Suni et al 2012 published a study concerning the incidence of absenteeism, pain and function in the military. Groups were randomly assigned to intervention or control. The intervention group was an anti-tank and an engineering cohort while the control group was a signal and a mortar cohort. The intervention was to train and educate the [...]
Ramadan has coincided with the Olympics this cycle and there has been a real discussion about its effects on the athletes who are observing it. Ramadan is the 9th month on the Muslim calendar during which adherents abstain from food and water during the hours the sun is up. This generally involves waking before dawn [...]
In professional soccer, both speed and endurance are key physical performance indicators, and while endurance can be tested alone in a high performance lab (VO2max test), the most accurate on-field performance indicator is The Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test (version 1 & 2) which we talk about here. A study just published in The Journal of Sports Medicine and [...]
Soccer is a complex sport where a wide variety of physical and technical factors combine over 90 minutes. The absolute quanta of multi-directional movements have been recorded in several studies and have produced interesting findings. Similarly, physiological profiles of competitive play have been well documented for many years now. The start point for any coach [...]
We have established here that a strong VO2max is vital for any athlete involved in soccer, tennis, cross-country skiing, judo, karate, kickboxing, cycling, swimming and many more. If you don’t have endurance, it is impossible to go the distance in any competitive event! The most precise way of testing for VO2max is in the lab [...]
Knapikk (et al.) 2011 published a 6-year retrospective on the FBI’s physical training program. The FBI determines fitness levels using the physical fitness test. It is administered 4 times over a 17-week period. It consists of push ups to failure, 1 min max sit ups, 300m sprint, 1.5 mile run and pull-ups to failure. Over the [...]
US Air Force Combat Controllers are among the most elite special forces in the world. Their training lasts approximately 24 months and the attrition rate averages 75%. Their job is essentially to enter an enemy controlled area before anyone else in the US military does, and provide air traffic coordination, communications and painting targets for [...]