1. EFFECTS OF RAMADAN FASTING ON PHYSICAL
PERFORMANCE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
IN YOUTH SOCCER PLAYERS
Taisuke Kinugasa1, Gobinathan Nair1, and Abdul Rashid Aziz2
1Sports Science Academy, Singapore Sports School
2Performance Physiology Unit, Singapore Sports Institute, Singapore Sports Council
Methods Possible mechanisms
Does the Ramadan month
affect physiological Subjects: 20 youth soccer players aged 13 to 14
performance and psychological and they are divided into the Ramadan fasting Dehydration levels = body mass changes
(N = 11) and non-fasting (control, N = 9)
characteristics of youth soccer
groups 4.0
players differently between the Fasting
3.0
fasting and control (non-fasting) No modification on training except conducting Control
2.0 Almost certain (100%
fitness testing
groups? chance) to be higher
%
1.0
(2.0%) at the 1st-R,
Measurement: 1 week before (Pre-R), 2nd week 0.0 but returned to the
(1st-R), 4th week (2nd-R), and after Ramadan
-1.0 Pre-R level at the
(Post-R)
Introduction -2.0 Pre-R 1st-R 2nd-R Post-R
Post-R (100%
chance)
Variables: physical performance (20-m sprint, Ramadan period
During Ramadan, Muslims refrain standing broad jump, and 20-m multistage
from eating and drinking between shuttle run) and psychological (BRUMS, short
Decreased jump performance: long-term
sunrise and sunset for about 12- version of POMS), body mass change
intermittent fasting, aerobic-based training, and
14 hr daily for 29 or 30 days (Shirreffs, 2003)
lack of vigor levels
Only a few studies have been Statistical analysis:
Positive mood states: Muslims are encouraged
conducted and the effects of Log-transformed to calculate % changes
to restrain anger, perform good deeds, and
Ramadan fasting on physical Effect size 0.2 x between-subject SD to identify
exercise personal discipline during Ramadan
performance are unclear substantial difference
(Cennaoui et al, 2009) Likelihood to qualitatively inference the group
The subjects might adapt to overcome the
differences (Hopkins, 2003)
negative circumstances after being exposed
to successive fasting
Estimated VO2max
Results 60.0
Control
ml·kg-1 min-1
Based on Fasting
the fasting group
55.0 Practical implications
50.0 Substantial negative effects of
Ramadan on endurance and vigor
Physical performance 45.0
Pre-R 1st-R 2nd-R Post-R levels in Muslim youth soccer
20-m sprint time: no substantial Ramadan period players were found at the
differences Likely (82% chance) to beginning of Ramadan, but the
decrease by 2.7% at the
1st-R
effects were likely to be diminished
Standing broad jump: likely (87% at the end of Ramadan
chance) to decrease by 5.4% at the
Post-R Vigor level (BRUMS)
12 We recommended Muslim youth athletes to train at
Fasting a relatively low training load at the beginning of
10 Control Ramadan and then the loading can be increased
Psychological (BRUMS) toward the later part of Ramadan
8
6 The calendar of international sporting events should
Anger, confusion, depression, fatigue,
and tension decreased at the 2nd-R take into account the Ramadan month
4
compared to 1st-R Pre-R 1st-R 2nd-R Post-R
Ramadan period
Likely (95% chance) to be
suppressed at the 1st-R, but
returned to the Pre-R level
at the 2nd-R (83% chance)