Strength and Conditioning Blog | BridgeAthletic

Training Pilots With Kosta Telegadas

Written by BridgeAthletic | Sep 8, 2021 11:45:04 PM

In this episode of Powering Performance, we are joined by Kosta Telegadas, Strength Conditioning Specialist at Langley Air Force Base. Tune in to hear about the different training protocols used to prepare pilots and how these approaches differ from training for ground soldiers. 

Ways to listen: 

Spotify

iTunes

Web

Check out these three highlights:

1. Kosta explains his approach to training pilots 

"Our goal is to create a holistic element from the nutrition, physical therapy, athletic training, strength and conditioning, and massage therapy to help augment the warfighter and their capabilities." 

 

2. Kosta speaks to the approach he takes in training pilots versus ground soldiers. 

"Traditionally, when they're pulling back on the stick and pulling G's in the jet, they can experience up to 2000 pounds of force with their gear on, and for those of you all who don't know, it's like having 2,000 pounds of force pressed down onto your spine real quick, and the blood starts draining from your head. So there's a lot of fatigue. "

 

3. Kosta shares how Energy System Development is important in the pilot community. 

"We want to make sure that blood flow can actually come back to their head. So when they're pulling those Gs, the vision clouds and it looks like you're looking through a toilet paper roll. So what we find is that if you can keep blood flow in the head, keep a low resting heart rate and be able to repeat those intervals again and again and again, the guys will experience less of that blackout effect.  So by pushing their heart rate, their cardiac output up high, we're actually able to have them be more efficient in the jet."

 

Connect with Kosta Telegadas

Instagram: @coach_telegadas

Email: coachkostatelegadas@gmail.com

Thanks to Kosta Telegadas for joining us!