As part of a larger training program, applying a new biofeedback protocol for improving reaction time (RT) performance among elite speed skaters at the Canadian Speedskating National Training Center in Montreal, Canada, provided an advantage at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, allowing athletes to assert themselves and claim the best starting position during the event. Each athlete participated in a twice-weekly biofeedback RT training for 5 weeks, for a total of 600 RT practice trials, simulating speed-skating activities such as reacting to commands of “go to the start,” “ready,” and the sound of a signal from a gun to start. There was an overall improvement in RT performance from the beginning to the end of the 5-week period, with the largest improvement occurring between Weeks 4 and 5 of the training, F(1, 9) = 679.2, p = .001. The results suggest that biofeedback protocols will become an essential part of a winning strategy for future interventions in speed skater training.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Spring 2011
Special Issue|
January 01 2011
Biofeedback Reaction-Time Training: Toward Olympic Gold
Richard H Harvey, PhD;
Richard H Harvey, PhD
1San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA
Search for other works by this author on:
Marla K Beauchamp, MS, PT;
Marla K Beauchamp, MS, PT
2University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Marc Saab, MEng;
Marc Saab, MEng
3Thought Technology Ltd., Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Pierre Beauchamp, PhD
Pierre Beauchamp, PhD
4Peak Sport Performance Mindroom, Westmount, Quebec, Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Biofeedback (2011) 39 (1): 7–14.
Citation
Richard H Harvey, Marla K Beauchamp, Marc Saab, Pierre Beauchamp; Biofeedback Reaction-Time Training: Toward Olympic Gold. Biofeedback 1 June 2011; 39 (1): 7–14. doi: https://doi.org/10.5298/1081-5937-39.1.03
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
Sign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionCiting articles via
WHAT ABOUT THIS?: Mouth Breathing and Tongue Position: A Risk Factor for Health
Erik Peper, PhD, BCB, Ron Swatzyna, PhD, LCSW, BCB, BCN, Karindy Ong, MA, CCC-SLP
SPECIAL ISSUE: Immune Function – Level 3 – Probably Efficacious
Fred Shaffer, PhD, BCB, BCB-HRV
SPECIAL ISSUE: Differentiating Successful from Less Successful Males and Females in a Group Relaxation/Biofeedback Stress Management Program
Vietta Wilson, PhD, BCB, Kathy Somers, R.Kin, BCB, Erik Peper, PhD, BCB
MEMORIAL: Tribute to Dr. Evelyn I. Bird (1928–2020)
Vietta Sue Wilson, PhD
WHAT ABOUT THIS?: Hope for Menstrual Cramps (Dysmenorrhea) with Breathing
Erik Peper, PhD, BCB, Singing Chen, Nicholas Heinz, Richard Harvey, PhD