We decided to include another article based on the weight regulation in elite sports. This time choosing boxing. Obviously, changes in body weight pre-competition have occurred for decades but this is an interesting read if you are only coming to the realization now that there is a dehydration effect involved.

http://natajournals.org/doi/abs/10.4085/1062-6050-48.1.05

Context: Dehydration is assumed to be a major adverse effect associated with rapid loss of body mass for competing in a lower weight class in combat sports. However, the effects of such weight cutting on body fluid balance in a real-life setting are unknown. ∞

Practices of Weight Regulation Among #Elite #Athletes

Another article from the Journal of Athletic Training Online

Context : The combination of extensive weight loss and inadequate nutritional strategies used to lose weight rapidly for competition in weight-category sports may negatively affect athletic performance and health.

There are several thoughts around weight loss and not only what the best measures are but also what the long term psychology of athletes post career. The correct message needs to be given to athletes to promote healthy eating habits that are aligned with training.

This is critically important and what separates great nutritionists from others as they make the link between increased training / type of training / training load and then how much / what type of intake an athletes should be consuming.

This develops a life plan for athletes so that when the finish their careers they are educated and know the differences in training and then need to change their diet intake.

Upper Body Movement Influencing Cycling VO2max #cycling

Fantastic article from the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine.

Discusses oxygen uptake and how it can change depending on how much the upper body needs to work. 

View the link below to head to the article:

Click to access v11n4-25pdf.pdf

Here is part of the conclusion:

“This suggests that additional work done by the arm muscles to stabilise the body at high work rates may contribute to the VO2 slow component, although the question of
“How much?” remains to be determined”

This will be great for cycling teams to understand the energy cost of upper body movement to help identify differences in nutritional requirements for individual athletes. 

Tennis Serve Performance #ausopen @australianopen

In light of the Australian Open finishing up we thought it was appropriate to share some new research in the world of tennis.

http://www.jssm.org/vol11/n4/4/v11n4-4abst.php

“The purpose of this study was to compare the acute effects of static stretching; dynamic exercises and high volume upper extremity plyometric activity on tennis serve performance”

There is a good sample number of 26 elite athletes. Enjoy the read.