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Does breathing affect sports performance? OHL U23 football team tests moonb

22/12/2022
presentatie
Sascha Vermeylen Panelmanager

28 November 2022

Can slow breathing improve sports performance and cardiovascular recovery? Elite Academy OH Leuven U23 football team tested this over a month for a study by moonbird, OH Leuven and LiCalab. During a group discussion at the King Power at Den Dreef stadium, we collected qualitative feedback.

Calm breathing signals to the nervous system that everything is safe and OK and also has a calming effect on the body. Previous research shows that slow breathing is an intervention technique that can also have supporting and restorative effects on performance.

Moonbird developed a tactile breathing device. Users hold the device in their hand and breathe in and out to the rhythm the device contracts and expands. In previous research, we evaluated this tactile breathing tool for sleep problems in a mixed method pilot study. In this study, we investigate the effect of the breathing device on sports performance.

The U23 team of the Elite Academy OH Leuven tested the moonbird device for one month. During breathing exercises, we collected heart rate data. We also measured physical parameters during physical tests at the beginning and end of the test month. With a validated questionnaire, we collected subjective data on sleep quality, fatigue and stress, among others. In the coming weeks, we will start evaluating the results. To be continued!