Snippit Sports Science Podcast

Snippit is made possible by listeners like you. Please help support the podcast: ► https://www.patreon.com/snippitscience    Today we discuss one of Chris's own papers that was part of his PhD, which looked into the biomarker ability of salivary testosterone and cortisol in response to training and competition in elite Rugby Union players. These findings were unique in that we have an ability for salivary Testosterone as a possible “predictor” of performance a few days later.  This has also been found in a couple of other rugby teams also, which is really interesting.  Hope you enjoy:   Relationship between Midweek Training Measures of Testosterone and Cortisol Concentrations and Game Outcome in Professional Rugby Union Matches Gaviglio, Christopher M.; Cook, Christian J.   Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research December 2014 - Volume 28 - Issue 12 - p 3447–3452 https://insights.ovid.com/crossref?an=00124278-201412000-00017   The aim of this study was to assess the response of salivary-free tes

Snippit is made possible by listeners like you. Please help support the podcast: ► https://www.patreon.com/snippitscience    We all love (well, most of us) chocolate.  There are lots of reported benefits for the consumption, but what is fact and what is fiction?  This Snippit covers a comprehensive review of chocolate consumption:   Clin Nutr. 2018 Jun 1. pii: S0261-5614(18)30204-8 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261561418302048   Is chocolate consumption associated with health outcomes? An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.   Veronese N, Demurtas J, Celotto S, Caruso MG, Maggi S, Bolzetta F, Firth J, Smith L, Schofield P, Koyanagi A, Yang L, Solmi M, Stubbs B   Abstract   BACKGROUND & AIMS: The literature regarding the potential health benefits of chocolate consumption are unclear and the epidemiological credibility has not been systematically scrutinized, while the strength of the evidence is undetermined. We therefore aimed to map and grade the diverse health

Snippit is made possible by listeners like you. Please help support the podcast: ► https://www.patreon.com/snippitscience    We are very excited to have Olympian Craig Pickering, DProfCand on the podcast to talk about all things caffeine and its application to athletic performance. When Chris first met Craig in the UK, Craig was a sprinter training for the 100m. He competed at the 2008 Olympics in both the 100m and 4 x 100m relay. Craig was also selected for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in bobsleigh. After retiring from professional sport, he took the position of Head of Sports Science at DNAFit, a genetic testing company. Alongside his work, he is also studying for a Professional Doctorate at the University of Central Lancashire, where his interest is in exploring the utility of genetic information in elite sport, with a secondary interest in caffeine.   In particular, Craig discusses two of his published articles:    What should we do about habitual caffeine use in athletes? Sports Medicine, 1-10. Pi

Snippit is made possible by listeners like you. Please help support the podcast: ► https://www.patreon.com/snippitscience    Hi everyone and thanks for tuning in. Continuing on our nutrition theme, today we are reviewing the article:  Eur J Sport Sci. 2019 Feb; 19(1):71-85 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17461391.2018.1505957 Epub 2018 Aug 15   Exercise-induced muscle damage: What is it, what causes it and what are the nutritional solutions? Owens DJ, Twist C, Cobley JN, Howatson G, Close GL  Abstract   Exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) is characterized by symptoms that present both immediately and for up to 14 days after the initial exercise bout. The main consequence of EIMD for the athlete is the loss of skeletal muscle function and soreness.   As such, numerous nutrients and functional foods have been examined for their potential to ameliorate the effects of EIMD and accelerate recovery, which is the purpose of many nutritional strategies for the athlete. However, the trade-off between

Snippit is made possible by listeners like you. Please help support the podcast: ► https://www.patreon.com/snippitscience      To continue the sports nutrition theme, we are looking further into these concepts.  Today’s podcast defines the concept of "periodized nutrition" (also referred to as "nutritional training") and summarize the wide variety of methods available to athletes. The purpose of this review is not to discuss the literature in great detail, but to clearly define the concept and to give a complete overview of the methods available, with an emphasis on adaptations that are not in the muscle. While there is good evidence for some methods, other proposed methods are mere theories that remain to be tested.   True to our “Snippit” format, this is a two-part series: Sports Medicine March 2017, Volume 37, Supplement 1, pp 51-63 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-017-0694-2   Periodized Nutrition for Athletes Asker E Jeukendrup First Online: 22 March 2017   Abstract   It is becoming incr

Snippit is made possible by listeners like you. Please help support the podcast: ► https://www.patreon.com/snippitscience    This week’s Snippit was a request from one of our listeners. We found this a fascinating paper reviewing the effects of exercise on sexual function. Aside from the many other benefits of exercise, there are positive effects on sexual functioning and vice-versa.  There are also lots of interesting little facts along the way. If anyone else would like us to review an article please leave a comment or contact us at SnippitScience on your preferred social media platform.   Thanks for listening: New Horizons in Adult Education and Human Resource Development Volume 30, Issue 2 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/nha3.20211   The Physiological and Psychological Effects of Exercise on Sexual Functioning: A Literature Review for Adult Health Education Professionals Lia M. Jiannine  Thomas G. Reio Jr. First published: 27 April 2018   Abstract   Even with the well‐recognized benefits

  Snippit is made possible by listeners like you. Please help support the podcast: ► https://www.patreon.com/snippitscience      To continue the sports nutrition theme, we are looking further into these concepts.  Today’s podcast defines the concept of "periodized nutrition" (also referred to as "nutritional training") and summarize the wide variety of methods available to athletes. The purpose of this review is not to discuss the literature in great detail, but to clearly define the concept and to give a complete overview of the methods available, with an emphasis on adaptations that are not in the muscle. While there is good evidence for some methods, other proposed methods are mere theories that remain to be tested.   True to our “Snippit” format, this is a two-part series: Sports Medicine March 2017, Volume 37, Supplement 1, pp 51-63 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-017-0694-2   Periodized Nutrition for Athletes Asker E Jeukendrup First Online: 22 March 2017   Abstract   It is becoming in

Snippit is made possible by listeners like you. Please help support the podcast: ► https://www.patreon.com/snippitscience    J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017 Jun 13; 14:18 https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-017-0173-z eCollection 2017   International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine. Kreider RB, Kalman DS, Antonio J, Ziegenfuss TN, Wildman R, Collins R, Candow DG, Kleiner SM, Almada AL, Lopez HL   Abstract   Creatine is one of the most popular nutritional ergogenic aids for athletes. Studies have consistently shown that creatine supplementation increases intramuscular creatine concentrations which may help explain the observed improvements in high intensity exercise performance leading to greater training adaptations. In addition to athletic and exercise improvement, research has shown that creatine supplementation may enhance post-exercise recovery, injury prevention, thermoregulation, rehabilitation,

  Snippit is made possible by listeners like you. Please help support the podcast: ► https://www.patreon.com/snippitscience    J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017 Jun 13; 14:18 https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-017-0173-z eCollection 2017   International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine. Kreider RB, Kalman DS, Antonio J, Ziegenfuss TN, Wildman R, Collins R, Candow DG, Kleiner SM, Almada AL, Lopez HL   Abstract   Creatine is one of the most popular nutritional ergogenic aids for athletes. Studies have consistently shown that creatine supplementation increases intramuscular creatine concentrations which may help explain the observed improvements in high intensity exercise performance leading to greater training adaptations. In addition to athletic and exercise improvement, research has shown that creatine supplementation may enhance post-exercise recovery, injury prevention, thermoregulation, rehabilitatio

Snippit is made possible by listeners like you. Please help support the podcast: ► https://www.patreon.com/snippitscience    Hope you’ve been enjoying the podcasts.  Thank you for your engagement, especially on social media. Today, we look into isometric training and how we approach this type of contraction. We believe this has application to the isometric work we do with our athletes.  At the same time, athletes need to be ready and physically able to handle this kind of training.    Progressive versus rapid rate of contraction during 7 wk of isometric resistance training. (PMID: 11445772) Maffiuletti NA Martin A     Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise  [01 Jul 2001, 33(7):1220-1227] Type: Comparative Study, Clinical Trial, Randomized Controlled Trial, Journal Article https://insights.ovid.com/crossref?an=00005768-200107000-00022   Abstract   PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of isometric training performed with progressive versus rapid rate of contraction on the knee extens

Snippit is made possible by listeners like you. Please help support the podcast: ► https://www.patreon.com/snippitscience    This Snippit focuses on the effects of post-activation potentiation (PAP) in male and female performance. We feel it is important to recognise that there may be differences in the response between both sexes. A little background… During explosive warm-up, the possibility of muscle fatigue can negatively affect contractile history and impairs force production or power output, thus decreasing explosive performance within a certain time. Therefore, some investigators have reported jump performance decreases after pre-load high-intensity warm-up, which has been attributed to possible muscle fatigue. Nevertheless, research investigators have reported a coexistence of fatigue and PAP in skeletal muscle and that muscle performance enhancement after pre-load warm-up depends on the balance between muscle fatigue and muscle potentiation. Optimal performance occurs when fatigue has subsided but P

Snippit is made possible by listeners like you. Please help support the podcast: ► https://www.patreon.com/snippitscience     This is another great article from Prof. Christian Cook and Co.  We really love these papers as they typically use elite athletes and they have practical outcomes.     We hope you enjoy it: Physiology & Behavior Volume 106, Issue 5, 16 July 2012, Pages 683-688   The effects of different pre-game motivational interventions on athlete free hormonal state and subsequent performance in professional rugby union matches Christian J. Cook Blair T. Crewther   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2012.05.009   Abstract   We examined the effect of different pre-match motivational interventions on athlete free testosterone (T) and cortisol (C) concentrations and subsequent match performance in professional rugby union.   Male participants (n = 12) playing at a senior or academy level in rugby union were recruited and each completed three interventions (15 min each) before a competitive game; 1

Snippit is made possible by listeners like you. Please help support the podcast: ► https://www.patreon.com/snippitscience    In today’s busy lifestyle, it’s all too easy to get distracted away from our primary tasks.  Therefore, being able to be present in the moment has great value, and hence, practising mindfulness has been found to be a useful tool to assist with focusing on such tasks.  It’s easy to see that in the high-pressure situation of elite sport, such a skill has great application. This brings us to today’s guest, Dr. Luke McDonald, who discusses his recent work on mindfulness and stress during wheelchair basketball competition.  Luke was a PhD scholar at the Queensland Academy of Sport and now works within the Prospecting for Gold (P4G) program.  The P4G program is incorporating a novel and fresh approach to talent ID and sports transfer for athletes at an elite level. We hope you enjoy this interview style.  If you have any further questions for Luke, you can email him at luke.macdonald@npsr.ql

Snippit is made possible by listeners like you. Please help support the podcast: ► https://www.patreon.com/snippitscience    As per the podcast title, this article looks into the effects of detaining (strength) on power athletes.  This is an important concept to get right with respect to peaking for athletes.   Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1993 Aug; 25(8):929-35. https://europepmc.org/abstract/med/8371654   The effects of detraining on power athletes. Hortobágyi T, Houmard JA, Stevenson JR, Fraser DD, Johns RA, Israel RG   Abstract   We investigated the effects of 14 d of resistive exercise detraining on 12 power athletes.   In comparing performances pre- to post-detraining, there were no significant (P > 0.05) changes in free weight bench press (-1.7%), parallel squat (-0.9%), isometric (-7%) and isokinetic concentric knee extension force (-2.3%), and vertical jumping (1.2%). In contrast, isokinetic eccentric knee extension force decreased in every subject (-12%, P < 0.05). Post-detraining, the changes in surface

Snippit is made possible by listeners like you. Please help support the podcast: ► https://www.patreon.com/snippitscience    Sports Medicine June 2018, Volume 48, Issue 6, pp 1311-1328   Turning Up the Heat: An Evaluation of the Evidence for Heating to Promote Exercise Recovery, Muscle Rehabilitation and Adaptation https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-018-0876-6 Hamish McGorm Llion A. Roberts Jeff S. Coombes Jonathan M. Peake   Abstract   Historically, heat has been used in various clinical and sports rehabilitation settings to treat soft tissue injuries. More recently, interest has emerged in using heat to pre-condition muscle against injury.   The aim of this narrative review was to collate information on different types of heat therapy, explain the physiological rationale for heat therapy, and to summarise and evaluate the effects of heat therapy before, during and after muscle injury, immobilisation and strength training.   Studies on skeletal muscle cells demonstrate that heat attenuates cellular damage an

Snippit is made possible by listeners like you. Please help support the podcast: ► https://www.patreon.com/snippitscience    Relationship between Pregame Concentrations of Free Testosterone and Outcome in Rugby Union Christopher M. Gaviglio, Blair T. Crewther, Liam P. Kilduff, Keith A. Stokes    IJSPP Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Pages: 324-331 https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2013-0106    Purpose: To assess the measures of salivary free testosterone and cortisol concentrations across selected rugby union matches according to game outcome.   Methods: Twenty-two professional male rugby union players were studied across 6 games (3 wins and 3 losses). Hormone samples were taken 40 min before the game and 15 min after. The hormonal data were grouped and compared against competition outcomes. These competition outcomes included wins and losses and a game-ranked performance score (1–6).   Results: Across the entire team, pregame testosterone concentrations were significantly higher during winning games than losses (P = 5.

Snippit is made possible by listeners like you. Please help support the podcast: ► https://www.patreon.com/snippitscience    This episode reviews velocity-based training, which is a very useful tool when in the gym.  There are also a lot of fantastic products out there at the moment from wearables, string transducers, through to 3D camera technology that can monitor strength training power and velocity outputs.   This also brings us to a sponsorship from EliteForm, who have utilised an integrated online Strength Planner in conjunction with 3D camera technology to monitor barbell power/velocity.  Please give them a visit at https://eliteform.com/    Here is a short video about the EliteForm system, which explains it best: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8wvVV876ak     This podcast is a great starting point for anyone interested in knowing about velocity-based training.  Please enjoy J. Aust. Strength Cond. 22(2)58-69. 2014 © ASCA https://traningslara.se/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/hastighet.mladenjovanovic.pd

Snippit is made possible by listeners like you. Please help support the podcast: ► https://www.patreon.com/snippitscience    Now that we are a few episodes in, we’ve had some great interactions with listeners. Some of the feedback received was that although the information in the papers that we spoke about was fantastic, the underlying mechanisms and information behind these papers would be beneficial.  One of the areas that we've had a great response to is Blood Flow Restriction training.  Hence, our first Snippit is on the use of localised (BFR) versus systemic (hypoxic chamber) hypoxia for resistance training. We enjoy your interactions and comments so please keep them coming.    Sports Med. 2014 Aug; 44(8):1037-54 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs40279-014-0177-7   Hypoxia and resistance exercise: a comparison of localized and systemic methods. Scott BR, Slattery KM, Sculley DV, Dascombe BJ   Abstract   It is generally believed that optimal hypertrophic and strength gains are induced through

Snippit is made possible by listeners like you. Please help support the podcast: ► https://www.patreon.com/snippitscience    Now that we are a few episodes in, we’ve had some great interactions with listeners. Some of the feedback received was that although the information in the papers that we spoke about was fantastic, the underlying mechanisms and information behind these papers would be beneficial.  One of the areas that we've had a great response to is Blood Flow Restriction training.  Hence, our first Snippit is on the use of localised (BFR) versus systemic (hypoxic chamber) hypoxia for resistance training. We enjoy your interactions and comments so please keep them coming.    Sports Med. 2014 Aug; 44(8):1037-54 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs40279-014-0177-7   Hypoxia and resistance exercise: a comparison of localized and systemic methods. Scott BR, Slattery KM, Sculley DV, Dascombe BJ   Abstract   It is generally believed that optimal hypertrophic and strength gains are induced through

Snippit is made possible by listeners like you. Please help support the podcast: ► https://www.patreon.com/snippitscience    Since 2008, Dr. Adam Storey has coached and managed various New Zealand weightlifting teams at key pinnacle events including the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games and the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games. During this time, Adam has coached weightlifters to Commonwealth Games medals and his athletes have broken over 250 New Zealand records in competition.   Adam’s specialist background in the area of strength and power conditioning lead to his role with High Performance Sport New Zealand as the Lead Strength and Conditioning Specialist for Athletics New Zealand. In this position he worked directly with 3 x Olympic Games medallist Valerie Adams.   Adam has a keen passion for rugby and he is currently employed by the Blues Super Rugby franchise as the Sports Science Manager and Assistant Trainer.   In addition to his role with the Blues, Adam is a Research Fellow within AUT’s SPRINZ departme