Introduction: A sport competition is a condition which includes both physical stress and mental stress that can cause hyperventilation, hypomania and consequently alkalosis. Respiratory alkalosis due to developing hypoxia increases the tendency of body metabolism from aerobic system to anaerobic system and this change can cause early fatigue and muscular problems. The present study has been conducted to study the effect of arterial CO2 changes in respiratory pattern on achievements of table tennis players in an official competition.
Methodology: A total 18 professional male table tennis players participated in 61matchs were studied. No athlete had breathing pattern disorder. Before and after each match reaction time and end tidal CO2 were measured via capnography. At the end of the match, the participants were classified into two groups of winners and losers and the average of reaction time and end tidale CO2 was measured using independent t test. The paired t test was also used for within group changes.
Results: The reaction time significantly decreased in both winners and losers (P<0.001). The end tidal CO2 significantly increase in winners group (P<0.001). In contrast, end tidal CO2 significantly decrease after match (P<0.001). There was a significant difference in end tidal CO2 between winners and losers (P<0.001). The increase in reaction time in losers was significantly more than winners (P≤ 0.018).
Discussion: The decrease of end tidal CO2 as well as more increase in reaction time in losers relative to winners can reflect alkalosis and the decrease in the quality of blood flow to active tissues and brain in them. Due to the delicacy of table tennis, it is likely that the decrease in cognitive activities because of decrease in oxygenation to the brain, to some extent, can justify the cause of lose.