Understanding Functional Neurology in Sports Performance

Dr. Yvonne

5/10/20252 min read

Functional neurology focuses on assessing and improving the nervous system's function to enhance overall health and performance. In sports, this involves evaluating neural pathways and implementing targeted interventions to correct imbalances, improve motor control, and facilitate recovery.

Targeted Neural Components in Functional Neurology

Functional neurology interventions aim to optimise specific neural systems critical for athletic performance:

  • Sensory Integration: Enhancing the brain's ability to process and respond to sensory information, crucial for balance and coordination.

  • Motor Control: Improving the precision and efficiency of muscle movements through better neural signalling.

  • Cognitive Function: Boosting focus, reaction time, and decision-making skills by optimising brain activity.

  • Autonomic Regulation: Balancing the autonomic nervous system to manage stress responses and promote recovery.

Evidence-Based Benefits for Athletes

Recent research underscores the efficacy of functional neurology in enhancing athletic performance:

  • Improved Load Tolerance and Recovery: A case study demonstrated that a single functional neurology session enabled an elite weightlifter to return to pre-injury performance levels, with pain perception dropping from 80 to 0 and fatigue from 90 to 20 on a 100-point scale. Thermographic data indicated up to a 15% decrease in body temperature, suggesting reduced inflammation and improved muscle recovery.

  • Enhanced Visual-Motor Skills: Training programs incorporating functional neurology principles, such as vision training under varied lighting conditions, have shown to enhance athletes' reaction times and depth perception. For instance, soccer players training in reduced lighting environments exhibited significant improvements in visual-motor coordination.

Mechanisms of Improvement

Functional neurology leverages the brain's plasticity to rewire and strengthen neural connections. Techniques may include:

  • Sensory Stimulation: Using specific stimuli to activate and train neural pathways.

  • Motor Exercises: Implementing movements that challenge and develop motor control and coordination.

  • Cognitive Drills: Engaging in tasks that enhance focus, memory, and decision-making.

These interventions aim to create a more efficient and responsive nervous system, translating to better athletic performance.

Research

Frontiers in Sports and Active Living (2024) — Functional neurology case study on weightlifter performance

Magalhães, F., Souza, E.D., & da Silva, B. (2024). Effects of a single functional neurology session on pain, fatigue, and thermographic patterns in an elite weightlifter: A case study. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 6, 1472948. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2024.1472948

Directory of Open Access Journals (2024) — Functional neurology in load tolerance and inflammation

Giggins, O.M., Persson, M., & Caulfield, B. (2024). Neuromuscular adaptation and inflammation modulation through applied functional neurology: A performance case review. Journal of Functional Movement and Health, 12(2), pp. 101–109. Available at: https://doaj.org/article/afba4ec8f80a4cb2b28476023577b6f3