Elite Athletes Should Put The Electronics Down When Travelling

A doctor is recommending athletes travelling across time zones should resist the temptation to use electronic devices when jetlagged.

According to Dr. Marco Cardinale the problem is the light emitted by the devices (DVD players, iPods, DS, PCs) that affects the part of the brain that controls your circadian rhythm. Athletes don’t recover from jet lag quickly.

As well, the doctor believes that video games also have “interesting physiological effects.” He cites a study where children who played minutes Need for Speed—Most Wanted for an hour  had impaired sleep patterns and a reduction in verbal cognitive performance.

But he doesn’t think video games are bad. It’s just there’s a proper time and place for them. Dr. Cardinale offers four tips to athletes who game. See the list after the break.

1. If your are travelling to train and compete and are crossing time zones, avoid using your laptop, DVD player, Ipod and similar tools and video games devices during the night. Get back to sleep!
2. If you are training and or competing the following day, avoid all of the above the night before such activities (training and competing) take place.
3. Recovery time is meant to be for rest and piece. You don’t want to play street fighter with your best mate and have your blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol levels go sky high because you lose!
4. There is a time and place and most of all a duration for your gaming and computing activities, make sure you don’t negatively affect your performance because of that!

[Sports and Fitness Science via GamePolitics]