a pulso-tachometer, palpating the radial
artery of the left wrist (70 measurements per subject); blood pressure (BP)
via the Korotkov method (56 measurements per subject); skin temperature – on
the back of the hand, in the same place with equal force using the Datchik
medical electrothermometer (70 measurements per subject); sensitivity,
activeness, mood (SAM) according to Doskin’s method (1973) (56
self-assessments).

With the usual restoration time (25 min) the indices measured did not return
to the initial levels. This is indicated by tracing the reaction in the
athletes’ body (Vinogradov, 1941; Krestovnikov, 1951; Yakovlev, 1969;
Vorobyev, 1977; Volkov, 1977).

It is obvious from the table (not shown here) that heart rate returns to the
initial level by the 25th minute when AT was utilized and is 12 beats above
this level when AT was not used. No significant difference was discovered in
maximal (BP) after relaxation with AT or without use of AT. The minimal BP
value after AT decreased to the initial level and was 4.3 mm of mercury
higher without it. Skin temperature was higher than the initial level with or
without AT. At 20 minutes heart rate was lower than initial levels with AT
and averaged 68.7 ± 1.7 beats/min and was 92.4 ± 2.2 without AT. Skin
temperature with AT was 35.7 ± 0.5 deg C and without it, 33.0 ± 0.60 deg C.

Based upon the data obtained it can be assumed that the restoration processes
in the athletes’ body is strengthened with the use of autogenic training

Sensitivity, activeness and mood significantly improved after workouts when
AT was utilized. Restoration of heart rate and minimal BP occurs faster after
resting with AT. It should also be noted that the training load executed with
the use of autogenic training was 11% larger than the one without it.

The effectiveness of our modified autogenic training is indicative of the
appropriateness of its use in the contemporary training process.

Dr Mel Siff
Denver, USA
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Supertraining/

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