Have you ever felt pass out after a heavy deadlift?
So you are not alone many professional weightlifters face the same blackout condition when they exert their maximal effort during the competition.
In medical terminology, this condition is called syncope that refers to temporary loss of consciousness bcoz the lack of blood flow to the brain. Many nerves are connected with our heart & blood vessels, fainting occurs when the heart cannot pump enough oxygen to the brain. This mostly occurs during deadlift as maximum blood rushes to the muscles to produce maximal force. This is non-life-threatening.
Main causes of it:
Wrong Breathing technique: During a heavy deadlift, most of the lifter uses the Valsalva maneuver technique. This method includes inhaling till the belly is out, holding the breath, perform the lift & breathe out slowly at end of the concentric phase.
This causes an increase followed by a decrease in blood pressure suddenly by causing dizziness or light-headedness.
To avoid this:
-Don't hold the breath for too long. The longer you hold the breath the more time the brain is without oxygen. Also, avoid holding the breath throughout the movement.
-Breathe till the belly to increase the intraabdominal pressure & not till the chest.
-Releasing the breath too fast will lead to a sharp decrease in blood pressure, often falling temporarily below normal levels. So it is advised to breathe out in a controlled manner as soon as the lift is over.
Dehydration: Drop-in body fluid also leads to a drop in blood pressure. Which results in fainting. So it is advised to be hydrated during the workout session & should be done in a comfortable climate.
Taking too long to set up: Blood rushes to head during bent over holding on to the bar position. When we stand erect blood rushes to the back & leg muscles by getting drained from the head.
Low blood sugar level: Blood sugar level might be low if trained in a fasted state or following a low carb diet. A powerlifter who compete in a specific weight category mostly drop carbohydrates to lose some water weight. So it is advised to carry candies & chocolates.
Many elite lifters also face this issue sometimes during competition. But if this blackout session happens more than once or frequently during training then medical help should be taken.
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