Buteyko and Sports

"Lack of physical activity is as harmful as lack of vitamins, water or food. 3 hours of good physical labour per day with perspiration or the equivalent physical activity, this is the norm for the average person" (K.P. Buteyko).

If you are a healthy athlete

soccer matchIf you are an athlete striving to improve your performance, there is no doubt you will benefit from normalization of breathing. One of the main goals of athletic training is to achieve maximum endurance in high demand physical activities without exhausting your body and jeopardizing your physical health.

For example, there is a "finish line" paradox. Why do the winners of many sport contests have relatively light breathing at the finish line? They worked at the hardest energy production rate in relation to their weights, but breathed less and are less tired after crossing the finish line. Those who are a little bit behind breathe harder. Finally, those who are the last ones show very heavy labored breathing and often fall from exhaustion. Moreover, some of them can have heart or asthma attacks. Similarly, when a group of people, for example, run, ski, or cycle together, one of the athletes may start panting. Experience of the other athletes would immediately tell them that this athlete would not be able to keep the pace. He/she is going to give up. Why? Heavier breathing means greater anaerobic metabolism and production of lactic acid that drives respiration up causing the suppressed Bohr effect, vasoconstriction and other symptoms of hyperventilation. (Artour Rachimov)

Whether you are an amateur or professional athlete, incorporating Buteyko principals into your training routine and into your lifestyle will help to excel in sports through a power of healthy physiology rather than through a strain and overtraining.

If you have never been diagnosed with asthma, but having EIA symptoms during sports activities

If you suffer from shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, cough and other asthma symptoms only while performing physical activity, you are not alone. Startling numbers were revealed by Ohio State University research. Study discovered signs of exercise-induced asthma in more than one-third of college athletes assessed for breathing problems. 85% of them had no prior history of asthma.

According to a Minneapolis Public School survey 2002

  • 91% of P.E. teachers have seen students carry and use inhalers before P.E. class
  • 68% observed students going to the health office before P.E. class
  • 100% observed inhaler use during P.E.
  • 24% observed students using someone else’s inhaler
  • 77% observed students going to the health office or using their inhaler after P.E. class for asthma symptoms

    • Exercise induced asthma (or EIA) causes breathing difficulty usually few minutes after starting intense physical activity or shortly after stopping. It is more common among children than adults. Sports that require continuous activity or sports that involve cold weather activities, like soccer, basketball, long-distance running, cross-country skiing or hockey are more likely to trigger EIA.

    You don't have to stay behind your peers or to avoid physical activities because of EIA. At AsthmaCare workshops you'll learn how to beat Exercise Induced Asthma and fully reach your athletic potential.

    If you have been diagnosed with asthma and exercise trigger symptoms

    Estimated 90% of asthmatics have EIA. With moderate to severe asthma, symptoms could be triggered even by a slightest exertion. For that reason, a (certainly understandable) mistake many asthma sufferers make is that they avoid physical activities altogether.

    However, when done properly, physical activity is an essential part of every asthmatic's recovery. AsthmaCare program addresses every aspect of asthma management, including EIA. Moreover, AsthmaCare practitioner will devise a step by step guide for you, in which exercise will become a healing force rather than a stressor.

    Considerations for some popular activities

    Swimming

    swimmingTraditionally swimming has been considered the best sports for asthma. One explanation offered was that moist and warm air of indoor swimming pools relaxes and warms up the airways, as opposed to dry and cold air inhaled during winter sports. From the Buteyko theory point of view, swimming is naturally promoting longer breath holds, thus accumulating more Carbon Dioxide, which is a natural airway relaxant.

    Swimming is an excellent aerobic activity for any age. Unfortunately, many asthmatics have sensitive airways and might react to chlorine fumes of indoor pools' water.

    Yoga

    yogaThere is no doubt in the benefits of Yoga, which probably, other than walking, became the most recommended physical activity by traditional and holistic doctors everywhere. The beauty of Yoga is that it is non competitive, widely adjustable for any age or health condition, yet with persistent practice has a potential to build your strength and flexibility to a highest degree. It addresses posture correction, which in turn promotes healthier breathing.

    What about "deep" breathing during Yoga? K.P Buteyko considered that many points of Yoga breathing teaching, Pranayama, have been misinterpreted during adaptation to the West. It is known, that Yoga masters have been trained to hold their breath for several minutes, thus achieving "superhuman" state of ultimate health. "Pranayama" literally means "creating a pause in the movement of breath". K.P Buteyko believed that besides obvious fitness benefits, yoga is very helpful because many static postures (asanas) promote natural breath holds.

    Gym Workout / Exercise Groups

    workoutFor a person not involved in professional sports, community based Health Clubs and fitness programs are a great way to incorporate exercise in everyday life. Unfortunately, a belief that deep breathing, often misinterpreted as big breathing, is good for you, is extremely widespread. If you have a history of asthma, repeated big breaths without justifying aerobic activity could contribute to the incidence of EIA. Proper warm up and nasal breathing should become a foundation of any workout.

    Healthy athletes are winning athletes!
    Contact Practitoner to introduce the Buteyko Method to your athletic team.