This week in the world of sports science, here’s what happened…
- What is the optimal grip width for the bench press?
- Living with CTE after a football career
- Are probiotics the solution for improving mood during strenuous exercise?
What is the optimal grip width for the bench press?
Adam Horschig, of the Squat University YouTube channel, is featured regularly here at SFS Weekly due to the exceptional quality of his content. He returns this week following his recent YouTube short, which garnered over 300,000 views within just 12 hours of its release.
The short video presents a highly effective technique for enhancing bench press performance. In the video, Horschig references research indicating that a grip width approximately double the length of one’s collarbones yields the most advantageous position for bench pressing.
Horschig tests this hypothesis in the video using one of his clients. Initially, he measures the distance between the endpoints of the collarbones before adjusting the client’s grip width on the barbell to match this measurement. Notably, the video illustrates a significant improvement in the client’s bench press strength when utilising this wider grip compared to narrower alternatives.
For individuals aiming to enhance their bench press capabilities, Horschig’s video is a valuable resource, and the research he references is accessible here.
Living with CTE after a football career
Last week, ITV aired a compelling feature highlighting the experiences of retired English international footballer Dave Watson and his wife, Penny. Watson, renowned for his formidable defensive skills during his professional career, has been grappling with memory loss, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and paranoia for over a decade. Recent imaging scans have indicated that Watson may have probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease associated with repeated traumatic impacts to the head. Given that Watson was not involved in any significant accidents, it is presumed that prolonged exposure to heading a football has contributed to the development of CTE.
In the video, Dr. Keith Parry discusses research indicating that footballers are 3.5 times more likely to develop dementia and over 5 times more susceptible to Alzheimer’s disease as a result of heading the ball. However, the English football governing authority seeks to establish conclusive evidence linking heading the ball to CTE among retired players. This has resulted in significant challenges for families such as the Watsons in their efforts to secure justice and financial support.
While the video poignantly depicts the struggles faced by former footballers with CTE and their families, Penny remains an ardent supporter of the sport. She has proposed valuable recommendations to mitigate the risk of CTE for current and aspiring players. Notably, she advocates for annual brain scans to identify early signs of CTE and immediate scans following any head injury.
It is hoped that this impactful video will raise awareness and exert pressure on football authorities to enhance support for individuals like Dave Watson, who have been overlooked in the aftermath of their contributions to the sport.
Are probiotics the solution for improving mood during strenuous exercise?
Exercise is widely recognised for its positive impact on mood; however, certain research indicates that extreme, prolonged training, such as marathon training, may adversely affect mood. A recent study has underscored probiotics’ remarkable effectiveness and versatility, which extend beyond their traditional role in promoting gut health.
The study involved 14 marathon runners who were assigned to supplement their diets with either a multi-strain probiotic or a placebo for 30 days. Following this supplementation period, the participants completed a marathon. Mood assessments were conducted using the Brunel Mood Scale, and blood samples were collected before and after the marathon.
The findings revealed that those who supplemented with probiotics experienced a significant enhancement in mood post-marathon. The researchers postulated that strenuous exercise may lead to mental fatigue, digestive disturbances, and a negative impact on gut health. Consequently, the supplementation of probiotics may serve to alleviate these adverse effects associated with rigorous exercise on both mood and gut health. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that probiotic supplementation significantly improved the inflammatory response among the runners.
If you would like to know more about the power of probiotics check out the study. If you would like to learn more about gut health, be sure to check our new course by nutrition expert Dr. Sarah Chantler: Gut Health (course)
From us this week:
>> New course: Periodisation for Peak Performance
>> New podcast: Beyond the Game: Rugby League Stars on Sacrifice, Resilience, and Reinvention
>> New infographic: Evaluation Of The Educational Quality Of YouTube Videos On Sport Nutrition Topics
>> New article: Hydrotherapy
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