Physiological support for professional boxing

1@alanruddock - Physiology of Pro

Boxing

@alanruddock - Physiology of Pro Boxing

2

Alan Ruddock CSci MSc BSc (Hons.)Chartered Scientist

BASES accredited sport & exercise scientistDoctoral researcher

Academy of Sport and Physical ActivitySheffield Hallam University | Faculty of Health and Wellbeing

A016 Collegiate Hall, Collegiate Crescent, Sheffield S10 2BPemail: [email protected] | Telephone: +44 (0) 114 225 4439

@alanruddock #bxar

email:%[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.shu.ac.uk/sport/academy/

http://www.bases.org.uk/


3

Sport and Exercise Science

The scientific study of factors that influence our ability to perform

exercise or physical activity

4

Physiology of Sport and Exercise

The scientific study of how the body responds and adapts to exercise...


5

...to enhance performance



6

7

Systematic Enquiry

Scientific Method

Observation

Research question

Hypotheses

Experimental method

Data Collection

Conclusion

Broadcast


8

Observation: How to win a boxing

match



9

Knockout

Failing to continue with the contest after a boxer goes ‘down’ after a legitimate blow. British Boxing Board of Control rules 3.32 & 3.33


10

Cerebellum

Brain Stem

11

Technical Knockout

If at any time during a Contest the Referee decides in his complete discretion that one contestant is outclassed or is unable to continue as a result of injury, or is not in a position to continue boxing or, at the conclusion of any round, is ten points or more behind his opponent, he shall stop the Contest and declare the opponent the winner.

British Boxing Board of Control rule 3.34


12

Potential neurological trauma Three primary manifestations

1) Acute neurological injuries (causing knockout)2) Persistent groggy states and post-concussion

syndrome3) Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, “punch drunk

syndrome” or “dementia pugilistica”

The American Medical Association, Australian Medical Association, and World Medical Association have providedposition statements opposing boxing and recommending that

boxing be banned@alanruddock - Physiology of Pro

Boxing

13

Ethical?


14

Knowing these risks would our ethics committee approve such activity?

I must abide by BASES code of conduct Professional and personal code of conduct 7 a) Members paramount concern is the well-being of their clients7 g) Members must ensure, where appropriate, the highest standards of safety and working practices and research both in respect of work undertaken by members themselves or by others under their supervision.



15

Points system

For “attack” – direct clean hits with the knuckle part of the glove of either hand to any part of the front or side of the head or body above the belt. For “defence” – guarding, slipping, ducking or getting away from an attack.

Where contestants are otherwise equal the majority of points will be given to the one who does most leading off or displays the better style

British Board of Boxing Control rule 3.31

16

Are boxers malicious thugs who intend to put their own and opponents life at risk?

No… The majority intend to display their physical, technical and tactical skills within the rules of the sport.

“I’m not in this sport to get hit.”- Kid Galahad


17

Safety aspectsMedical examinations

Doctors present before, during and after contest

Referee’s experience Trainers duty of care

Positive aspects

Health benefitsCultural traditions

Economic opportunities

Informed decisions

TrainersBoxing commissions

PromotersMedics

ScientistsBoxers


18@alanruddock - Physiology of Pro Boxing

19

AttackJabRear hand crossLead hookRear hookLead uppercutRear uppercutInverted jab

Lead hand feintRear hand feintHead/body feintFoot feint

DefenceBlock both arms

Block rear armBlock lead arm

ClinchDuck

Foot defenceLean back

PushSlip left

Slip rightRoll clockwise

Roll anti-clockwise

Performance indicators

Footwork + precise jab + intensity = contest control


J Sports Sci. 2013;31(5):516-28

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23121380



20

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1005

1015202530354045

Round

Nu

mb

er o

f pun

ches

Mean ± SD number of punches per round 34 ± 3Mean ± SD time between punches 5 ± 0.5 s Often attacks are sustained clusters. Particularly before TKO

Punch stats


21

Offensive Punches(n=336)

Successful(n=94, 28%)

Jab (n=51, 54%)

Hook (n=18, 19%)

Uppercut(n=11, 12%)

Combination(n=12, 13%)

Cross(n=2, 2%)

Unsuccessful(n=242, 72%)

Jab(n=185, 76%)

Hook(n=30, 12%)

Uppercut(n=7, 3%)

Combination(n=15, 6%)

Cross(n=5, 2%)

70% punches = jab


22

26 kphJab

40 kphReverse hook

0.6 sJab

0.2 sJab in combo

High intensity neuromuscular action @alanruddock - Physiology of Pro

Boxing

Sports Biomech. 2011 Mar;10(1):1-11

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=piorkowski+boxing



23

PEAK IMPACT FORCE

= 2000 to 5000 N= 2.5 to 4.5 of body

mass

PEAK IMPULSE

18.3 ± 2.3 N·s-1

Reduction in momentum of punching arm

explained 95% of variance of the

impulse of impact force@alanruddock - Physiology of Pro

Boxing

J Sports Sci. 2014 Jan 10. [Epub ahead of print]


24

F · t = m · v


25

Energy production Force production Force transmission

= Mechanically effective punches


Simple approach

Winter D. Biomechanics and motor control of human movement

26

Force productionPunches:•delivered at high velocity •from action to contact >200 ms +•require rapid rate of muscular force development•must be impulsive

• Increase strength = Increase rate of force development


Eur J Appl Physiol. 2006 Jan;96(1):46-52.






27

Force transmissionEffective summation of segmental forces ~ Energy flow

Winter D. Biomechanics and motor control of human movement

28

Energy production Activity (e.g. punch) Result from excitation-contraction coupling


29

Sparring

Estimated mean oxygen uptake = 85 - 90% O2max Associated blood lactate concentration = 4 - 5 mmol·L-1

Does this look like an endurance sport?@alanruddock - Physiology of Pro

Boxing

30

Footwork + precise jab + intensity = contest control

Capacities set upper limit to performance...

A B0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Intensity Cumulative fatigue


31

Physiological determinants

HRmax SVmax

Hb; %SaO2

(Ca - Cv O2) maxCOmax

O2max

Capillary density Oxidative enzymes

% O2max at LTP

Boxing intensity


32

Additional considerations...


Front Physiol. 2012 Apr 11;3:82

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Fatigue+is+a+brain-derived+emotion+that+regulates+the+exercise+behavior+to+ensure+the+protection+of+whole+body+homeostasis

33

Cardiac (central) adaptations

Maximal stroke volume is a limiter to boxing intensity

Mechanical overload of the heart caused by reaching and maintaining an elevated cardiac filling is the main stimulus for myocardial adaptations associated with the enhancement of maximal stroke volume (and cardiac output).

Intensity of exercise = Cardiac output (heart rate x stroke volume)


Sports Med. 2007;37(10):857-80

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Training+to+Enhance+the+Physiological+Determinants+of+Long-Distance+Running+Performance


34

Muscle capillarisation (angiogenesis)The network of capillaries supplying blood to the exercising muscle is a limiting factor to boxing intensity

Possible stimuli causing skeletal muscle angiogenesis

• Exercise induced increases in blood flow• Shear stress• Muscle 'stretching' - structural disruptions• Lowered oxygen tension (PaO2)• Metabolic alterations (caused by oxygen demand)

Intensity of exercise = Blood flow, shear stress, structural disruption, changes in PaO2 and oxygen demand

Biochem Soc Trans. 2011 Dec;39(6):1628-32





35

Mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative enzyme capacity

The number of mitochondria and associated oxidative enzymes is a limiter to boxing intensity

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1-alpha (PGC-1 ) and αits binding partners are responsible for many training adaptations and in particular mitochondrial biogenesis.

Intensity of exercise =

Mechanical stretch & tensionIncrease in reactive oxygen speciesIncrease in muscle calcium concentrationAltered energy status (ADP, AMP)

= PGC-1 , number and size of αmitochondria and aerobic capacity


Sports Science Exchange (2013) Vol. 26, No. 115, 1-5


36

What type of training induces appropriate physiological strain, in a time effective manner and is specific to boxing?

High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

37

Balance between intensity & Time ≥ 90% O2max

High energy demand &

calcium release

High blood flow Cardiac strain


Bacon AP, Carter RE, Ogle EA, Joyner MJ (2013) VO2max Trainability and High Intensity Interval Training in Humans: A Meta-Analysis. PLoS ONE 8(9): e73182. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0073182http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0073182

Increase in O2max of 0.5 L·min-1 (95% CI: 0.43 to 0.60) 6 to 9 ml·kg·min-1

CV (%) 0.25 L·min-1

Moderate increase (ES = 0.86; 95% CI 0.72 to 0.99)

3 - 5 min intervals appear most effective to increase O2max in moderately trained individuals.

0.85 L·min-1

HIIT Meta analysis


38

http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0073182

39

"There is more than one way to skin the cat"


Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2010 Oct;20 Suppl 2:1-10Sports Med. 2013 May;43(5):313-38






40@alanruddock - Physiology of Pro

Boxing

Sports Med. 2013 May;43(5):313-38

Skin it this way?


41@alanruddock - Physiology of Pro Boxing

Skin it this way?

Sports Med. 2013 May;43(5):313-38



42

Even longer?

Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2013 Feb;23(1):74-83

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=adaptations+to+aerobic+interval+training+seiler





43

Even longer...?

Eur J Appl Physiol. 2013 Feb;113(2):385-94

Using O2max as the controlling variable time at O2max can be extended beyond 15 min within a session.

Use of iso-effort (RPE) controlled sessions.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=The+sustainability+of+VO2max%3A+effect+of+decreasing+the+workload





44

Recommendations for ≥ 90% O2max

Sports Med. 2013 May;43(5):313-38



45

Train hard. Fight easy.

46

FIGHT

0 – 6 weeksDevelopment of physical

capacities

9.9 weeksMake weight, rehydrate & refuel

9 - 10 weeksTaper & cut

6 – 9 weeksTechnical training

& sparring


Typical 10 week training plan

9.99 weeksOptimised warm-up strategy


47

Coaching opinion &

perspectives

Regular trend analysis of

collated data

Habitual objective & subjective monitoring

Training direction & decision- making

Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2012 Sep;7(3):242-50.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=periodization+paradigms





48

AcknowledgementsMany thanks to

Dave Hembrough @dwhembro

Centre for Sport and Exercise Science, Sheffield Hallam University

Dominic Ingle, Ian Grant - Ingle gym @dominicingle @grant_i @inglegymwww.inglegym.com

Dave Stache @totalbd - Nourish restaurant

Edward Winter - Professor of the physiology of exercise @winteredward

Physiological support for professional boxing

Sports

Transcript of Physiological support for professional boxing