Latest research and professional practice in athlete conditioning
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publisher
Hong Kong Sports Institute
Faculty
Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science
School
ECU Health and Wellness Institute / Centre for Exercise and Sports Science Research
RAS ID
17211
Abstract
The greatest gains in athletic performance, management of injury risk, rehabilitation and career longevity will continue to be predominantly derived from well planned and executed strength and conditioning programs. The most critical factor is ensuring that athlete and coach get the basics correct and no amount of technology will subjugate this. Fads and fashions must always be evaluated objectively and in light of the most current scientific knowledge. However, large advancements in knowledge and the application of technology continue to make training methodologies safer and more effective. Periodisation theory and application continues to evolve as we learn more of human adaptation at a cellular and molecular level. Management of total workload remains a critical issue in contemporary elite sport with recovery and overtraining producing some of the greatest challenges to athlete management. As a result, considerable advances are being made in the development of tools and systems to monitor the quantity and impact of both training and competition informing Total Athlete Management. Performance diagnosis is the process of evaluating and monitoring over time specific performance qualities of the athlete so as to inform short and long term training program design. This is another area of sports science undergoing considerable revolution and refinement. Contemporary strength and conditioning practice utilises the Internet extensively across the majority of encompassing technologies including the web, social networking, cloud computing, tablets and smart phones. Ubiquitous monitoring of physiological, psychological and movement parameters provide a complete picture of the athlete's status so that they can be more intelligently trained and supported in their quest for excellence. There are numerous new technologies in wearable and in dwelling sensors which are networked and Internet connected. Measurement, monitoring and information sharing and collaboration on a global scale is now a reality for research and professional practice in athlete conditioning.
Comments
Newton, R. (2013). Latest research and professional practice in athlete conditioning. In Asian Conference on Sport Science 2013: sport science and elite training programme for world class performance. (pp. 67-72). Hong Kong, China: Hong Kong Sports Institute.