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After arriving in Tokyo, Poles had to face not only a different climate, but also a radical change of time. How did they handle it? Have they all recovered? For MedTvoiLokony explains the drug. Krzesimir Sieczych, a specialist who cares for the health of Polish swimmers in Tokyo. On a daily basis, the orthopedist works at the Carolina Medical Center.
- Moving to a different climatic zone has an impact on the human body
- The symptoms of jet lag are particularly acute in the context of athletes – they must start training soon after landing
- They get really little time for acclimatization. Everyone deals with it in their own way
- More information can be found on the Onet homepage.
Specialist in orthopedics and traumatology of the musculoskeletal system. National Team Doctor in swimming. Tokyo Olympic team orthopaedist. He specializes in surgical and conservative treatment of sports injuries and injuries. Most often he performs arthroscopy of the knee, ankle and shoulder joints as well as repair operations on tendons and muscles. Cooperates with physiotherapists and motor preparation trainers. Works at the Carolina Medical Center.
Agnieszka Mazur-Puchała, Medonet: Competitors traveling to Tokyo had to face radical changes – different climate, latitude, jet lag. How does the human body react to such revolutions?
Lek. Krzesimir Sieczych, orthopedic traumatologist: We are used to thinking that athletes are “superhumans,” but the laws of biology are inexorable and athletes are prone to jet lag like any other human.
The most common symptoms of jet lag are sleep disturbance, exhaustion, drowsiness, headache, malaise, lack of appetite, digestive problems, and impaired concentration. The cause is a disturbance in homeostasis, i.e. the internal balance of the body caused by a rapid change of time zones.
A more “severe” jet lag occurs after traveling east – then the day gets longer. Everyone endures symptoms differently and at different times their body will normalize, people leading a regular lifestyle usually suffer from lag worse.
How long does it take for the body to tune in to such changes? What is recommended for athletes during acclimatization?
The organism’s adjustment speed is approximately one day for each changed time zone. In order to minimize symptoms, it is recommended to start preparations a few days before the trip. If you are traveling east, go to bed earlier. You should be rested before the trip so that the body has the strength to fight the symptoms.
During the flight, you should drink water, and avoid overeating and drinking alcohol. Taking supplements to help you fall asleep or taking a sleeping pill is also helpful – sleep will be longer and more valuable. Of course, before taking such a drug, you should consult a doctor who will issue the appropriate prescription.
Experienced players who have traveled the world many times have their own methods of acclimatization that work best for them.
What are these ways?
Each player has a different idea for this. One focuses on shock therapy. He does not sleep before leaving Poland, then he does not sleep during the flight, and when he gets there in the morning, he will last until the evening. It will just extend the day. But another, in turn, will go to sleep whenever he feels the need to do so. It will not force anything. It is all very individual and the players have their own proven rituals. And none of them are really better or worse. It’s about what works for that particular person. And they already know best what they need.
Is there a “grace period” due to these radical changes? After what time does the training start?
The first training units are soft and loose. The emphasis is mainly on reversing the effects of travel – cramped and pinched muscles, stagnant joints. During these workouts, the players stretch, roll, perform low-intensity training and use the help of a physical therapist / masseur.
The return to normal training usually takes 3 – 4 training units. If we have two such units a day, you return to your normal rhythm either from the second training on the second day or from the first on the following day. It is very fast, but you cannot afford to come somewhere far away for a competition or training camp and wait for full acclimatization.
It is difficult, but the coaches arrange it individually with the players. Each of them says whether they feel up to it, whether they are stuffy or tired. During training, it is also checked whether everything is fine – heart rate and acidification of the body are checked. And the coaches have been working with their players for years and know them well. They can see when their mentee is ready for training, they know how their body should react to a given training load. As for our players, everyone has already had this period of lighter training behind them.
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