Neurocognitive- Learn How to Optimize Your Neural Pathways to Be a Better Athlete

The bodies of professional athletes are different from other individuals. They have impressive physiques, which are honed to perfection. That means they run faster, throw harder, and jump higher than most people could dream of. However, it is not only their powerful physique that sets elite athletes apart; their brains also play a significant role.

Optimize Your Neural Pathways to Be a Better Athlete

When the messages from your brain are clear and accurate, everything, including speed and responsiveness, gets better. As an elite athlete, you must constantly tap into your neural pathways to enhance your performance. Think of your brain like a Ferrari. The brain of elite athletes work faster and moves the body quicker, tighter like the tires of the Ferrari. The following are ways to help you become a better athlete.

Repetition

The brain doesn’t like repetition. The brain gets bored easily. You may do 10 reps of a drill but how ‘locked in’ are you for all 10 of those reps. Elite athletes have trained their neurocognitive system to ignore distractions and be ‘locked in’ more often. That means you have to put in the effort because you cannot become the best athlete overnight. You have to exercise and practice effectively to prepare for a competition. Committing to repetitive exercise will strengthen the neural drive, increasing motor unit activation. It leads to greater strength production. However, using the right movement to build strength during your training is vital. It allows the brain to know the right muscles to fire in the right order.

Multiple Systems of Information to Challenge the Nervous System

If your workout involves only one kind of resistance and repetitive movement, it limits the gains achievable on a neurological or muscular level. That’s why you should integrate multiple systems into one exercise to minimize training time and enhance strength and neurological performance. For instance, an exercise ball, complex integrated movements, bare feet, and unstable surfaces result in additional cerebellum and motor cortex engagement. It helps to maintain balance and strengthen the core. It also increases the sensory systems firing and adds fun to your workout.

Coordinating Movement

Your joints are protected by tendons, ligaments, and muscles that allow for strength and stability during training. When overstretched, these elements will bar your joints and fascia from firing. This compromises communication with the nervous system leading to slower response time and a greater risk of injury. It is best to stretch to prepare the muscles to activate fully while protecting the joints influenced by the movement. In this case, you should not focus on increased flexibility but on influencing all the elements that coordinate movement within the stretching capacity of the joint.

Strength Training

Neurons activate muscles; therefore, the brain plays a vital role in strength. The neural output from your central nervous system to active muscle fibers increases when you adhere to effective strength training. It allows muscles to produce more strength that allows you to perform better.

Sensory Performance Training Eyewear

While the above techniques will optimize your neural pathways to be a better athlete, the Strobe eyewear will also play a crucial role. They are an empowering tool that improves brain health and motor function during fitness training. They come with customizable features hon mental skills such as perception and acuity. We can also customize them to suit the demands of the activity you’re training for.