optimum performance
Physical Activity Found to Favor Healthy Sleep Schedule
An adequate amount of good-quality sleep is essential for the physical and emotional well-being of humans. For instance, good-quality sleep helps improve the outcomes of various diseases, including cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, mental diseases, and... more »
5 Benefits of Sports Nutrition for Young Athletes
As a young athlete, you want to perform your best. That’s why it’s vital to understand the benefits of sports nutrition and how it can help you achieve your goals. A recent article from Pulse... more »
Study Suggests Protein Aids Recovery, But Not Performance
A new study, published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Medicine, has shown that carbohydrate and protein supplementation strategies may help athletes deal better with the muscle damage that comes from endurance... more »
Insights for Powerlifting with a 2X IPF World Champion
To fit in with the current Issue theme of ‘Strength & Conditioning’, two-time IPF World Champion Andy Askow recently sat down to share some wisdom about his passion for both powerlifting and performance nutrition. Andy... more »
Blood Flow Restriction Training For Injured Athletes
Blood flow restriction training, also known as BFR or occlusion training, helps athletes recover from injury or surgery. It uses special equipment to safely prevent low-oxygen blood from leaving the targeted muscle. At the same... more »
Maintaining Bone & Muscle Strength Through a Pill?
When we are physically active our bones and muscles work together to make them stronger. To maintain bone health, the American College of Sports Medicine recommends a combination of weight-bearing activities 3–5 times per week and resistance... more »
Exercises to Improve Knee Strength and Flexibility
As the name suggests, runner’s knee is one of the most common running injuries, and it’s also one of the most annoying to beat once it strikes. According to Michael Harrop, specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapist at Pure Sports Medicine(opens in new... more »
Health Benefits of BCAAs in Everyday Life
BCAAs are essential amino acids. The three BCAAs are leucine, isoleucine, and valine. The body uses amino acids to make proteins, which are the building blocks of every cell, tissue, and organ. Amino acids and... more »
Study: Sports Play Important Role in Men’s Mental Health
Sports can play a crucial role in challenging stereotypes and promoting positive mental health for boys and young men, new Australian research has concluded. "Suicide is the leading cause of death for people aged 15–25... more »
Three of Four Teens Aren’t Getting Enough Daily Exercise
Three out of every four teens aren't getting enough exercise according to a recent study, and this lack is even more pronounced among female students. But new research from the University of Georgia suggests improving... more »
A Multidisciplinary Healthcare Approach in Athletics
A multidisciplinary, team-based approach in healthcare is a leading strategy to improve patient outcomes, well-being, satisfaction, and cost-effectiveness. It allows for a holistic, well-rounded approach to patient-centered care in managing complex conditions of illness, injury,... more »
Study Suggests Antibiotics Weaken Athletic Performance
New research demonstrates that by killing essential gut bacteria, antibiotics ravage athletes’ motivation and endurance. The UC Riverside-led mouse study suggests the microbiome is a big factor separating athletes from couch potatoes. Other studies have... more »
Fuel Timing to Optimize Performance
Meal and nutrient timing can be key components of an athlete’s performance and recovery. When it comes to athletic performance, oftentimes the minor details lead to major payoffs. In the context of an athlete’s day,... more »
7 Stages of Long-Term Athletic Development
The Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model describes what children, youth, and adults need to be doing at the right time to develop in sport or activity. According to Istvan Balyi, Richard Way, and Colin Higgs,... more »
Tips for Integrating The Snatch and Clean & Jerk
A conversation I frequently have with fellow coaches and colleagues is whether or not weightlifting derivatives are worth the time they take to teach their athletes. While the answer (like most things in sports performance)... more »
Study — Athletics Improve Concentration & Quality of Life
Movement on a regular basis keeps kids healthy and fit for school. The benefits of sports have been demonstrated in numerous studies. Now a research team at the TU Munich has found proof of the... more »
What You Need To Know About VO2 Max
If you exercise regularly, you probably keep track of how many minutes you work out, how many calories your burn, and your heart rate. But there’s another indicator that can help you improve your aerobic... more »
Major League Culinary Performance Nutrition
One hundred and sixty-two games over a six-month-long regular season. It’s an extended haul in Major League Baseball, and recovery throughout is pivotal to maintaining healthy and high-performing athletes. This goal is top of mind... more »
FIFA Takes Part in Ground-Breaking Female Player Health & Performance Study
FIFA, in collaboration with Orreco and Western Sydney University, is investing in female player health and performance research to build better future sports science systems. For decades, the scientific understanding of the female athlete has... more »
Achieving Level II in Athletics
Even though most athletes would tell the coach that they want to perform at their ultimate level of play, the reality is many settle for what would be called a Level I performance. Both the... more »
Information on Inflammation
Recovery is an important aspect when it comes to athletic development. The ability to efficiently recover directly impacts an athlete’s ability to perform, adapt, and grow. The term inflammation is frequently thrown around in the... more »
Study: Lack of Spectators Affected Male & Female Athletes Differently
Without an audience, men run slower and women faster. The lack of spectators during the coronavirus pandemic appears to have had a noticeable effect on the performance of athletes at the 2020 Biathlon World Cup,... more »
Achieve Better Sleep with Effective Exercise
Sleep. Those who get enough of it spend a third of their day doing it. Those who don't are constantly searching for a better way to sleep. According to the World Sleep Society, a non-profit... more »
The Color of Sports Drinks May Keep You Running Faster & Longer
According to a recent study, there may be a connection between motivation and the color of sports drinks we choose to consume. The study, published in Frontiers of Nutrition and shared through TheBeet.com, found that... more »
Is Burnout Having a Negative Impact on Your Workouts?
Burnout. We've all felt it before to one degree or another in varying circumstances. Whether in the workplace or in the weight room, the burnout factor is real and can have real ramifications, like depression,... more »
Increasing your Power Index for Strength & Conditioning
In the sporting world, the main reason for partaking in a strength and conditioning program is to provide a benefit to athletic performance. One of the critical features of a good strength and conditioning program... more »
Physical Activity and Its Role in Appetite Regulation
Competitive athletes all have a common goal: to optimize performance and recovery. This happens through training to enhance technical skills and through physiological adaptation. Optimal performance, recovery, and physiological adaptation all have ties to nutrition,... more »
Laser Therapy: The Best Kept Secret in Recovery
What if there was a rehabilitative therapy that treated acute injuries better than ice; one that didn’t create chemical dependencies or require going under the knife? Is there something out there that can relieve the... more »
Meet the 2021 Award Winners from the AMSSM
The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) presented the following awards during its 30th Annual Meeting on April 17, 2021. AMSSM Past Presidents Kimberly Harmon, MD, FAMSSM, and Robert Dimeff, MD, FAMSSM, both received... more »
Study: Physical Activity Offers ‘Strong Protection’ from Worst COVID Outcomes
A recent study released this week shows that regular physical activity provides protection from the worst side effects of COVID-19 — hospitalization, intensive care admission, and, even, death. The study, conducted by Kaiser Permanente and... more »
