Sports Science Editor's Page

Electrolytes are chemical substances that become ions (positively or negatively charged) in solution and acquire the ability to conduct electricity. They are present in the human body and the right balance is essential for cells and organs to function properly.

Common electrolytes include sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate. Too much or too little of an electrolyte can cause cells to malfunction and extremes in blood sodium levels can be fatal.

During exercise, you lo… Continue

Sports scientists in Western Australia have been pioneering the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD), the science of understanding fluid flow, to enhance the performance of Australian Olympic Swimming Team members.

They have been using CFD to model stroke performance. WAIS sports biomechanists have found that is more efficient to change a swimmer’s technique to reduce drag forces rather than solely increase the force applied by the swimmer. Clearly the more informed a swim coach is… Continue

Accurately measuring VO2 max involves a physical effort sufficient in duration and intensity to fully tax the aerobic energy system. In general clinical and athletic testing, this usually involves a graded exercise test (either on a treadmill or on a cycle ergometer) in which exercise intensity is progressively increased while measuring ventilation and oxygen and carbon dioxide concentration of the inhaled and exhaled air. VO2 max is reached when oxygen consumption remains at steady state despit… Continue

Most commonly drunk in coffee, tea and soft drinks, caffeine is used around the world by athletes to improve their alertness, concentration, reaction time and focus. Found naturally in leaves, nuts and seeds of various plants, caffeine is not on the WADA list of prohibited substances and does not dehydrate you when taken before or during exercise.

Caffeine has been found to help improve performance in both short and long endurance events, as well as short, high intensity intermittent ex… Continue

1.Train regularly with weights
Incorporate some weight training into your weekly athletic training programme. Ideally 2-3 times per week in a build up phase pre-season, reducing back to a maintenance phase (1-2 times a week) during the race season. Each session should last between 30-45 minutes.

2.Fuel your workouts
If you’re training hard, you need enough carbohydrate to… Continue