Welcome to the Science of Sport where we bring you the second, third, and fourth level of analysis you will not find anywhere else.
Be it doping in sport, hot topics like Caster Semenya or Oscar Pistorius, or the dehydration myth, we try to translate the science behind sports and sports performance. Consider a donation if you like what you see here!
Featured Series
Over the course our blogging, we’ve tried from time to time to run series on various aspects of exercise physiology. In these series, we try to methodically move through the topics to debunk some myths and provide practical advice that will hopefully improve understanding and performance.
These series include the following – each line is a link so you’ll be taken directly to the article in question:
Running shoes
- Are your shoes the CAUSE, rather than the solution of injuries?
- Running injury – Shoe or training? A debate with missing information on shoes
- Barefoot vs. shoes: Biomechanics and important concepts
- The running shoe industry: Where will we be in 10 years’ time?
- The footstrike: How should your foot be landing – midfoot vs. heel vs. forefoot striking
- Running shoes vs Barefoot running Q & A Part I
- Running shoes vs Barefoot running Q & A Part II
- Running shoes vs Barefoot running Q & A Part III
- Running shoes vs Barefoot running Q & A Part IV
- Running shoes vs Barefoot running Q & A Part V
- Barefoot running and injuries – a stimulus plan for therapists?
- Also, see the Category: Running shoes
Running technique
- Is there is a “right” way to run?
- The Philosophy of how we run
- Biomechanical discussion and evaluation of Pose Running
- The scientific study on Pose running – what did it show?
- The second Pose study – effect of Pose on running economy
- Some suggested changes YOU can make to your running technique
- The marketing of running technique
- Also, see the Category: Running technique
Running economy
- What is running economy? Introduction to key concepts
- Who are the most economical runners in history?
- Biomechanics of running economy
- How can YOU improve your running through running economy?
- Also, see the Category: Running Physiology
Exercise and dehydration
- History of fluid intake during exercise and the evolution of the sports drink industry
- Why dehydration does NOT CAUSE heat stroke
- Drinking to thirst – what we learn from research in the field and elite athletes
- Why DRINKING to thirst is the optimal way to drink
- Do sports drinks really help prevent electrolyte loss, dehydration and impaired performance?
- Also, see the Category: Fluid, heat & thermoregulation
Sudden death during exercise
Muscle cramps
- Part I: Theories and fallacies behind muscle cramping
- Part II: The electrolyte model for muscle cramping
- Part III: A novel theory for muscle cramps – the role of the brain and nerves
- Part IV: An explanation of the evolution of science
- Part V: Practical steps to reduce and control muscle cramping
- Do sports drinks help to prevent muscle cramping? Part 1 and Part 2
- Also, see the Category: Fluid, heat & thermoregulation
Men vs Women
As we move forward, we’re planning as range of other (hopefully) interesting series – as we go, we’ll continue to post the links here so that you can catch all the content at a glance!
Ross