Website Update

Update to the layout of each page and the structure of the menu options on the left side.

Recovery from a Pulled Muscle

In this article Courtney Gordner identifies five ways to come back from a pulled muscle in the middle of training. Additional information can also be found on the Cryotherapy page.

Low Carb Protein Bars

In this article Katy Reeve considers if low carbohydrate Protein Bars are effective in weight loss.

Elevation Training – Does it really work?

In this article Matthew Rowe looks at the use of elevation training in athletes and how it may help improve athletic performance.

Fibromyalgia

In this article Brad Walker explains how to use gentle aerobics and stretching exercises to reduce  the pain of Fibromyalgia.

Muscle confusion training for athletes: Is it beneficial?

In this article Matthew Rowe looks at the popular concept of muscle confusion and discusses whether it can really help improve our athletic performance.

Coaches - Create independent athletes

In this article Dr. Matt long and Jamie French speak to national coach mentor Malcolm Fenton about coach-dependent athletes.

The Art of Running Downhill

In this article Dr. Matt Long spends time with two-time 'national' winner Eamonn Martin in examining how to run downhill efficiently in races.

Electronic Muscle Massagers

Most people carry a great deal of tension in the neck or leg area of the body, and they frequently experience unbearable pain. A specialized electronic massager will release all that negative tension, helping the user to relax. Does an electronic muscle massager really work?

How to build endurance when training

In this article Courtney Gordner, a freelance writer,  looks at how to develop your endurance with aerobic and anaerobic training.

The evidence for increasing cycling endurance with supplements

Whether you are professional athlete or a weekend warrior, as a distance cyclist you will no doubt be interested in ways to maximise your endurance. While there are steps you can take towards this through modifying your dietary intake to ensure you have the optimal balance of carbohydrates and protein, adequate fluid on board and a rich supply of performance enhancing micronutrients, there is a lot of interest around the role that various supplements can play in promoting cycling endurance. However, as clinical studies show, some of these are more effective than others. Here we review some of the recent scientific literature that relates to the nutritional components of supplements and which may be of benefit to endurance cyclists.

Carbohydrate Cycling For Improved Athletic Performance

In this Article Matthew Rowe explains the use of carbohydrate cycling versus conventional dieting for improving an athlete's performance.

Focus on the Process

Focus on the Process: Dr. Matt Long provides an overview of a presentation delivered by Dave Sunderland on the subject of athlete preparation. Dave, the veteran of every major championship was keen to elaborate on what he referred to as: When, What and Why's of training and had much to say about the methods behind the greatest rivalry in British athletics history - namely that of Seb Coe and Steve Ovett.

Mo Farah & Dr. Barry Fudge

Training is Athlete specific: None of us one will ever forget that magical three quarters of an hour on the evening of Saturday 4th August 2012, when Jess Ennis delivered the proverbial grandstand finish in the final event of the heptathlon and Greg Rutherford equalled the feat of Lynn Davies. Then to top it off of course Mo Farah prevailed over 25 nail biting laps of the Stratford stadium but what was the role of Dr. Barry Fudge in supporting Mo Farah?

Essential Components of Exercising

In her article - Essential Components of Exercising - Clara John explains why, to receive the maximum benefits from your workout regimen, you need to focus on your breathing, stretching and posture.

Yoga Misconceptions

Yoga has been practiced for many centuries. It is a traditional Eastern practice that offers numerous health benefits regardless of age and fitness level. Yoga is a particular exercise system that includes a number of subtle postures and stretching poses to strengthen most of the body parts. Many people are under many misconceptions about the conventional yoga practice. They like the graceful poses but hesitate to participate in Yoga because of the wide spread false impressions about the practice. Article: Yoga Misconceptions

Goal & Process Motivation

It is October 15, 1968 and in the high altitude of Mexico City a 24-year-old British athlete wearing number 402 is settled in his blocks out in lane six as he attempts to become Olympic champion over 400 metres hurdles. Now 44 years later, we analyse the reflections of David Hemery in his finest hour through recourse to the tool of Reversal Theory. The Article: Goal & Process Motivation

Developing Aerobic Capacity

In this article Dr. Matt Long & Jamie French, provide a brief overview of the physiological underpinnings which signify 'aerobic power' and sign posts the kinds of activities that can be done to improve aerobic capability within athletes. 'Aerobic power' is synonymous with the notion of 'V02 max'.

An Effective Fat Burning Routine

An Effective Fat Burning Routine - Mark Kislich provides some advice on an effective training protocol that will help boost HGH (growth hormone) levels and initiate lipolysis (fat burning).

Regeneration Sessions

Regeneration Sessions - Farzad Jalilvand provides examples of regeneration sessions that will help reduce the psychological and physiological stress to help an athlete perform at optimal levels throughout the season.

AAA Track & Field Standards

Update to the AAA Track & Field Standards page to reflect the 2013-2014 standards.

Pilates: The Basics & Benefits

Clara John provides an insight into the objectives and benefits of a Pilates workout.

METS

Update to the METS page to include new references and a link to the Compendium of Physical Activities website.

Food for thought

Nutrition is an inherent part of basic recovery but coaches and athletes need to understand the difference between good dietary practices and nutrition to enhance performance - "Food for thought".

Minding your Mental Fitness

David Lowes and Dr Matt Long investigated the mind-set of mature elite athletes and the mind-set of social athletes. Being in the right frame of mind is an essentiality to deliver a performance allied with endless hours of steady running and repetition work on the track for middle distance athletes.

Profile of Mood States Questionnaire Scoring

The "Scoring for POMS" page details how the scores are calculated from the Profile of Mood States (POMS) Questionnaire

Resting Daily Energy Expenditure page update

The update to the RDEE page is the inclusion of the male and female algorithms used in the calculator to determine their resting daily energy expenditure. 

Nutrition page updates

Updates to the Nutrition page include: revised values for daily energy requirements and energy yield per gram for Carbohydrate, Fat & Protein and inclusion of new references.

Benefits of a Multi-Planar Movement Exercise Program

In this article Matthew Rowe explains the benefits of a multi-planar movement workout for improving strength and physical conditioning.

Profile of Mood States

Inclusion of the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire a standard validated psychological test formulated by McNair et al. (1971). 

How can we make tests more reliable and valid

A section on "How can we make tests more reliable and valid" included on the Performance Evaluation Tests page

Components of Fitness

Inclusion of tests for the fitness components.

History of ideal weight formulas

A number of formulas and theories have been devised over the years and some of those most popular "ideal weight" formulas have been included on the ideal weight page.

Debunking Three Common Nutrition Myths

Lily Bedford consider the following three nutritional myths and their relevance to keen sportsmen and women.

1. Taking high dose vitamin C supplements can prevent colds
2. We need to include more polyunsaturated fats in our diet
3. The amount of protein we eat is the most important factor for building muscle

Implement specifications

The weight specifications for Master athletes (35+) have been included on the Hammer page, Shot page, Discus page, and Javelin page and their hurdle height specifications on the Hurdles page.

Regaining Fitness after a Road Accident

This article provides an insight into the process of rehabilitation after acquiring an injury through a road accident. See Article 121

Sporting Injuries and Pain

Lily Bedford provides an insight into how to manage sporting injuries and the pain so as to allow the body to recover - see article 122

The Truth About High Protein Diets and Kidney Damage

An article by Kris Gunnars makes a case for increased protein intake not only being harmless, but potentially even having a protective effect - 

A Nutritious Diet for Vegetarian and Vegan Athletes

Lily Bedford provides an insight into the common health and dietary issues associated with the vegetarian and vegan diet

An alternative equation for calculating BMI

Inclusion of an alternative equation on the Ideal Weight page for calculating your Body Mass Index identified by Professor Trefehan in The Times

Usain Bolt 2012 London Olympics

Inclusion on the Sprinting page of an analysis of Usain Bolt's 100 metre final in the London 2012 Olympics.

The Best Chest Workout for Wide and Square Pecs

Mark Kislich explains what he learnt from Jay Cutler, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Charles Poliquin about Building Muscle Fast 

Sports Coach Biography

Read the Sports Coach Biography page to find out why and how the website started and how it developed into a site of over a thousand sport related pages that it is today.