Applied Sports Science newsletter – December 1, 2015

“Nobody is scientifically developed enough to predict when a guy will be injured,” Arsene Wenger declared after watching Arsenal suffer two, possibly three, more debilitating injuries at the weekend. “I must say with all humility we are not in a position where we can predict (injuries) despite all our tests.”

The problem for Arsenal and for their manager is that the latest injury crisis to strike the club appears to have been all too predictable. They have been here before. Not just in the number of injuries – 10 players now out – but in the nature of them. Soft tissue damage has again highlighted the apparent soft centre in Wenger’s approach.

This study investigated whether player-related factors (demographic, personality, or psychological factors) or the characteristics of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury were associated with the return to playing football in females after ACL reconstruction (ACLR). We also compared current knee function, knee related quality of life and readiness to return to sport between females who returned to football and those who had not returned. Females who sustained a primary ACL rupture while playing football and underwent ACLR 6–36 months ago were eligible. Of the 460 contacted, 274 (60%) completed a battery of questionnaires, and 182 were included a median of 18 months (IQR 13) after ACLR. Of these, 94 (52%) returned to football and were currently playing, and 88 (48%) had not returned. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified two factors associated with returning to football: short time between injury and ACLR (0–3 months, OR 5.6; 3–12 months OR 4.7 vs reference group >?12 months) and high motivation. Current players showed higher ratings for current knee function, knee-related quality of life, and psychological readiness to return to sport (P?<?0.001). Undergoing ACLR sooner after injury and high motivation to return to sports may impact a player's return to football after ACLR.

Touch the ‘Zzz’ icons to reveal what is happening inside your mind at each stage of sleep. [interactive graphic]

In college, many students opt to spend a semester or summer abroad in a foreign country to learn a language, observe a different culture and grow overall as a person.

Because good coaches, like good students, are always trying to absorb new information in different ways, an exchange program similar to a study abroad is happening between USA Hockey and the Finnish Ice Hockey Association.

On Nov. 10-11, members from both USA Hockey and the FIHA visited Columbus to tour Nationwide Arena, observe practices and games, meet with Blue Jackets staff and executives, participate in a coaching roundtable, and run clinics with youth hockey players.

She’s 36, with two kids. A competitive marathoner for just two years. And she’s going to the Olympic Trials. Andrea Duke is a late bloomer, trying to beat the clock and runners half her age.

Gerard J. Martin (Jerry) died November 25, 2015 at his home in Willington, CT, from cancer. … Jerry completed his master’s degree in Exercise Science at the University of Connecticut, and as a graduate assistant for the Department of Kinesiology, he began the design and organization of a strength and conditioning program for all athletes, and taught graduate and undergraduate courses. He was also the Head Physical Wellness instructor for the CT State Police Academy. In 1987, Jerry left UConn for Yale University as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach; he was responsible for the design and implementation of the first comprehensive strength and conditioning program for Yale athletes. In 1990, Jerry returned to UConn for 24 years as the Coordinator of the Strength and Conditioning program for all university athletes. As an adjunct professor for the Department of Kinesiology, he incorporated exercise science and research into the weight room. Jerry spoke at many local and national conferences, and was the co-author of many journal publications. As an inventor, his designs are incorporated into today’s commercial exercise equipment.

AIM:

to investigate the applicability of three different exercise to rest ratios in RSA training in youth soccer players, applying those ones already adopted in adult players, when performing three different sprinting modes (straight, shuttle and sprinting with changing of direction).
METHODS:

18 young trained male soccer players (Height: 1.66 ± 0.07 m; weight: 58.22 ± 7.64 kg; BMI 19.37 ± 3.42 kg· m-2; Age:14 years) participated to the study. In order to compare the different values of the time recorded, an Index of Fatigue was used. Recovery times among trials in the sets were administered according to the 1:5, 1:3; 1:2 exercise to rest ratio, respectively.
RESULTS:

Significant differences among trials within each set (Repeated Measures Anova; p0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:

The results of this study confirm that the exercise to rest ratios considered in this study might be suitable to design effective testing protocols and training sessions aimed at the development of the RSA in youth soccer players, keeping the performances in the speed domain (IF% < ? 7-8%) but inducing the fatigue processes sought with this kind of training method.

The creative life rarely moves in a straight line. Just ask MDavid Low.

Low is the Design Director and Category Lead for the Nike+ running app that helps runners track their workouts (often with some pre-recorded encouragement from star athletes). The app is listed as an “essential” on iTunes and has a seemingly permanent home in the Health and Fitness category’s top 10.

But before landing at one of the biggest brands in the world, Low worked as a producer, technologist, and creative director within agencies, dealing directly with brands rather than being the brand.

… [Under Armour] had already used neuroscience techniques – including in-depth interviews with a cross section of its consumer base – to get a more nuanced understanding of people’s motives for engaging with the brand.

Speaking to The Drum earlier this year, Bill Besselman, VP of integration and digital strategy, said at the end of the process it for the first time split its customers into five groups. For each, it now has an in-depth view of their core drivers and a corresponding map of the various things that influence their purchasing decisions.

“It’s really trying to get into the mind of a person and how they work their way to an outcome,” said Besselman. “And you get interesting insights into how to attack these segments.”

This study investigated whether player-related factors (demographic, personality, or psychological factors) or the characteristics of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury were associated with the return to playing football in females after ACL reconstruction (ACLR). We also compared current knee function, knee related quality of life and readiness to return to sport between females who returned to football and those who had not returned. Females who sustained a primary ACL rupture while playing football and underwent ACLR 6–36 months ago were eligible. Of the 460 contacted, 274 (60%) completed a battery of questionnaires, and 182 were included a median of 18 months (IQR 13) after ACLR. Of these, 94 (52%) returned to football and were currently playing, and 88 (48%) had not returned. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified two factors associated with returning to football: short time between injury and ACLR (0–3 months, OR 5.6; 3–12 months OR 4.7 vs reference group >?12 months) and high motivation. Current players showed higher ratings for current knee function, knee-related quality of life, and psychological readiness to return to sport (P?<?0.001). Undergoing ACLR sooner after injury and high motivation to return to sports may impact a player's return to football after ACLR.

Endurance athletes increasingly are seeking organic foods and beverages for training and competition; alternatives to Gatorade and Powerade.

FOR more than two decades, 50 was a kind of magic figure for cyclists in the Tour de France. That is maximum threshold for hematocrit, the percentage of oxygen-carrying red-blood cells that can be found coursing through human vessels without external help. In “The Secret Race” Tyler Hamilton, a former cyclist for the American side, likened the number to his personal stock price (“You are 43”, his doctor told him). Britain’s David Millar called it “the cyclist’s holy grail”. Breach the 50-mark and be suspended on the reasonable suspicion that you were using EPOs (erythropoietins), a red-blood-cell booster; but ride with a lower figure and risk being left behind. As of last year, 38% of all top-ten finishes in the Tour de France from 1998-2013 were found to have doped themselves with EPOs. Another analysis of 12,000 track-and-field athletes’ leaked blood results, released earlier this year, suggested that 800 or 6% were “highly suggestive of doping”. Yet each year only 1-2% of all tests result in penalties. What is the doper’s secret?

In the four weeks since he was sacked by Aston Villa, Tim Sherwood has spent much of his time watching matches in the Football League and assessing the English game – and the English players in it – from the perspective of a man who has been both manager and development coach.

According to Darwin’s theory of evolution, organisms which are better adapted to their environment tend to survive longer. Does the environment we create influence the selection process and favour those that possess attributes that give them a temporary advantage while at the same time disqualifying those who at that moment in time are struggling to adapt?