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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.
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Showing posts with label Links for tabs. Show all posts

Saturday, January 05, 2008

Publications

Engaging in academic scholarship and the publication process is an important part of our lives as Sports Scientists, independent of who signs our paychecks. Here you can find a list of all our scholarly activity, in reverse chronological order, with links to the abstracts on Pubmed.

Dugas JP. How hot is too hot?: Some considerations regarding temperature and performance. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2010 Dec;5(4):559-64.

Albertus-Kajee Y, Tucker R, Derman W, Lambert M. Alternative methods of normalising EMG during cycling. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2010 Dec;20(6):1036-43.

Winger JM, Dugas JP, Dugas LR. Beliefs about hydration and physiology drive drinking behaviours in runners. Br J Sports Med. 2010 Sep 28.

Tucker R, Collins M. The science of sex verification and athletic performance. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2010 Jun;5(2):127-39.

Hew-Butler T, Dugas JP, Noakes TD, Verbalis JG. Changes in plasma arginine vasopressin concentrations in cyclists participating in a 109-km cycle race. Br J Sports Med. 2010 Jun;44(8):594-7

Dugas J. How cool does immersion cooling for hyperthermia need to be? Clin J Sport Med. 2009 Nov;19(6):508-9.

Tucker R. The anticipatory regulation of performance: the physiological basis for pacing strategies and the development of a perception-based model for exercise performance. Br J Sports Med. 2009 Jun;43(6):392-400.

Tucker R, Noakes TD. The physiological regulation of pacing strategy during exercise: a critical review. Br J Sports Med. 2009 Jun;43(6):e1.

Tucker R. Thermoregulation, fatigue and exercise modality. Med Sport Sci. 2008;53:26-38.

Dugas JP, Oosthuizen U, Tucker R, Noakes TD. Rates of fluid ingestion alter pacing but not thermoregulatory responses during prolonged exercise in hot and humid conditions with appropriate convective cooling. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2009 Jan;105(1):69-80.

Rae DE, Knobel GJ, Mann T, Swart J, Tucker R, Noakes TD. Heatstroke during endurance exercise: is there evidence for excessive endothermy? Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008 Jul;40(7):1193-204.

Lambert MI, Mann T, Dugas JP. Ethnicity and temperature regulation. Med Sport Sci. 2008;53:104-20.

Crewe H, Tucker R, Noakes TD. The rate of increase in rating of perceived exertion predicts the duration of exercise to fatigue at a fixed power output in different environmental conditions. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2008 Jul;103(5):569-77.

Tucker R, Kayser B, Rae E, Raunch L, Bosch A, Noakes T. Hyperoxia improves 20 km cycling time trial performance by increasing muscle activation levels while perceived exertion stays the same. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2007 Dec;101(6):771-81.

Atkinson G, Peacock O, St Clair Gibson A, Tucker R. Distribution of power output during cycling: impact and mechanisms. Sports Med. 2007;37(8):647-67.

Hew-Butler T, Sharwood K, Boulter J, Collins M, Tucker R, Dugas J, Shave R, George K, Cable T, Verbalis JG, Noakes T. Dysnatremia predicts a delayed recovery in collapsed ultramarathon runners. Clin J Sport Med. 2007 Jul;17(4):289-96.

Lambert EV, Goedecke JH, Bluett K, Heggie K, Claassen A, Rae DE, West S, Dugas J, Dugas L, Meltzeri S, Charlton K, Mohede I. Conjugated linoleic acid versus high-oleic acid sunflower oil: effects on energy metabolism, glucose tolerance, blood lipids, appetite and body composition in regularly exercising individuals. Br J Nutr. 2007 May;97(5):1001-11.

Tucker R. Response to Marcora Letter. J Physiol. 2006 Nov 23

Tucker R, Bester A, Lambert EV, Noakes TD, Vaughan CL, St Clair Gibson A. Non-random fluctuations in power output during self-paced exercise. Br J Sports Med. 2006 Nov;40(11):912-7; discussion 917.

Tucker R, Lambert MI, Noakes TD. An analysis of pacing strategies during men's world-record performances in track athletics. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2006 Sep;1(3):233-45.

St Clair Gibson A, Lambert EV, Rauch LH, Tucker R, Baden DA, Foster C, Noakes TD. The role of information processing between the brain and peripheral physiological systems in pacing and perception of effort. Sports Med. 2006;36(8):705-22.

Tucker R, Marle T, Lambert EV, Noakes TD. The rate of heat storage mediates an anticipatory reduction in exercise intensity during cycling at a fixed rating of perceived exertion. J Physiol. 2006 Aug 1;574(Pt 3):905-15.

Dugas J. Sodium ingestion and hyponatraemia: sports drinks do not prevent a fall in serum sodium concentration during exercise. Br J Sports Med. 2006 Apr;40(4):372.

Noakes TD, Sharwood K, Speedy D, Hew T, Reid S, Dugas J, Almond C, Wharam P, Weschler L. Three independent biological mechanisms cause exercise-associated hyponatremia: evidence from 2,135 weighed competitive athletic performances. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Dec 20;102(51):18550-5.

Baden DA, McLean TL, Tucker R, Noakes TD, St Clair Gibson A. Effect of anticipation during unknown or unexpected exercise duration on rating of perceived exertion, affect, and physiological function. Br J Sports Med. 2005 Oct;39(10):742-6; discussion 742-6.

Saunders AG, Dugas JP, Tucker R, Lambert MI, Noakes TD. The effects of different air velocities on heat storage and body temperature in humans cycling in a hot, humid environment. Acta Physiol Scand. 2005 Mar;183(3):241-55.

Dugas JP, Noakes TD. Hyponatraemic encephalopathy despite a modest rate of fluid intake during a 109 km cycle race. Br J Sports Med. 2005 Oct;39(10):e38; discussion e38.

Hew-Butler T, Almond C, Ayus JC, Dugas J, Meeuwisse W, Noakes T, Reid S, Siegel A, Speedy D, Stuempfle K, Verbalis J, Weschler L; Exercise-Associated Hyponatremia (EAH) Consensus Panel. Consensus statement of the 1st International Exercise-Associated Hyponatremia Consensus Development Conference, Cape Town, South Africa 2005. Clin J Sport Med. 2005 Jul;15(4):208-13.

Albertus Y, Tucker R, St Clair Gibson A, Lambert EV, Hampson DB, Noakes TD. Effect of distance feedback on pacing strategy and perceived exertion during cycling. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2005 Mar;37(3):461-8.

Noakes TD, Tucker R. Inverse relationship between VO2max and economy in world-class cyclists. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004 Jun;36(6):1083-4; author reply 1085-6.

Tucker R, Rauch L, Harley YX, Noakes TD. Impaired exercise performance in the heat is associated with an anticipatory reduction in skeletal muscle recruitment. Pflugers Arch. 2004 Jul;448(4):422-30.

Hampson DB, St Clair Gibson A, Lambert MI, Dugas JP, Lambert EV, Noakes TD. Deception and perceived exertion during high-intensity running bouts. Percept Mot Skills. 2004 Jun;98(3 Pt 1):1027-38.

Mitchell JB, McFarlin BK, Dugas JP. The effect of pre-exercise cooling on high intensity running performance in the heat. Int J Sports Med. 2003 Feb;24(2):118-24.

Mitchell JB, Dugas JP, McFarlin BK, Nelson MJ. Effect of exercise, heat stress, and hydration on immune cell number and function. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2002 Dec;34(12):1941-50.

Mitchell JB, Schiller ER, Miller JR, Dugas JP. The influence of different external cooling methods on thermoregulatory responses before and after intense intermittent exercise in the heat. J Strength Cond Res. 2001 May;15(2):247-54.

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Top 8 of 2008 Review

Sports News Stories
One of our main purposes on this site is to try to bring sports news stories to life with a "behind-the-scenes' insight, borrowing from science and our own experience. These are often 'opinion-pieces', news articles where we try to explain the hows and whys, but are not free of our own biases. Hopefully they provide a different perspective!

Below are some of the big stories, and our opinions.

The Floyd Landis - Lance Armstrong affair

Caster Semenya - the battle rages on

Topical sports science and analysis

Here at the Science of Sport, our objective is to give the second, third and fourth level of insight into sports news. So having learned WHAT happened in your local paper or on the television, our goal is to tell you WHY and HOW it happened.

So below is a list of some of the topical sports stories we've covered here in The Science of Sport. Each one is a link, so click to be directed to the article:

Ed Coyle and Lance Armstrong: The scientific "fraud"

Oscar Pistorius articles AFTER the CAS verdict: Evaluating the "science"

Oscar Pistorius - should he be allowed to run?

The swimsuit revolution: High-tech doping or necessary evolution?

IAAF world Championships in Osaka, 2007

Preview of 2008

Look ahead to sport in 2008, including:

The Olympic Games of 2008
The future of the marathon event
Cycling in 2008 - can it remain dope-free?

Review of 2007

A look back at some highlights of 2007, including:

Highs and lows - sudden death of athletes and great victories
Performance of the year
Athlete of the year
Choker of the year
Undo a lifetime of achievement award
Losing sleep over the future award

As more stories hit the news, we'll do our best to cover them, and post those links right here!

About us: Who are we?

Who are we?

Ross Tucker, Ph.D.

I obtained my Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from the University of Cape Town in 2006.

My thesis, which was supervised by Professor Tim Noakes, investigated the role of the brain in determining endurance performance. It focused on the pacing strategy during exercise performance, and how the brain regulated the degree of muscle activation (and hence running speed or power output) in order to protect the body from potential harm. Therefore, rather than fatigue occurring because the body reaches some limit (temperature, lack of oxygen or glycogen, etc.), fatigue occurs because the brain is regulating exercise specifically to prevent this limit from being reached.

While completing my PhD, I also obtained a Post-Graduate degree in Sports Management from the University of Cape Town's Faculty of Commerce.

My biggest interests lie in the application of science to performance, in the management of elite athletes and sporting systems, and in bridging the gap between science and commerce. Too often, there's a huge discord (a chasm the size of the Grand Canyon is a more apt description of it!) between the science in the lab and its implementation and application to every athlete. My goal is to bridge that gap, be it through news articles, coaching or explaining the science, and this site will hopefully contribute to all three.

I live in Cape Town, South Africa, where I spend most of my time as a senior lecturer with the University of Cape Town's Exercise Science and Sports Medicine Department. I am also on the management of the Springbok Sevens team, as a sports scientist and strategist. Most recently, I'm working with two Olympic kayakers, Shaun Rubenstein and Mike Arthur, in preparation for their medal assault in London 2012.

I am also currently the Scientific Editor of Runners World SA magazine, consultant technical expert and physiologist with Adidas South Africa, contributor and editor to Health24, South Africa's largest fitness and health related website, and I consult to Discovery Health, Powerade, Sports Illustrated and a few other clients.

I am a qualified middle and long distance running coach, and coach a few athletes in various distances and at various levels. Time prevents more commitment to coaching than this, but hopefully, in the future, I can expand my "stable".

My own personal sports involvement lies in running 10km and half-marathons. I also mountain-bike, play tennis and the occasional social game of soccer.

Jonathan Dugas, Ph.D.

I also obtained my Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from the University of Cape Town in 2006.

My thesis, supervised by Professor Tim Noakes, was titled "Temperature responses to exercise and performance", and looked at fluid replacement, body temperature and performance during exercise in both the lab setting and in competitions, such as the Two Oceans 56 km Ultra-marathon and the Cape Argus/Pick 'n Pay 109 km Cycle Tour.

I showed that the key factor determining body temperature during exercise is the metabolic rate, and not environmental temperature or fluid intake. So what people are traditionally told by the "experts" is that they must drink to help keep their temperature down - this is not correct and the current fluid replacement guidelines are not necessarily relevant to people taking part in marathons and other endurance activities outdoors.

After spending over four years in academia, in March 2011 I became the Director of Clinical Development at The Vitality Group, in Chicago, IL. In that role I contribute to translating the science of exercise to large populations as we try to encourage exercise and healthy lifestyle choices. Also, we attempt to ask the right questions that will allow us to uncover the winning combination of factors that will reduce risk and encourage a sustainable healthy lifestyle in both active and inactive individuals. This keeps me busy, but Ross and I share a passion for applying science to the everyday athlete, and this blog is the result of that.

My sporting background is mixed, starting with soccer through university, then moving to running (Two Oceans twice with a 2:48 marathon PB) and finally cycling. I am a qualified USA Cycling Level II coach, and ride semi-competitively (Category 3) with the xXx Racing-Athletico cycling team here in Chicago.

Our vision

Our vision

Welcome to The Science of Sport!

This site was 'born' at the end of April 2007 as our attempt to give Sports Science and Exercise Physiology a broader appeal, while at the same time providing a site where people could be educated and learn about physiology and exercise performance.

Science without application is really nothing more than stamp collecting, and so we really wanted to give everyone the opportunity to appreciate the physiology and science of performance in a real sense. The aim was to take relevant and interesting (to us, anyway!) topics in sports science and apply them to every one who has every taken part in sport at any level.

We quickly evolved into a news site, and as we stand today, we have two distinct categories of posts:

One is our physiology series, where we try to summarize sports science literature and make it "conversation-worthy" for you. Hopefully, it helps your training, or at least ignites your interest in physiology and science.

Our second type of post is a news story, where we try to add our insights into sports events and current affairs. Our method is to take sports news and try to give you the second, third and fourth level of insight that you can't get from the popular media. These posts are necessarily opinionated, for they reflect our view of sports, based on evidence, which is where we'd like to think we differentiate our coverage from the news sites. Their purpose is to apply a more intellectual approach to debates, to seek discussion and clarity, and to peel away the "mystery" and explain why things happen the way they do.

In other words, you can pick up your local paper or read the sports news on the internet, and they will tell you WHAT happened. Our aim is to fill in the blanks, and try to explain HOW, WHY, WHERE and WHEN it happened, to give that level of insight that we hope can't be found anywhere else!

We're both very interested in cycling and running, in particular. You can read our bios here. We try to cover the range of sports and events, but we do have a natural bias towards these two sports.

I (Ross) have always been a "big picture" thinker (or try to be!), and I think it's really important to pull together interests and information from a wide range of sources. My other qualification is sports management, and the marriage between business, science and sport, especially as applied to sports performance, is my own particular goal. If scientists tend to look at only one square of the chess board, and business another, my goal is to step back and show you the whole board.

We are also both active and qualified coaches, Ross for running and Jonathan for cycling. Our ultimate goal is to apply the science and physiology, and there is no better means to do this than through coaching.

We look forward to much debate and discussion on our posts this year!

Featured series on The Science of Sport

Over the course of the last 10 months, 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

Exercise in the heat

How does exercise in the heat affect marathon performance? Lesson from Osaka

Exercise and dehydration

Sudden death during exercise

The case of Alberto Salazar - coronary artery disease
Sudden cardiac death - electrical disturbances in the heart
The Chicago Marathon 2007 - Chad Schieber
Ryan Shay in New York
Putting it into perspective - implications and practical advice

Muscle cramps

Running technique

Running economy

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

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Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Fatigue examined

The mystery of Fatigue: Anticipatory Regulation and the limits to exercise performance

At the "centre of the physiology universe" lies the question of what limits exercise performance? Even the definition of fatigue is controversial, but once you get into this issue, the complexity and intricacy of the human body becomes apparent.

We can't offer definitive answers here. As we've said often before, if anyone tells you "THE ANSWER", they're either lying, or ignorant, or both! We certainly don't purport to have the "key to fatigue", but we can evaluate the theories, examine the evidence and work towards proposing a model that will, hopefully, shed some light on the issue!

So this is our series on Fatigue, our most epic series to date! Enjoy!

Running technique

If you want to create a debate that can easily turn into an argument with a group of runners, then bringing up running technique is a good place to start! Naturally, every runner, regardless of level or experience, has experience and an opinion on the "perfect running technique".

What has contributed to this issue in recent times is the availability of a wealth of information and "expert advice" on technique, from people who want to sell you shoes, to those you will sell you "style" if you give them enough money and six months of your running! Never before has there been such an emphasis on changing your technique for "better" running. That word - "better" - is never quite defined, and nor has it ever been scientifically tested. So when it comes to the one of the hottest topics among runners, one is limited to anecdotes and (often grand) theories.

Below are some posts we've done looking at the subject!

Ross

Running shoes

Running technique

Running economy

Doping

Unfortunately, the role of science in sport is often synonymous with doping, such is the nature of international elite sport these days. Growing skepticism, discontent and controversy cast a shadow of elite performance, particularly in the Tour de France, which is scrutinized like no other event.

We've tried to cover doping in sport as comprehensively as possible. Below are some of the articles we've featured in the past year, both news-related doping stories, and some insights into the physiology of drugs - how they work, and how much they work?

Enjoy!

The Floyd Landis - Lance Armstrong affair

Cycling - the doping fight continues

General doping stories

Liftetime ban for drug cheats? A debate on crime vs. punishment

Drugs work, but by how much? A look at drugs and performance

Drugs conspiracy: The Growth Hormone test was ready years ago! Why wasn't it used?

Beijing 2008 and doping: Any chance a clean games? We doubt it...

Marion Jones admits to drug use...but there's a catch

Massive drug operations uncovered - the problem is bigger than you imagine

Drugs test apathy - our state of mind reveals a serious problem

The shadow of drugs over the Tour de France

Doping culture in cycling - anything goes and therefore does!

The effect of EPO on performance: Massive benefits, no wonder it's used

Marathon analysis

This page summarizes all the analysis and discussion we do on the marathon event. From the big city marathon recaps, to the physiology of fatigue and performance, you'll find it here!

Ross

2009