This week in the world of sports science, here’s what happened…
- New research on Rhodiola rosea
- How Alex Ferguson predicted adult height?
- Manchester City’s recovery strategy!
New research on Rhodiola rosea
When we last featured Rhodiola rosea in SFS Weekly two years ago, the research findings were mixed. However, a new systematic review and meta-analysis highlighted the promising effects of Rhodiola rosea on endurance performance. This research, involving 668 participants, demonstrated that supplementing with Rhodiola rosea significantly enhanced various endurance metrics, including VO₂ max, time to exhaustion, and performance in time trials. Furthermore, it was found to reduce muscle damage and lower lactate levels, indicating improved metabolic efficiency.
Interestingly, a subgroup analysis revealed that the most significant improvements in VO₂ max were observed in individuals taking at least 600 mg per day of Rhodiola rosea. However, the researchers cautioned that further studies with larger sample sizes are necessary to draw definitive conclusions. Nonetheless, this systematic review and meta-analysis highlight the exciting potential of Rhodiola rosea as a game-changer for boosting endurance performance!
How Alex Ferguson predicted adult height?
Legendary Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson famously suggested that if you want to predict a boy’s adult height, you should “look at the mother.” Recently, growth and maturation expert Sean Cumming shared an intriguing post on LinkedIn discussing Ferguson’s perspective.
Cumming begins by noting that, as with most aspects of growth and maturation, there’s no straightforward answer. Research does not provide a clear consensus on whether maternal or paternal height serves as a better predictor. Nevertheless, there is some validity to Ferguson’s assertion that a mother’s height can be a helpful indicator of her son’s future height. Cumming emphasises that the average of both parents’ heights—often referred to as mid-parent height—is now widely regarded as the most accurate forecast, which is the principle behind the Khamis-Roche method.
It’s essential to consider that various factors influence growth. That said, since maternal height plays a significant role in predictive methods like the Khamis-Roche method, Ferguson’s point about considering a mother’s height when predicting a boy’s future height certainly has some merit.
If you would like to know more about this topic, check out our highly informative blog: Monitoring Growth and course: Peak Height Velocity. We also have a free predictive height calculator here.
Manchester City’s recovery strategy!
A fascinating post by Samuel Wood on LinkedIn shed light on the recovery strategies employed by Manchester City F.C. The post featured a video capturing the day after Manchester City’s victory over Everton F.C. last month.
In the video, star players like Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Nathan Ake can be seen using Keiser exercise bikes for low-impact cycling, while others are engaged in a lively game of football table tennis. These low-impact activities, such as cycling and football table tennis, are great for promoting active recovery.
It’s always intriguing to observe the methods top teams and athletes adopt, and this video demonstrates Manchester City’s strong belief in active recovery! If you would like to learn more about active recovery, check out our excellent course by Dr. Daniel Berdejo-del-Fresno: Active Recovery.
From us this week:
>> New course: Fundamental Movements in Youth
>> New podcast: Johnny Nelson on the Gym that Created World Champions
>> New infographic: Agility in Team Sports
>> New article: Hydrotherapy
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