Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 28, 2026
Determining the Contribution of the Energy Systems During Exercise
Published on: March 20, 2012
Understanding Ramadan fasting and its challenges for athletes: A general overview
Asma Aloui1,2, Walid Briki3, Hakim Chalabi4,5
1High Institute of Sport and Physical Education, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.
Introduction:
Ramadan fasting, one of the five pillars of Islam, requires Muslims to abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset for 29 to 30 days. This ritual, which shifts annually within the Gregorian calendar, presents specific challenges, particularly for Muslim athletes.
Methods:
In this introductory article to the special issue "Ramadan and Sport", we focus on Muslim athletes who must reconcile the demands of their faith with those of their sport, which can lead to physiological and psychological constraints, especially during international competitions.
Results:
While training and competition schedules are often adjusted in predominantly Muslim countries, athletes in minority Muslim countries, such as France, may not receive the same institutional support. This could influence their mental well-being and performance.
Conclusion:
This literature review, aimed at introducing the special issue "Ramadan and Sport", highlights the importance of personalized support for Muslim athletes during Ramadan and calls for a better understanding of the challenges associated with fasting in high-level sports. We emphasize the need for training coaches and medical staff to support athletes in their religious practices while safeguarding their health and performance.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Metabolic States of the Body: Fasting and Starvation
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:24Muscle Recovery and Fatigue
01:17Exercise and Cardiac Output
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be...
01:27Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
01:19Overview of Carbohydrate Metabolism
Glucose transport into cells is facilitated by a family of transport proteins called GLUT (Glucose Transporters). GLUT4 is the primary glucose transporter for insulin-stimulated glucose...