Alcohol and Athletic Performance
Jeudi, Septembre 23, 2010 - 09:19
There has been a lot written on the association between alcohol and athletes. A recent article into the SIRC Collection discusses the physiological aspects alcohol consumption and its impacts on athletic performance from a nutritionist’s perspective.
Alcohol affects each organ in the body and is related to a number of diseases. While the amount of alcohol consumed and cumulative effects of alcohol consumption factor in to its impact on performance, there are a number of ways that alcohol can impair performance.
- Sports-related injuries can occur due to a reduction in cognitive function, balance and motor control
- Regular consumption can depress the immune function, slowing down healing rate and causing athletes to become more susceptible to infections
- Acute consumption leads to impairments in motor skills and physical performance
- Even low levels of alcohol can slow reaction time and decrease hand-eye coordination
- Alcohol can weaken the pumping force of the heart, impair temperature regulation during exercise, decrease grip strength, and decrease time to fatigue
- Dehydration can occur due to alcohol’s diuretic properties
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Position Statement on the Use of Alcohol in Sports emphasizes that use of alcohol can be detrimental to athletic performance and recommends that alcohol be avoided for at least 48 hours prior to an event and that post-exercise an athlete should rehydrate properly with water and/or sports beverages before any alcohol consumption.
Reference: Volpe, Stella Lucia (2010). Alcohol and Athletic Performance, ACSM’s health & fitness journal, 14(3),28-30.
