We’ve already discussed training at altitude (here). Hypoxia is the state when the body doesn’t get enough oxygen. Now, this can be from various physiological mechanisms breaking down, such as an V/Q mismatch or it can occur when training at altitude or in a hypobaric chamber or with a hypobaric mask on. Given the idea that altitude [...]
Rapoport 2010 performed an analysis of marathon runners. He notes that tens of thousands of people run them every year and yet, most experience severe metabolic limitations from poor fueling or running at the wrong speed while 1-2% simply cannot finish the race. Interestingly, the risk factors for hitting the wall or ‘bonking’ as it [...]
We’ve discussed high intensity aerobic and anaerobic training for the athletic and general populations previously. Would the same apply to the rehabilitative population? Yes! Guiard et al. (2012) completed a literature review, that demonstrated patients were more compliant with and received greater benefits from high intensity interval training compared to moderate intensity continuous exercise. Among the [...]
Quite often, we don’t consider our diaphragm, intercostals and other breathing muscles. Our lungs have been doing their job since we were born and we rarely consider them when training. Certain populations, such as those with COPD require specialized training in breathing and retraining of the musculature around the muscles but generally people in most [...]
Given we all have limited training time, finding ways to get greater performance in shorter workouts is always an attention grabber. While intensity is always the major factor in terms of adaptation, as has been demonstrated time and again, time on task is a major component in elite fitness. If elite levels are not what [...]
Altitude training has been an element of training for years, particularly in aerobic sports. Two schools of thought have generally emerged concerning returning to sea-level for competition. One claims you would peak 48 hours after returning to a lower altitude while the other states its 18-22 days later. The changes one finds when training at [...]
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 [...]
The Finnish military conducted a study on soldiers completing a 15 day field exercise in 2010 (Tyyska et al 2010). Before the exercise, the soldiers’ fitness, body composition, serum testosterone, cortisol and sex hormone binding globulin were measured. These measurements were taken again on day 8 and 15 of the field exercise. On day 8, [...]