Physiological aids

Illegal

Volume of blood removed from athlete 4 weeks prior to competition, body naturally replenishes lost blood and a couple of hours prior to the event the RBCs are reinfused in saline solution 

Endurance performers eg. Tour de France cyclists 

+= increased RBC and Hb count

Increased O2 transport and aerobic capacity

Increased intensity and duration of performance before fatigue

-= increased blood viscosity 

Decreased cardiac output

Increased risk of blood clots and heart failure

Risk of transfusion infections eg. HIV

Legal

Athletes live at sea level but train under hypoxic conditions 

Interval training- mask supplying low pO2 removed in recovery interval 

Edurance athletes eg. marathon runners 

+= acclimitisation for events at altitude 

Increased RBC, Hb and oxygen-carrying capacity

Increased mitochondria and buffering capacity, delaying OBLA

-= any benefit quickly lost when IHT stops

May lose motivation and disrupt training patterns

Decrease immune function and increase risk of infection

Dehydration 

Legal 

Pre-event= eg. ice vests used to reduce core body temp to reduce thermal strain and CV drift

Injury treatment= eg. ice packs reducing pain and swelling. Nerve endings numbed and arterioles vasoconstrict to reduce blood flow, PRICE 

Post-event= eg. ice baths speed up recovery by reducing DOMs, blood vessels constrict, removing waste and lactic acid from muscle. After bath, vessels dilate, flushing muscle with nutrient rich oxygenated blood flow. 

+= reduced core body temp

Decreased sweating, dehydration and early fatigue 

Decreased injury pain and swelling 

Increased speed of recovery and repair 

Decreased DOMs

-= ice burns and pain 

Hide/complicate injury 

Chest pain and reduced efficiency in elderly 

Dangerous for hypetensives/ heart conditions- if used in chest area