Effect of beta-blockade on performance: use of beta-blockade in bowling and in shooting competitions

The effect of oxprenolol on performance has been investigated on a double-blind basis in eight bowlers during a 30 hour continuous bowling competition ("marathon bowling") and in twenty-four pistol shooters in four internal competitions. An administration of 40 mg oxpernolol every six hours during the marathon bowling did not impair the scoring of the bowlers as compared with the subjects receiving placebo. Oxprenolol likewise exerted little influence on the subjective feelings of general tiredness as measured hourly during the bowling on a visual analogue scale. The beta-blockade effectively prevented metabolic changes, such as increases in plasma renin activity and in plasma free fatty acids, evoked by the prolonged physical stress. A single dose of oxprenolol (40 mg) given to pistol shooters 60 minutes prior to internal shooting matches resulted in a significant improvement of the scoring as compared on a double-blind basis with similar placebo matches. Some evidence was obtained to indicate that the latter improvement by oxprenolol might have been associated with a prevention of cardiovascular manifestations (mainly tachycardia) occurring during the shooting competitions. Unwanted effects were not recorded either in bowlers or shooters, by contrast, the beta-blockade appeared to produce a general feeling of well-being as frequently experienced by the shooters.