This review article highlights the current research regarding iron status within the athletic population and the impact that iron deficiency may have on aerobic performance. The author identifies the need for specific cut off blood values for both male and female athletes; noting that the clinical blood markers for iron deficiency may be too low.
Authors: Lee, J.B., Ohgi, Y., and James, D.A.
(2012). 9th Conference of the International Sports Engineering Association. Procedia Engineering, 34, 795-800.
Commentary by Allan Wrigley
In this study by Myer GD et al, the authors investigated 18 athletes that had returned to sport without modification following ACL surgery and 20 age, gender and sport matched control subjects. All athletes completed a series of performance based field tests.
In this review Tucker and Collins examine the contributions made by deliberate practice and genetic factors to sporting success. The nature versus nurture argument is not a new one but as the authors point out it is an argument that has become more prominent of late.
Sometimes we forget the basics. In this era of high technology and striving for small increments in performance, the basic aspects of health and recovery are sometimes forgotten.
Video analysis has long been considered the most practical and relevant method for monitoring athlete performance; however, the recent trend of utilizing multi-functional sensors to monitor performance has increased dramatically due to the decrease in size and the overall practicality of these sensors to monitor sport performance.
The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of the FMS for evaluating changes in an individual’s movement following two training conditions.
Authors: Ingham, S. a, Fudge, B.W. & Pringle, J.S.
International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance 7, 193-5 (2012).
Commentary by Leo Thornley
Progressing and excelling in sport is partly about the athlete effectively processing feedback, whether it is internal feedback that an athlete receives from sensory perception, external feedback as they watch video or technical information that is provided verbally. We often assume that once feedback is delivered then the change can be made. It sounds simple, however this is not the case
Its a good time for a bit of extra reading. Rather than identifying an article, this time I would like to highlight an entire issue of interest. The British Journal ofSports Medicine recently published an entire issue on “What really limits performance”. Dr. Timothy Noakes acted as a guest editor, and wrote a great piece on the Central Governor Model and the regulation of human exercise performance. There are eight papers that provide great reading and are thought provoking. Recommended reading!
