Episode 236 Suzy RussellCategoriesMedical PLP Podcast

Episode 236 – Mental fatigue with elite athletes

Highlights from the episode:

  • What mental fatigue is and how it differs from physical fatigue
  • How does mental fatigue impact athletic performance
  • Common signs or symptoms of mental fatigue
  • Effective strategies to tackle mental fatigue
  • How personality traits and coping strategies impact an athlete’s susceptibility to mental fatigue

Unlocking Mental Resilience: Understanding and Managing Mental Fatigue

In today’s fast-paced world, we often find ourselves engaged in demanding cognitive or emotional activities for prolonged periods. Whether it’s tackling complex work projects, studying for exams, or juggling multiple responsibilities, our minds can become exhausted. This phenomenon, known as mental fatigue, is a psychobiological state that affects our mental efficiency and overall well-being.

Unlike physical fatigue, which primarily affects the body, mental fatigue has a profound impact on our cognitive abilities, emotions, and even athletic performance. Recognizing the signs of mental fatigue and understanding its underlying mechanisms can help us take proactive steps to manage and overcome this state. In this blog post, we will delve into the concept of mental fatigue, explore its effects on performance, and discuss effective strategies for combating it.

1. Understanding Mental Fatigue

Mental fatigue can be defined as the result of prolonged periods of demanding cognitive or emotional activity. It manifests as a decline in mental performance, reduced motivation, increased effort, and a subjective sense of exhaustion. While physical fatigue can be more readily observed and measured, mental fatigue is often subtle and subjective.

The precise mechanisms underlying mental fatigue are still being explored, but researchers have proposed several theories. One theory suggests that mental fatigue is linked to the accumulation of adenosine in the brain, a byproduct of cellular metabolism. Adenosine has inhibitory effects on neural activity, leading to reduced alertness, impaired cognitive functions, and a decrease in motivation.

Additionally, mental fatigue can disrupt the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain, particularly dopamine. Dopamine plays a crucial role in motivation, reward, and cognitive functions. When mental fatigue sets in, dopamine levels can become imbalanced, leading to a decrease in motivation and a reduced ability to sustain attention and effort.

2. The Impact of Mental Fatigue on Performance

The effects of mental fatigue extend beyond our day-to-day tasks and can significantly impact various aspects of our lives, including athletic performance. Athletes rely heavily on their mental focus, decision-making abilities, and motor skills, all of which can be compromised by mental fatigue.

Studies have shown that mental fatigue can impair physical performance, leading to decreased speed, accuracy, and endurance. Athletes experiencing mental fatigue are more likely to make errors, experience a decline in concentration, and exhibit reduced coordination. These effects can be particularly detrimental in high-stakes competitive scenarios, where split-second decisions and peak physical performance are essential.

3. Strategies for Managing Mental Fatigue

While mental fatigue is a common experience, there are several effective strategies that individuals can employ to combat and manage it. Let’s explore some practical approaches:

a) Listening to Specific Music Frequencies: Research suggests that certain types of music, particularly those with specific frequencies, can have a positive impact on mental fatigue. For example, binaural beats, which involve listening to slightly different tones in each ear, have been found to promote relaxation, improve focus, and alleviate mental fatigue. Experimenting with different genres and frequencies may help individuals find the music that works best for them.

b) Subjective Self-Identification of Fatigue Symptoms: Being mindful of our own mental and physical state is crucial in managing mental fatigue. By consciously recognizing the symptoms of mental fatigue, such as difficulty concentrating, decreased motivation, or irritability, we can take appropriate action. This may involve taking short breaks, engaging in stress-reducing activities, or practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation.

c) Prioritizing Restful Sleep: Adequate sleep is vital for maintaining mental resilience and preventing mental fatigue. Prioritize establishing a consistent sleep routine, creating a

Listen: iTunes | Spotify

CategoriesHigh Performance Medical PLP Podcast

Episode 225 – Tim Parham

Highlights from the episode:

  • His biggest challenges and what he learned
  • How he upskills himself
  • What he notes down on athletes during the rehab process
  • Do you have to lie to change an athlete’s mentality
  • How often do athletes stick to the rehab plan 100%
  • His pet peeves in work/life
Listen: iTunes | Spotify

CategoriesHigh Performance Medical PLP Podcast

Episode 217 – Emily Meehan

Highlights from the episode:

  • Emily’s advice to her past self when she was starting as a dietician
  • Her advice to newly hired dieticians on how to educate a club or team
  • Her strategies when working with elite athletes
  • Emily’s approach to developing athletes who want to bulk up
  • Ideal snacks for athletes who are on the go
  • How she helps in improving an athlete’s nutrition
Listen: iTunes | Spotify

CategoriesHigh Performance Medical PLP Podcast

Episode 214 – Integrating performance and medical science for team success

Highlights from the episode:

  • Common challenges for performance teams and medical staff members to collaborate effectively
  • Using collaborative thinking and integration before providing advice to solve a problem
  • His advice for running effective meetings for the medical and performance team
  • Using the whiteboard method for collaborating and sharing ideas
  • His process in planning and or giving advice when faced with a new problem he never encountered before
Listen: iTunes | Spotify

CategoriesMedical PLP Podcast

Episode 204 – Breanna Mcgrath

Highlights of the episode:

  • Creating your own exercise prescription for complex rehab
  • How she met John Quinn and influence her to be a sports physiologist
  • Common mistakes she notice with practitioners she wished she knew years ago
  • How she upskills herself as a physiologist
  • Books she recommends for coaches and athletes
Listen: iTunes | Spotify

CategoriesCoaches Medical PLP Podcast

Episode 195 – Peter Brukner

Highlights of the episode:

  • How he started his passion in nutrition
  • The effect of switching from eating sugary and high-carb foods to real foods
  • What does the app Defeat Diabetes do
  • His strong influencers and mentors
  • Trends he notices with successful athletes

To join our Coaches waitlist, fill out the link below:

Listen: iTunes | Spotify

CategoriesMedical PLP Podcast

Episode 190 – Nick Kane

Nick is the Physiotherapist at the Essendon FC and owner of Complete Balance Physiotherapy & Pilates in Maribyrnong & Tullamarine. Holding a Masters in Sports Physiotherapy from La Trobe University, he is also the Managing Director of The Sports MAP Network delivering relevant, practical and evidence-based courses for experienced physiotherapists.

Highlights of the episode:

  • People who influenced him in elite sports
  • What discipline physios should start if they want to work in elite sport
  • Key pillars as a physio working in elite sport
  • His overarching rehab principles
  • How he started Sports MAP

People mentioned:

  • Meirion Jones
  • Callan Jones
  • Peter Blanch
  • Enda King
  • Jarrod Wade
  • Bruce Connor
  • Alex Sakadjian
  • Sean Murphy
  • Justin Crow
  • Conor Daly
  • Anthony Hogan
  • Jill Cook
  • Jurdan Mendiguchia
  • David Rundle
  • Andrew Wallis

To join our Coaches waitlist, fill out the link below:

Listen: iTunes | Spotify

CategoriesCoaches Medical PLP Podcast

Episode 179 – Selwyn Griffith

Highlights of the episode:

  • How he uses his osteopath experience for his rehab and conditioning philosophy
  • Importance of harnessing your top traits and skills
  • Trends he saw where rehabs don’t go well
  • Key areas footballers need to develop
  • How an osteopath can contribute to a footy team

To join our Coaches waitlist, fill out the link below:

Listen: iTunes | Spotify

CategoriesMedical PLP Podcast

Episode 160 – Brenton Egglestone

Brenton is a passionate physiotherapist with a keen interest in management of elite athletes. He is always looking for innovative strategies to aid injury prevention and improve performance within a team environment. Since 2014, Brenton has worked in elite sport, including the St North Melbourne FC, Norwich FC, and Melbourne FC. He is also co-founder of Enhance sports performance and rehabilitation since Dec 2016.

Highlights of the episode:

  • Brenton’s four key pillars for returning a footballer to performance
  • How he upskills himself
  • Why learning how to work in a team is critical to working in elite sport
  • How your biggest learnings come those you work closest
  • Developing an earn the right philosophy and how to apply it to rehabilitation

People mentioned:

  • Steve Saunders
  • Rob Inness
  • Dan Meehan
  • Darren Burgess
  • Dan James
  • Selwyn Griffith
  • Darren Burgess
  • Nick Murray
  • David Reagan
  • Adam Grant
  • David Faye

#brentonegglestone #preparelikeapro #plplivechats #podcast #melbournestrengthcoach

To join our Coaches waitlist, fill out the link below:

Listen: iTunes | Spotify

CategoriesMedical PLP Podcast

Episode 158 – Tim McGrath

Tim is a Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist with over 15 years full-time experience in professional sport and nearly 20 years in clinical practice. He completed his PhD from the Research Institute of Sports & Exercise at the University of Canberra on the topic of ACL rehabilitation and return to sport following knee injury in 2016.

He is Clinical & Research Director of a US, UK and Australian-based company (Pitch Ready) which focuses on blending clinical insights with data science, squad-based injury prevention strategies and return to sport testing following lower limb injury. He regularly conducts clinical consultancy to professional sporting teams and second opinions for complex cases following lower limb injury.

Since 2004, Tim has worked in clinical appointments with professional sporting teams across multiple codes including the St George-Illawarra Dragons, Port Adelaide Football Club, Australian Men’s Rugby Sevens Team, Brumbies Super Rugby Team, Sale Sharks Rugby Football Club, and Canberra Raiders.

Highlights of the episode:

  • Importance of horizontal programming over a vertical model
  • Movement skills athletes can develop to reduce the likelihood of injury
  • What it takes to develop a correct diagnosis
  • How your biggest learnings come from poor performing sporting organizations
  • Developing Tim’s philosophy from different football codes

#timmcgrath #preparelikeapro #plplivechats #podcast #melbournestrengthcoach

To join our Coaches waitlist, fill out the link below:

Listen: iTunes | Spotify