News For
SWIM PARENTS
Published by The American Swimming Coaches Association
5101 NW 21 Ave.,
___________________________________________________________________
Glycogen Depletion
By Keith B.
Wheeler, Ph.D.
And Angeline
M. Cameron
Q. Can
age-group children (9 12 years old) become glycogen depleted? How can a
parent detect glycogen depletion and what should be done to correct it?
A. Yes,
just like their older counterparts, age-group swimmers can deplete, or
significantly lower, the glycogen (carbohydrate) stores in their muscles.
If the body's need for energy to support growth and training consistently
exceeds the supply, the athlete will become chronically fatigued. This
fatigue is due, in part, to an inadequate supply of glycogen in the active
muscles. Until the physical demand is reduced (training is cut back) or
the supply of dietary fuel (mainly carbohydrate) is increased, the athlete will
continue to be fatigued.
Detection of
glycogen depletion is not easy because the symptoms are similar to those
elicited by other physiological problems. However, chronic tiredness
and/or early fatigue in a swimmer's normal training or exercise routine are the
most obvious signs of glycogen depletion.
If the young
athlete wants to regain his or her normal endurance and cannot realistically
reduce daily activity, an increase in daily calories, especially carbohydrate
calories is a must. Meals and snacks containing high-carbohydrate foods,
such as bagels, potatoes, pasta, and fresh fruit, should be consumed.
Concentrated liquid carbohydrate supplements, such as EXCEED\ High Carbohydrate
Source, are also very useful in this situation. Liquid supplements provide
needed carbohydrate calories without providing the bulk that would be in an
equivalent amount of solid food. Additional bulk may not be well tolerated
during an aggressive training program.