Adapting to Physical Changes
Physical development is part of life. It continues across the entire lifespan, but it may be most noticeable for many people during adolescence when significant changes occur and the mind is on alert. These changes are particularly challenging when they affect daily activities, like athletic performance.
Of concern may be changes in physical stature (e.g. height, body shape, leg length) and capacity (e.g. muscle strength and type, flexibility) as well as biochemical and physical developments relating to the onset of puberty. Less mentioned, but equally as impacting are structural alterations in the brain that alter cognitive functioning (including memory, concentration); and biochemical fluctuations that affect emotions.
All the above changes are pre-destined, automatic, unconscious, and uncontrollable. When change occurs, the parts of the brain that are attempting to execute a skill, must first identify the change has occurred, then adapt to it. To understand how this applies to the body, imagine a 100m freestyle swim race being performed by a swimmer who has had a growth spurt of three centimetres. It is likely that among other things, that the stroke rate and pace will alter. The brain has to reform or adjust neural pathways to accommodate these changes. This will happen as the brain receives feedback from the body about the new demands. Until this adjustment occurs, there will be discrepancy between what the brain wants the body to do, the way it has learned to execute the skill or activity, and what the body does.
How can this impact how athletes feel about themselves?
Have you ever tried to clean your teeth with the hand you don’t usually use? It feels uncomfortable because the brain is not used to it. It’s slower, and the discomfort can be distracting and mildly annoying. After a week or so, as the brain gets more used to it and the neural pathways adjust, it becomes more comfortable. Adjusting to growth is much similar. However, if the task holds personal importance, like a swim meet may executing the race plan effectively, frustration is highly likely.
Athletes may experience:
- Frustration, decrease in motivation and discontent from changes in performance, especially if important competitions are affected;
- Disappointment if changes in co-ordination lead to injury;
- Annoyance from over thinking corrections;
- Displeasure with their figure or sensitivity to other people’s comments;
- Self-consciousness, changes in friendships and interest in intimate relationships with the onset of puberty;
- Uncertainty as independent thought emerges, and training methods, meal plans and nutritional intake may be questioned;
- Unpredictable and confusing emotional experiences arising from biochemical changes.
- A desire to restore security which may lead to and attempts to control their environment or body changes.