COACHING ASTHMATIC ATHLETES

Asthma is the most common reason athletes miss or have to modify their practice time for sport. Asthma is a disease that causes the air passages in the lungs to swell or narrow (bronchospasm), making it harder for athletes to breathe. Signs and symptoms of asthma include:

• coughing
• wheezing; a hoarse whistling sound heard during exhalation
• shortness of breathe
• chest tightness

Strenuous exercise acts as a common trigger for bronchospasm in athletes and other common triggers for asthmatic attacks are:

• poor medical management
• air pollution (mold, pollens, tobacco, dust mites, etc.)
• emotions (like laughing or crying)
• allergies, and exposure to cold air

Athletes who have asthma often do not admit or tell their coaches about their symptoms and blame them on being de-conditioned or having a cold. Since athletes will deny their symptoms, coaches and athletic trainers need to be aware of the signs that suggest an athlete is experiencing asthmatic problems. These include:

• frequent use of inhalers
• sensitivity to cold air
• repeated complaints of feeling winded or tiring easily dizziness
• stomach ache
• frequent colds or clearing of the throat
• muscle cramps, and poorer performance than their training would predict

Asthma should not eliminate athletes from participating in sport. However, coaches' should help athletes learn to properly manage their asthma before small problems become major ones. Coaches should encourage their asthmatic athletes to do the following:

• Make sure they see their doctor and get a checkup (often by an specialist like an allergist); encourage athletes to be open and honest with their doctor and make sure they let their doctor know if their asthma gets worse.
• Make sure athletes always have their inhaler close by and have trainers carry backup inhalers when the team travels, as with all medications, do not let anyone use someone else's inhaler.
• Make sure they have a 15 minute minimum warmup that includes balance or agility drills, walking, jogging, stretching, or sub-maximal short sprints.
• Make sure they stop exercising slowly and have at least a 10 minute cool-down after activity.
• Make sure that in cold weather they cover their mouths and noses with scarves or face masks to warm air before it reaches their airways; this will help prevent bronchospasm.
• Do not make fun of asthmatic athletes as they have a potentially serious health problem that can become worse if athletes learn to ignore their basic symptoms; an athlete may need to stop practice/competition due to an asthmatic attack and it should be treated as a safety precaution and not punishment for the athlete.

Although there's no cure for asthma, there are many medications that can help your athletes control their condition. Asthma medications are either long-term control medications or quick -relief medications (SQM). Long-term medications are usually taken 1-2 times per day while

SQM's (typically inhalers) are used to provide immediate relief of bronchospasm and the symptoms of coughing, chest tightness, and wheezing. Remember, all your asthmatic athletes should carry their inhaler with them during exercise so they can use it if they have an attack. If your asthmatic athletes depend upon their inhaler for relief too often (>2 times per workout or > 3-4 times per week) they may not have their asthma under control and probably need additional medical follow-up by their physician.

Coaches and athletic trainers should make sure they have an emergency plan in place in case an asthmatic athlete experiences serious wheezing and needs prompt medical attention. Asthmatic symptoms that require immediate medical attention include the following situations:

• the athlete is only able to communicate in 1-to 2 word phrases or not at all because they are breathless
• the neck muscles of the athlete tighten with each inhalation
• the lips and nail levels of the athlete have a grayish or bluish color
• the athlete has an increased breathing rate at rest.

The "Texas Coaches for Healthy Athletes" Program is being initiated this fall by volunteer physicians (allergists) in cooperation with the THSCA in 10 Texas cities to test and monitor asthmatic athletes. The goal of the program is help athletes perform at optimum levels and help educate coaches about the signs and symptoms of asthma so that they can better deal with the special needs of asthmatics.

For more information about the "Texas Coaches for Healthy Athletes" Program contact Alexis DeLee at HILLCO Partners, 512-480-8962 (phone) or e-mail at adelee@hillcopartners.com.

References

1. Kaelin, M., Morton, R., and Eid, Nemr, Coaching the Asthmatic Athlete, National Strength and Conditioning Journal, 24 (4), 2002.

2. Texas Coaches for Healthy Athletes, Living Well With Asthma, Schering Corp., Kenilworth, N. J.,2000.

 

Title	COACHING ASTHMATIC ATHLETES
Source	Texas Coach
Vol (iss)	47(3)
Date	October 2002
Pages	50-51
SIRC ID #	s-855573

 

This material has been copied under license from the Publisher. Any resale for profit or further copying is strictly prohibited.

Contact us | Read our Policies | Terms and Conditions | Copyright © SIRC