This week in the world of sports science, here’s what happened…
- Hugo Keenan: schoolboy sub to British and Irish Lions star
- Do MMA gloves affect hand grip strength?
- Does chicken essence boost aerobic performance and recovery?
Hugo Keenan: schoolboy sub to British and Irish Lions star
Following the British and Irish Lions’ successful test tour against Australia, an intriguing story has emerged on social media regarding Hugo Keenan, who played a pivotal role in securing the victory in the second test.
Des Ryan, a leading voice for long-term athletic development, recently shared a photograph on LinkedIn of an Irish rugby school’s under-14 team sheet from the “C” team. Remarkably, Keenan’s name appeared as a substitute!
Keenan’s remarkable journey from not being a starter on a third-choice school’s rugby team to becoming a standout player for the British and Irish Lions showcases the potential for late developers to thrive when they receive the appropriate support in their sport.
I had the privilege of working under Des Ryan at Setanta College, where his passion and knowledge of long-term athletic development were incredible. Hugo Keenan is a prime example of what a late developer can achieve when effective long-term athletic development programs are implemented.
If you would like to upskill in this area, our blog on maturation and our course, Long-Term Athletic Development, are fantastic resources!
Do MMA gloves affect hand grip strength?
A recent study provided valuable insights into the impact of MMA gloves on grip strength. The research evaluated 14 trained MMA fighters, who completed a handgrip strength test both while wearing MMA gloves and without them.
The findings indicated that grip strength was 23% greater when participants conducted the handgrip strength test without the gloves. Given that grip strength is a crucial factor during grappling exchanges in MMA, these results suggest that MMA gloves may potentially impede grappling performance.
These findings support the potential argument for a redesign of MMA gloves to enable fighters to achieve closer to their maximum handgrip strength, thereby enhancing their grappling proficiency.
Does chicken essence boost aerobic performance and recovery?
Chicken essence is a liquid nutritional supplement derived from select extracts of high-quality chicken. It is abundant in micronutrients and has long been recognised as a traditional and nutritional tonic in Asia.
A recent study investigated the potential effects of chicken essence on endurance performance and recovery. During this study, amateur cyclists were assigned to consume either chicken essence or a placebo daily for a duration of four weeks.
The findings indicated that the group of cyclists who supplemented with chicken essence displayed significant improvements in high-intensity endurance and recovery indicators, including creatine kinase, blood glucose, and lactic acid levels, relative to the placebo group.
Although further research is necessary to fully understand the implications of chicken essence, the outcomes of this study offer promising evidence regarding the efficacy of chicken essence in enhancing aerobic performance and recovery.
From us this week:
>> New course: Profiling ACL Injuries
>> New podcast: Culture, Consistency, and Coaching Success in Elite Sport with Steve McNamara
>> New infographic: Post-Match Snack Recommendations
>> New article: Hydrotherapy
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