Olympic secrets revealed - Maclean’s exclusive: An inside look at our high-tech, mind-bending plans to dominate the podium at the 2010 Games
http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/01/12/olympic-secrets-revealed/2/
Olympic secrets revealed - Maclean’s exclusive: An inside look at our high-tech, mind-bending plans to dominate the podium at the 2010 Games
MIND GAMES
It was a bit unsettling at first, admits
freestyle aerialist Kyle Nissen, to be wired with electrodes and see your
various brainwaves, alpha, beta, theta, dancing on a computer screen; and
watching it track every shift in respiration, heart rate, body temperature,
sweat levels and muscle tension. “I was a little bit skeptical,” says the
10-year member of the national team. It helped that he had a long, trusting
relationship with the woman at the controls, University of Ottawa sports
psychologist Penny Werthner.
It’s one thing to tell your sports shrink you are mentally focused and physically loose, quite another to prove it through Werthner’s bio (physical) and neuro (mental) feedback machines. “Sport psychology is about what we’re thinking and what we’re feeling and you can’t really see those things,” Werthner says. “I find it a really intriguing and useful tool to make things a bit more concrete.”
The process of “self discovery,” as she puts it, began three years ago, and includes both the aerial ski team and top mogulists Alex Bilodeau and Jennifer Heil. Discovery is only the first step: the aim is to control one’s physical and mental response, to gear up in the moments before a performance, and as importantly, to learn to mellow out afterwards. “The season can be a real grind, so it’s important to stay fresh out there,” says veteran boarder Warren Shouldice. “It obviously stresses you out to think, ‘I’ve got to go off this four-metre-tall jump at 70 km/h.’ So if I can not think about that, it’s a good thing,” he says. “Yes, I want to think about it, but that’s for the 30 seconds before my jump.”
He and Nissen have learned to take mini-mental holidays on the lift up to their next jump and to put a higher premium on recovery time. They once spent down time blazing away at video games like Call of Duty or Guitar Hero until they wired up the feedback machines and discovered that what they thought was mindless fun was leaving them highly stressed. “We’re competitive people,” says Nissen. Now, they spend maybe 15 minutes listening to audio of slow human breathing: “You could almost call it meditation.” . . . .
Gold for Biofeedback: Abhinav Bindra wins India's first ever individual Olympic Gold Medal
Rae Tattenbaum, LCSW, BCIA EEG Fellow
Chair, Optimal Functioning Section
Sports Psychologist I first mentioned the "G-word" to Abhinav after a training session at my house in South Africa in early July. I don't often talk about results to clients, but we had just completed an advanced respiration session (using a technique I had learned from Bruno Demichelis from AC Milan) that demonstrated such a close link between control of heart-rate and shooting outcome, that I finally began to feel that we had cracked the code of shooting success, and a gold medal was a possibility.As a sports psychologist, disappointment and failure is part of the job. I have been greenside at the British Open and watched a client's putt slide past the hole, causing him to miss the cut, and I have commiserated with a sprinter who ran fractions of a second too slow to make it onto the Olympic team. I've even worked with a hockey team who missed every single shot in a penalty shootout - and were the only team with a sports psychologist at the tournament!Obviously there are successes also, but in any career, being part of an Olympic gold medal team is a highlight. I do want to say though, that for 10 years as a sports psychologist, I have been saying that character counts more than results, and when I think of Abhinav, it is his character that I admire rather than his gold medal. Talent, hard work and good planning gives you a chance, and from there, sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn't. This one went our way.Abhinav and I were introduced in December 2007, and began working together in South Africa in February 2008. Our Olympic plan was formulated at a kitchen table in my mother's house. The team grew to include a doctor, chiropractor, physiotherapist, dietician and two shooting coaches in addition to myself. Looking back, I would say the crucial ingredients were a combination of bloody mindedness and flexibility.Abhinav is an athlete who will stop at nothing to achieve success - one of the two or three most determined athletes I have ever met. So it was a privilege to work with someone who would implement whatever he was asked to do. As someone who grew up in the 80's watching the A-Team, I have to say that I love it when a plan comes together.In 2006, PGA teaching professional John Dickson and I began to formulate a theory of how and why emotional states impede technical skill execution. We called this theory psykinetics. It draws upon evolutionary psychology, sensory integration and psychophysiology, and once you're talking psychophysiology, you need to be practicing with biofeedback.I use a FlexComp Infiniti hardware system with BioGraph 4.0 software. Shooting is a peculiar sport because of the lack of movement, and air rifle is the most precise and exacting of the shooting sports. I chose the FlexComp because it allowed me to seamlessly move between training modalities and multimodalities, and the BioGraph software because of its ability to measure and provide feedback. The system plus my laptop is small enough to pack into a Pelican carry case, which is useful for travelling.
The psychophysiological requirements of shooting include:
- Controlled breathing and heart-rate
- No excess tension in muscles
- No fluctuation between sympathetic/parasympathetic states during triggering (shooters can shoot in sympathetic or parasympathetic, but don't want to be surprised by which state they are in)
- No interior monologue
- Sharp focus and good reactions to trigger at the moment when the sight image is correct
Thought Technology Ltd.
Neurofeedback, including that accomplished with Chris Kaman of the Los Angeles Clippers
http://www.mlive.com/sports/grpress/index.ssf?/base/sports-5/1204434912240920.xml&coll=6&thispage=1Kaman gives Hope139 a viable face of support
Sunday, March 02, 2008 By Greg JohnsonThe Grand Rapids Press GRANDVILLE -- Brad Oostindie admitted a controversial element exists within the work Hope139 does with neurofeedback, including that accomplished with Chris Kaman of the Los Angeles Clippers. "I'm a little bit surprised at how harsh the criticism can be because the research is clearly there," said the local psychologist who co-founded Hope139 locally as a health care outlet with fellow psychologist Tim Royer. "What you have, though, is people in health care so entrenched in the stimulant-medicine approach to issues. "That's Chris' story," he said. "It's typical. No matter the issue, stimulant or medication is throw at it, and it's not always right." The two psychologists, who first met while working for DeVos Children's Hospital, believe more than 50 percent of the people diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, a.k.a. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, are misdiagnosed. Kaman fits in the 50 percent. He has become what they call their "7-foot poster guy" as an example and spokesperson. The former Tri-unity Christian and Central Michigan star credits his improved play in the NBA this season and some personal gains to the neurofeedback treatment he has received through Hope139. "For the first time I feel like I've found something that really helps me," Kaman said. Oostindie and Royer first started Pediatric Behavior Specialists together in Grandville in 2003, and added the development of Hope 139 two years ago. Oostindie admits traditional health care methods didn't always have the answers they sought as psychologists in helping others. "We believe we're working in the next generation of behavioral health care treatment," Oostindie said. "We go right to the brain and track the brain waves, and technology has allowed us to make neurofeedback available to people in everyday settings." And the workload has increased since Kaman has gone public in recent months with his story. "We started 139 as a school-based, corporate-based and athletic and home-based way to help people, and the company has gone from 0 to 100 miles per hour on us over night, especially with the neurofeedback," he said. "People relate to Chris. He commands an audience as an NBA player, and he is great at sharing his story." The two psychologists estimates children and adults are doing this program in 25 state and six countries. Treatments are being done at schools, corporations and in homes. Locally, Tri-unity Christian, where Kaman played high school basketball, now includes Hope139's neurofeedback as a treatment and learning tool for students. "It's becoming a big thing," Oostindie said. "It's our baby, and we're very proud of it. We're doing a lot of good things helping people increase their brain functions and performance all over the country." The twosome has combined available technologies, and Royer estimates their company is five years ahead in their approach over others working in neurofeedback. "We've only scratched the surface of what this can do," he said. "We kid around -- if you have a brain we can help you. But it's true." Oostindie said the cost -- as much as $600 to $1,500 to get started on a 20-hour/two month program -- is an early roadblock. "Insurance companies don't typically pay for this, though that is changing," he said. "People go where the money flow goes. Insurance pays for subscriptions, and a lot of people feel is insurance isn't paying for it, it doesn't work. "Insurance companies, though, are not always aware of what is on the cutting edge in health care." Kaman is a willing poster guy. He considers Hope139's work miraculous in his life, and in the lives of family members. "This can help everybody have better brain function," he said. Send e-mail to the author: gjohnson@grpress.com http://www.nba.com/clippers/news/kaman_espnotl_080115.html
http://www.thoughttechnology.com/mindroom.htm
Kate Schmidt - "Just say yes to Steroids"...- - Is an outrageous proposal for cheating
Kate Schmidt - "Just say yes to Steroids"...- have any of you been read her article, and my posts on AASP?
http://media.www.thenichollsworth.com/media/storage/paper262/news/2007/10/18/Editorial/Just-Say.Yes.To.Steroids.Learn.Make.Better.Choices-3044615.shtml
Thanks for the post Lawrence. AASP and others are actually meeting this week in Kentucky (in a few hours actually) to offer solutions. I don't think anyone in this organization would agree that we should just let it be.
I think her comments are completely absurd. I wouldn't even agree that fans demand home runs. Owners just know that big scores are fun to watch and they sell tickets. And when owners have a hot hitter or team, everyone turns a blind eye including teammates and coaches..
AASP is in the perfect position to say hey, "we offer healthy
alternatives that are at least as effective at improving awareness, enjoyment, and training effort."
Kate in LA appears to live in a culture that is surrounded by juicers that use for performance enhancement and appearance enhancement. Heck, she lives in the boob job capital of the world. I'm not surprised by the fact that someone surrounded by cheating would feel that cheating is ok.
Sean
___________________________
Sean Mullen, M.S.
Assistant Director, LPA Program
Certified Personal Fitness Trainer (AFAA)
Certified Associate Tennis Instructor (PTR)
cell - 856.534.1584
home - 434.971.7522
__________________________
From: Exercise and Sport Psychology
[mailto:SPORTPSY@LISTSERV.TEMPLE.EDU] On Behalf Of Lawrence Klein
Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 10:56 AM
To: SPORTPSY@LISTSERV.TEMPLE.EDU
Subject: A very strange assessment of drug cheating by Kate Schmidt -
Is there any OFFICIAL position by AASP on this outrageous proposal?
>
> <http://media.www.thenichollsworth.com/media/storage/paper262/news/200
> 7/10/18/Editorial/Just-Say.Yes.To.Steroids.Learn.Make.Better.Choices-3044615.shtml
http://media.www.thenichollsworth.com/media/storage/paper262/news/2007
/10/18/Editorial/Just-Say.Yes.To.Steroids.Learn.Make.Better.Choices-3044615.shtml
A very strange assessment of drug cheating by Kate Schmidt - Is there any OFFICIAL position by AASP on this outrageous proposal?
After thirty four years with some of the best Sport psychologists in the World, I wonder why the mind is totally absent from this article.
There was no mention of performance enhancement from sport psychology, biofeedback or neurofeedback. For example Dr. Bruno Demichelis's MindRoom, A C Milan, is considered their secret weapon that helped them WIN the Champions League Football title. This Schmidt proposal suggests cheating be made the norm, and those that don't want to pump their body full of risky chemicals will be on an officially sponsored uneven playing field. It is bad enough that the < World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)has to catch the cheats, now they have to justify why cheating is cheating! Kate Schmidt suggests the pharmaceutical industry should determine what is cheating. I think NOT! If you are
unclear, call or write WADA, I'm sure they will be happy to explain it to you!
Lawrence
Just say yes to steroids - learn, make better choices
By Kate Schmidt (Los Angeles Times)
Issue date: 10/18/07 Section: Editorial
* Page 1 of 3
The media and the public have savaged American athletes for using steroids.
The case of track and field icon Marion Jones is the most recent. Last week, she tearfully returned her three gold and two bronze medals to the Olympic Committee after admitting she used steroids.
Much of the criticism of Jones and others caught using steroids is unfair. There is a disconnect between what the sports-viewing public knows and expects and what is actually going on. Fans have created such high expectations for athletes that success seems to require steroid use for any sport requiring speed, power or a combination of the two. The genie is out of the bottle -- for good.
This was not always the case. When I was competing, some athletes used performance-enhancing drugs, but most didn't. I never did and still established American and world records in the javelin throw. Yet my world record was surpassed by an East German who participated in a program famous for pharmacological enhancements.
It is extremely difficult for an athlete to resist doing whatever it takes to win. Our culture has elevated elite athletes to a status that is good for neither them nor us. It is unhealthy and unreal.
Elite athletes are normal in every way except for being born with a singular skill with which they become obsessed, chasing its allure until age and injury stop them. Their natural obsession is exacerbated by $20-million signing bonuses, gold-medal tallies and fan and media insistence that elite athletes are special in every other way. Athletes are not gods. We must take them off the pedestal.
Fans, the media and sports governing bodies believe that we can rid sports of steroid use. Athletes always will be a step ahead of the testing labs in concealing substances because of the multibillion-dollar industries that have been built on their sweat and their obsession. They will seek out the next "thing" - a vitamin, a nutritional supplement, a training technique, a piece of training equipment, a new shoe, a drug. Athletes have used performance enhancements and supplements for centuries. We cannot change the nature of the beast.
Continued...
