This week in the world of sports science, here’s what happened…
- The latest on nutrition strategies that enhance sleep
- When female athletes’ reaction times are supercharged!
- India’s alternative to force plates
The latest on nutrition strategies that enhance sleep
Tom Coughlin, a prominent performance nutritionist, recently shared an insightful post on LinkedIn discussing nutrition strategies that can enhance sleep for elite athletes. In his post, Coughlin provided a clear and concise summary of key findings from recent research conducted by Atlantic Technological University.
The research indicates that kiwi fruit, tart cherry juice, and milk have shown significant potential in promoting better sleep. For instance, consuming two kiwi fruits before bedtime resulted in improved sleep duration, efficiency, and increased morning energy levels. Similarly, tart cherry juice was found to extend time spent asleep while decreasing wakefulness after sleep onset and reducing movement during the night. Additionally, daily intake of milk was associated with better sleep quality and a lower risk of experiencing poor sleep.
Interestingly, other strategies, such as meal timing, as well as the impacts of nutrients like protein, tryptophan, alpha-lactalbumin, probiotics, zinc, iron, and vitamin B12, have been recognised to have a moderate level of effectiveness on sleep. The effects of high-carbohydrate meals consumed before bedtime remain inconclusive.
If you would like to learn more about this research, Coughlin’s LinkedIn post is well worth checking out and our podcast episode: Food First, Supplements Second: Performance Nutrition with Tom Coughlin is well worth a listen too!
When female athletes’ reaction times are supercharged!
Recently, The Guardian published an intriguing article about new research examining how various stages of the menstrual cycle impact reaction times. The research involved 44 participants, who ranged from inactive individuals to active, competing, and elite athletes.
The findings revealed that on the day of ovulation, participants’ reaction times were about 30 milliseconds quicker compared to later in the menstrual cycle. Even more remarkable was the analysis of the elite female athletes, whose reaction times improved by an impressive 80 milliseconds on their ovulation day. They also committed fewer errors in cognitive tests on their ovulation day.
This fascinating research highlights how, on the day of ovulation, female athletes experience a notable boost in their reaction times. It underscores the importance of understanding how the different stages of the menstrual cycle can influence performance in female athletes.
If you would like to know more about the menstrual cycle, check out our blog, Understanding and approaching the entire menstrual cycle: A guide for coaches and podcast episode, How The Menstrual Cycle Affects Sport Performance: Must-Know Info For Coaches And Athletes.
India’s alternative to force plates
Researchers at the National Institute of Technology in Rourkela, India, have made a remarkable breakthrough that deserves recognition for its ingenuity. The high cost of imported equipment has long hindered many Indian sports academies and rehabilitation clinics from accessing essential diagnostic tools in biomechanics, such as force plates.
In response to this challenge, the team has developed an innovative, cost-effective alternative. Their new device can measure multi-axial ground reaction forces and is priced at only a fraction of what imported force plates cost. Notably, this device made its debut in a recent study published in the Journal of Mechanics in Medicine and Biology.
By making force plate technology more affordable in India, this development is poised to have a significant positive impact on sports academies and rehabilitation clinics throughout the country. Watch this space!
From us this week:
>> New course: Velocity Based Training
>> New podcast: Rewiring Performance: The Neuroscience Behind Mindset and Recovery
>> New infographic: Ballistic Training
>> New article: Hydrotherapy
Access to a growing library of sports science courses
SFS Academy is an all-access membership to premium sports science education.
With SFS Academy, you’ll learn from some of the best coaches around the world as they teach you how to apply the latest research and practice with your athletes.
