Acute Effects of Brief Mindfulness Intervention Coupled with Carbohydrate Ingestion to Re-Energize Soccer Players: A Randomized Crossover Trial

Yuxin Zhu, Fenghua Sun, Chunxiao Li and Daniel Hung Kay Chow
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Yuxin Zhu: Department of Health and Physical Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Fenghua Sun: Department of Health and Physical Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Chunxiao Li: School of Physical Education & Sports Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
Daniel Hung Kay Chow: Department of Health and Physical Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 23, 1-11

Abstract: Background: This field experiment investigated the acute effects of brief mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) coupled with carbohydrate (CHO) intake on players’ recovery from half-time break in a simulated soccer competition. Methods: In a single-blinded randomized crossover experiment, 14 male players received 3 treatments (Control: non-carbohydrate solution + travelling introduction audio; CHO: CHO–electrolyte solution + travelling introduction audio; and CHO_M: CHO–electrolyte solution + MBI) during simulated half-time breaks. Vertical jump, sprint performance, mindfulness level, rate of perceived exertion, muscle pain, mental fatigue, blood glucose, and lactate were measured immediately before, during, and after the exercise. Results: (1) MBI significantly increased participants’ mindfulness level (Control vs. CHO_M, p < 0.01; CHO vs. CHO_M, p < 0.01) and decreased mental fatigue for CHO_M condition (pre vs. post, p < 0.01); (2) participants in the CHO_M condition performed better in the repeated sprint tests than in the Control and CHO condition (Control vs. CHO_M, p = 0.02; CHO vs. CHO_M, p = 0.02). Conclusion: Findings of this study provide preliminary evidence of the positive effect of MBI coupled with CHO ingestion on athletes’ recovery from fatigue in the early stage of the second half of a game.

Keywords: recovery; team sport; fatigue (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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