Can’t catch my breath

Discussion in 'Techniques / Training' started by om patel, Jan 10, 2023.

  1. om patel

    om patel Regular Member

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    Hi
    I am 38 years old and in a badminton academy for the last 5 months.

    I was usually able to recover after my sets which are usually 18-25 shuttles doing a clear then going in for a lift Or some sort of variation which has me moving after my stroke, I stop running around and go pretty slow pace where im able to catch the shuttle BUT

    Recently i seem to get winded and cant catch my breath at all , which makes me
    Feel like im about to
    Vomit . Totally short of breath

    i dont smoke
    Or drink and I can play long games
    Of 1hour plus but when it comes to academy time im dead! After the 2-3 set of rallies

    i do a long nose inhale and then a quick 2nd inhale (double inhale) and a long exhale out the mouth to slow my heart beat down ( as told by andrew huberman) but i feel something is totally wrong as In just short of breath so quickly now and days …
     
  2. Budi

    Budi Regular Member

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    Do you sleep well?
    To much work lately?
    Did you get proper warm up?

    My peak performance are when im warmed up. But when i didnt get proper warm up & immedietly play games, i will tired myself pretty fast. Im a slow warmed up person or maybe my body running on Diesel engine:p

    Or if im overworked last few days & didnt get enough rest, my stamina would drain faster.

    Try to look back few week ago & compare it with few month ago. What the different?
     
  3. Ballschubser

    Ballschubser Regular Member

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    I track my heartbeat during each training session for atleast a year now. I only get out of breath, when I approach my max heartbeat and my heart is obviously not able to keep up with the oxygen demand.

    An other observation is, that double/single and the pace of the match have a major impact on my heartbeat. Doubles is almost always in the range of 70-90% of my max heartbeat, standard single is almost always above 90%. 90% matches will exhaust me quite quickly after 30-40mins, whereas 80-90% matches can go on for hours.

    So I guess, that your fitness is not yet able to keep up with the pace of these matches/training sessions.

    I would recommend two things, first off visit a doc and lets check your health condition, you just don't want to risk any health issues with your heart considering that you are already not that young any longer and that badminton is a very demanding sport. And check out the Polar OH1, a very precise pusle sensor (almost as precise as a belt, just forget about any pulse sensor clocks) which is really easy to handle (just wrap it around arm) and do not need a connection to your smart phone during activity.
     
  4. Cheung

    Cheung Moderator

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    From your description, it’s only the training rallies you get the shortness of breath.

    And then, your training rallies haven’t changed much over the five months but you get short of breath much more.

    Therefore, this is something new for you. Matches are different because you can get to rest quite often and rallies can be only a few shots.

    At 38 years old, the advice is to see the doctor. If you have a family history of relatives having early heart attacks or coronary artery disease, then further investigations may be needed. It’s impossible to say what it might be but at least have the doctor check to try and rule out something that might be serious.
     
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  5. Magwitch

    Magwitch Regular Member

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    Agreed, see a doctor. In addition to the heart I'd check lung capacity. Did this begin after having Covid by any chance? Just wondering whether it may be Long Covid.
     
  6. paroxysmal

    paroxysmal Regular Member

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    Get few tests done

    Blood Hemoglobin
    Blood glucose, HbA1c
    Creatinine (kidney), SGPT (liver)
    TSH (thyroid)
    Chest Xray / pulmonary function tests
    ECG, Echocardiography (heart)

    If the above tests are normal, you can at least be certain that there's nothing majorly wrong with your body.

    Ageing effect can kick in after 35 and one has to work on his fitness more.
     
  7. BadmintonDave

    BadmintonDave Regular Member

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    My guess would be it's a Covid side effect. But like others have said do get tests to rule out everything.

    I'm 34, play 2-4 hrs of badminton a day on average and when I either do intense / footwork training, something that is getting me to try and move faster than I normally do, or if I am involved in 3+ really long ralleys in a row, that is enough to make me need to catch my breath.
     
  8. daneferrari

    daneferrari New Member

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    Could be related to a sedentary lifestyle. If you work sedentary, I suggest doing a light workout once an hour at least
     
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  9. Cheung

    Cheung Moderator

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    I wonder if the OP went to see a doctor and get to the bottom of this.
     
  10. kurty

    kurty Regular Member

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    i'm not sure if the after effect of covic and also recent viral infections.

    my stamina or health had not been too well too..
    i got recent episodes of costochondritis, initially thought was heart attacks or asthmatic.
    but after going to hospital and checks, costochondritis seems to be the root problem.

    after the opening of endemic.. games frequencies also getting more.
    i'm playing 3 times per week, around 2-3 hours each.
    and daily of tabata/plank around 10mins..

    my ankles and wrist hurts as i'm typing these..
    i'm 45 this year.. this will be the 6th years on this sport.
    love badminton but seems no talent.
    can't do any breakthrough or getting the results i dreamt of.
    depressing at times, as body not keeping up the pace of the mind. :rolleyes:
     
  11. BadmintonDave

    BadmintonDave Regular Member

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    The human body should not be in pain.

    What kind of results were you dreaming of? You have to put in the effort if you don't have the talent initially.

    Has anyone analyzed your movement on court with regards your footwork and any possible ankle problems or mis-use?
     
  12. Cheung

    Cheung Moderator

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    I think @kurty has a long term injury that affects movement.
     
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  13. kurty

    kurty Regular Member

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    well, i hope to gain that certain satisfaction after each game.
    less mistakes,
    better moves.
    my friends always comment that I'm too passive, need more attacking in my style. :p
     
  14. kurty

    kurty Regular Member

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    haha, yea..
    my ACL, thank you for remembering.

    i'm too injuries prone..
     
  15. Cheung

    Cheung Moderator

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    I honestly think an ACL that has not been reconstructed is very limiting if you want to improve in sports. It takes a lot of gym work and discipline to build muscles in the leg to compensate for the lack of an ACL and the gym work needs to be maintained constantly. If you don't maintain that gym work, there is a high risk of further meniscus injury. The meniscus doesn't heal very well due to lack of blood supply so if it was me, I would do the surgery to help prevent the meniscus injury. There's another thread in the forum where the forum member had exactly this scenario of not doing ACL because of building up the muscles, stopped the exercises, then injured the meniscus and then went for the surgery - but now the baseline injury is already worse.

    I seen a lot of people with ACL injuries who don't get it reconstructed initially, but then subsequently need to get it done because of a meniscus injury. The risk of injury to the meniscus could have been reduced if ACL surgery was done earlier. Early osteoarthritis can also be delayed.

    Some people are worried about the risks of surgery. The surgery has become a lot more routine so make sure to pick an experienced surgeon. Surgery and anaesthesia is a lot safer now than in the past.

    Then you may ask, what is the ultimate point of surgery? Well, since it's probably not essential for your job, then the consideration is quality of life. You are considering carrying on at 85% quality of life for many years whereas you could be functionally 95% for many years. It wouldn't matter so much if you are 70 years old but a 45 year old should still be active.

    Without having seen you play or train, those aches and pains you are suffering could largely be due to your body trying to compensate for the lack of ACL. The body is very imbalanced even with doing tabata.
     
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  16. Chris88SG

    Chris88SG Regular Member

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    It's called Aging. Even Lin Dan at age 35 had to slow down his game drastically. Once you are past 35, you must reduce your level of intensity. Regardless of whether you are doing daily 10km runs or sprinting, your body will get weaker every single day including losing muscle and bone mass with higher risk of getting injuries taking a longer time to recover.

    Your situation can be attributed due to several factors:
    1. Decreased cardiovascular capacity: As we age, our cardiovascular system undergoes natural changes. The heart may become less efficient at pumping blood, and the lungs may experience reduced elasticity. These changes can lead to a decrease in overall cardiovascular capacity, making it harder to supply oxygen to the muscles during intense physical activity. As a result, you may feel more easily fatigued and experience shortness of breath.

    2. Decreased lung function: Lung function tends to decline with age, primarily due to changes in lung elasticity and a decrease in lung volume. This can lead to a reduced ability to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide efficiently, causing shortness of breath during physical exertion.

    3. Fitness level and conditioning: If you have not been consistently engaged in physical activity or have a relatively low fitness level, you may find it more challenging to maintain the required stamina during intense badminton training. Inadequate conditioning can lead to quicker exhaustion and increased breathlessness.

    4. Pre-existing medical conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or cardiovascular diseases, can affect lung function and contribute to shortness of breath during exercise. If you have any underlying health conditions, they may be exacerbated during physical activity.
    To address this issue, you can consider the following steps:
    1. Consult a healthcare professional: If you're concerned about your shortness of breath, it's advisable to consult with a healthcare professional, such as a doctor or a sports medicine specialist. They can evaluate your overall health, perform relevant tests, and provide personalized advice based on your specific situation.

    2. Gradually increase your fitness level: Engaging in regular cardiovascular exercises, including aerobic activities like brisk walking or cycling, can help improve your overall fitness level and cardiovascular capacity. Gradually increase the intensity and duration of your workouts to build endurance over time.

    3. Focus on breathing techniques: Learning proper breathing techniques during exercise can improve your oxygen intake and help manage shortness of breath. Practice diaphragmatic breathing, inhaling deeply through your nose and exhaling fully through your mouth. Coordinate your breathing with your movements during badminton to optimize oxygen flow.

    4. Monitor your exertion levels: Pay attention to your exertion levels during training. Make sure you are pushing yourself enough to challenge your fitness but not to the point of extreme breathlessness. Gradually progress in intensity and duration, allowing your body to adapt over time.
    Remember, these are general suggestions, and it's important to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice tailored to your specific needs and health condition.
     

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