University News
Student-Athletes Chill Out with Stress Relieving Program Developed by Western PE Prof
June 24, 2003
Underhand dart competition between Steven Radlo's spring 2003 classes. (Download print-quality image) |
MACOMB, IL -- You're on the 153-yard par three third hole at Western Illinois University's Harry Mussatto Golf Course and you're anxious to sink a hole-in-one. You close your eyes and find your "zone" -- you visualize your swing, the club connecting solidly with the ball, the ball soaring over the fairway and landing with a confident "thunk." It's in the hole!
That's Peak Achievement Training (PAT), and that's what Steven Radlo, Western Illinois physical education assistant professor, is researching and teaching WIU student-athletes. In layman's terms, PAT, a form of neuro/biofeedback, simply challenges and teaches a person to concentrate and stay focused. Radlo's research "The Effects of a Stress Management Program and Biofeedback on Learning in a Competitive Environment," funded by a University Research Council grant, is on its way to helping student-athletes further their success on the playing field and in the classroom. Western is currently just one of 20-25 schools in in America to have a PAT machine, along with numerous professional sports teams, Radlo said.
But, Radlo pointed out, the PAT isn't just for athletes; anyone can benefit from this training. Before purchasing the PAT system, Radlo was researching biofeedback using an EEG (electroencephalogram) system for the past four years.
"The Peak Achievement Training system allows me to tap into, or look into, a performer's head to find out what decision he or she is making. I can see the stimulus, such as making a basket or preparing to take a test, and the time it takes the person to respond to that stimulus," he explained. "By using the brain sensor band, I can see how and when the person makes that decision, and it really opens a window for us to determine how stress management programs can be used. We want to get that person in a relaxed state so he or she can perform at their utmost capacity and succeed."
One of the purposes of the PAT is to find a person's "quiet line," that time when arousal levels are at their lowest. If an individual learns how to tune into that quiet line, it can be particularly helpful when approaching a stress-related event such as putting a golf ball or heading to the free throw line. One way of finding that quiet line is a "microbreak" -- closing the eyes for just a moment and refreshing the mind -- think of Happy Gilmore's "happy place" -- in preparation for the task at hand.
"This is really about learning a self-monitoring tool so you can focus intently while keeping arousal levels low," Radlo added. "When I use the sensor band, I can listen for the high pitches as well as watch the visual effects of the brain waves; this tells me when someone is concentrating. By practicing biofeedback techniques three to four times a week, for about 20 minutes at a time, an individual should be able to make this second nature."
Another exciting aspect of the biofeedback research, he said, is the potential it has to assist individuals with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). If persons afflicted with this disorder can learn to stop and refocus for even a few seconds, they may be able to better concentrate in the classroom setting.
Radlo's research recently involved students in his spring 2003 stress management classes. For nearly 14 weeks, one set of his students learned sources of stress and how to cope with pressure-filled situations. They learned special breathing techniques, imagery ("see the ball, be the ball"), muscular relaxation techniques and positive self-talk. Based on the evidence in professional journals, the students who received the stress management training, in conjunction with the biofeedback PAT, should outperform a control group in a competitive activity. For the last three Fridays, Radlo's stress management trained students went against pupils in his motor behavior class who did not receive the stress training in an underhand dart competition in which cash prizes could be obtained.
"The biofeedback trained students should have been able to go to the line, ready themselves in a calm fashion, imagine the perfect shot and make it," he explained. "I wanted to see them have lower error scores, lower arousal levels and higher concentration."
Radlo was there to record the data, complete with brain sensor bands and electrodes for both parties involved. And the results? Of the 12 competitions (24 participants), the stress management/biofeedback group won 11-1 over the control group. According to Radlo, the stress management students had a quiet mind while concentrating 71 percent of the time, compared to the conrol groups state of concentration rate of 55 percent.
But Radlo isn't limiting his research and techniques to his students. He, along with a physical education graduate student,, worked with a soccer student-athlete to improve her performance before she went semi-pro this summer. Radlo has also pitched his technique ideas to some Western Illinois coaches and is looking forward to working with more student-athletes this fall.
Radlo's groundbreaking research began with his doctoral dissertation at the University of Florida where he used a brain sensor band to improve hitting skills for baseball players. According to Radlo, his test was the first-ever used in a dynamic sports setting. And because of his initiative, a Western sports psychology graduate used Radlo's same technique on a football player for the basis of his master's thesis.
"We're conducting some research in dynamic sports situations that can lead to greater success in athletics, as well as in the classroom," Radlo said. "We're on the cutting edge here."
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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