Abstract:Background: Skin conductance (SC) is a form of Electrodermal activity (EDA) which often used to understand/predict the neural and brain activity of an individual. A strong neural activity is required before execution of weightlifting to mobilize neural energy resources in various body parts.
Aim: To find out the effect of weightlifting practice on peripheral neural activity before, during and after the event.
Method: 4 State level male weightlifters (15 – 20 years) were purposively selected for the present study. The data were collected for 3 consecutive days with a variation of load intensity i.e. 50%, 60% and 70% of 1RM. The exercise protocol was set for the duration of 10 minutes as per the practice schedule of the weightlifters. SC was measured through NeXus-10 Mark-II which is an instrument used for human Neurophysiological data and feedback training.
Findings: The Peripheral sympathetic neural activity (SC) of weightlifting increases from pre-test to during-test and from during-test to post-test in all 3 days. But it is quite interesting to note that the SC level decreases as the weightlifting load intensity increases. Various physiological mechanisms support these changes.
Conclusion: Peripheral sympathetic neural activity follows an increasing trend from pre to during and during to post-weightlifting practice. However, as load intensity of weightlifting increases, the peripheral sympathetic neural activity decreases to control high central arousal.