Do you want to take your athlete's physical performance to the next level? Interoception and cardiovascular exertion mode (CEM) training might be the solution you're looking for.
What is Interoception and Why is it Important for Athletes?
Interoception refers to the awareness of our internal body states. It encompasses the ability to sense, regulate, and control our organ systems, including the heart, lungs, stomach, and muscles. Recent studies have shown that interoception is critical for memory processes, decision-making, and optimal athletic performance. In the context of physical activity, perceived exertion is a well-known interoceptive concept that relates to the integration of various bodily sensations during exercise.
The Importance of Maintaining Homeostasis
Maintaining homeostasis is a crucial part of ensuring our survival. It's a self-regulating process that helps to maintain stability while adjusting to conditions that are optimal for our survival. In sports, interoceptive awareness is crucial for athletes as it connects the distress of inner states with the goal of achieving and maintaining homeostasis.
The Power of Performance-Related Biofeedback Cognitive Training
Soma NPT combines interoception and cognitive training to create a challenging mind-body environment for athletes. The cardiovascular exertion mode in Soma NPT is a performance-related biofeedback mode that requires athletes to reach a target heart rate (HR) to respond to cognitive tasks. The athlete must pace themselves during the cognitive task and apply strategies to increase their HR when needed. The training becomes increasingly challenging as Soma NPT continuously takes the athlete's live HR and requires a specific HR range to respond to the cognitive task.
CEM Mode: How it Works
When a stimulus is presented, Soma NPT takes the athlete's current live HR and adds the target HR for left and right responses. The athlete must physically exert themselves to increase their HR to respond to the task. The duration of the task and the HR ranges to select a response vary depending on the task's duration. For example, for 3, 5, or 10-minute tasks, the HR range for left button responses is +2-5%, while the range for right button responses is +6-10%. For 20 or 30-minute tasks, the HR range for left button responses is +2%, while the range for right button responses is +5%. The athlete must maintain the HR zone for 3 seconds.
How to Integrate Cardiovascular Exertion Mode into Training
The integrated session can be performed either prior to the main physical training session or between sets during the session. The recommended task duration is 5 minutes, with the option to hide the live BPM to perceive HR without biofeedback.
Interoception plays a critical role in connecting the body and mind, particularly in physical activity. Soma NPT's Cardiovascular Exertion Mode leverages interoception and cognitive training to create a challenging and performance-enhancing environment for athletes. By understanding the science behind this mode, athletes can effectively integrate it into their training regimen for optimal results.
To Summarise
🧠 Interoception is the awareness of internal body states critical for optimal athletic performance, memory processes, and decision-making.
🏃♂️ Interoceptive awareness connects inner states with achieving and maintaining homeostasis, a crucial aspect of an athlete's survival.
💪 Soma NPT combines interoception and cognitive training to create a challenging mind-body environment for athletes.
💓 The Cardiovascular Exertion Mode in Soma NPT is a performance-related biofeedback mode that requires athletes to reach a target heart rate to respond to cognitive tasks.
⏱️ The duration of the task and HR range vary, and athletes must maintain the HR zone for 3 seconds.
🏋️♂️ The integrated session can be performed either prior to the main physical training session or between sets during the session.
👨🔬 Understanding the science behind this mode helps athletes to effectively integrate it into their training regimen for optimal results.