SIRC

The possibility that chronic strength training and the concomitant increase in muscle strength, muscle power and hypertrophy may enhance oxidative muscle function has been of great interest for improving athletic performance.

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

Research in the area of beta-alanine supplementation has grown dramatically since 2006 and it will continue to grow as the ergogenic effects are demonstrated with highly trained participants. This study aims to explore the potential benefits of supplementation with beta-alanine and also the combined benefits with sodium bicarbonate intake.

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.

When working with elite female athletes as a sport scientist, support staff or coach, it is critical to gain an understanding of their dietary practices. Making the assumption that they are fueling their bodies properly for training and competition may not be appropriate. This Canadian research article took a comprehensive analysis of the dietary habits of 33 junior elite female soccer players and presented the findings in a manner that highlights the inadequacies in both macro and micronutrients.

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.