Strength and conditioning for professional boxing: recommendations for physical preparation

Professional boxing is a popular pan-global sport that attracts considerable interest and revenue. It is a high-intensity sport that requires a range of well-adapted physiological characteristics as likely prerequisites for successful performance. Serious consideration has been given to medical aspects and potential health risks from partaking in training and competition. However, there are no comprehensive sources of applied sport science research in the preparation of professional boxers for competition. In this review, we present research from physiology and strength and conditioning to form a knowledge base for those involved in preparing professional boxers for competition

“Is It Overtraining or Just Work Ethic?”: Coaches’ Perceptions of Overtraining in High-Performance Strength Sports

Optimal physical performance is achieved through the careful manipulation of training and recovery. Short-term increases in training demand can induce functional overreaching (FOR) that can lead to improved physical capabilities, whereas nonfunctional overreaching (NFOR) or the overtraining syndrome (OTS) occur when high training-demand is applied for extensive periods with limited recovery. To date, little is known about the OTS in strength sports, particularly from the perspective of the strength sport coach. Fourteen high-performance strength sport coaches from a range of strength sports (weightlifting; n = 5, powerlifting; n = 4, sprinting; n = 2, throws; n = 2, jumps; n = 1) participated in semistructured interviews (mean duration 57; SD = 10 min) to discuss their experiences of the OTS. Reflexive thematic analysis resulted in the identification of four higher order themes: definitions, symptoms, recovery and experiences and observations. Additional subthemes were created to facilitate organisation and presentation of data, and to aid both cohesiveness of reporting and publicising of results. Participants provided varied and sometimes dichotomous perceptions of the OTS and proposed a multifactorial profile of diagnostic symptoms. Prevalence of OTS within strength sports was considered low, with the majority of participants not observing or experiencing long-term reductions in performance with their athletes

Active at Home : a guide to staying active during the Coronavirus Outbreak

This 'Active at Home' booklet has been produced to provide practical guidance to older adults on home-based activities to maintain their strength and balance. It follows concerns that low levels of physical activity in older adults will lead to reduced fitness resulting in loss of independence and need for care in the future. Developed by Public Health England, Sheffield Hallam University (SHU), the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine (NCSEM) and Sport England

The group cohesion factor of a dragon boat race training prgramme following treatment for breast cancer in the UK

Background There is increasing evidence that exercise and physical activity after breast cancer treatment can attenuate treatment related side effects and accelerate both physical and psychological recovery. However, the numbers of survivors engaging in physical activity and exercise after completion of treatment are low owing to lack of motivation and self-discipline, and to over cautious advice from health-care professionals. Dragon Boat Racing is a team sport that has been adopted recently by breast cancer survivors, which was first evaluated for its safety and beneficial effects on arm lymphoedema in Canada by McKenzie in 1996. Group cohesion is an important factor in team based training, which impacts performance in athletes. Amongst breast cancer survivors this factor can be viewed as a mechanism for active social support and potentially provide a significant motivational force which supports adherence to a beneficial structured exercise programme. Aim and Method A single cohort longitudinal study was designed to explore group cohesiveness from participating in a 20 week Dragon Boat Race Training Programme with fellow breast cancer survivors culminating in a competitive race. A progressive exercise training programme was designed to develop sport specific fitness. Opened ended questionnaires and complementary focus groups were used to gather qualitative data from a sample of 13 self selected women at four time points: baseline, 6 weeks, 20 weeks, and 3 months post intervention. All participants were at least 3 months post treatment (excluding hormone therapy) for primary breast cancer and ranged between 36-72 years of age. Four women had clinically diagnosed mild arm lymphoedema. Scientific and ethical reviews were obtained. Results Exceptional motivational support was recounted by participants and reflected in training adherence rates up to 94%. From self reports, adherence was due to commitment, partner support, group support, responsibility to the group and camaraderie. Participants felt that the Dragon Boat race training experience provided fitness, fun, laughter, pride and a sense of belonging. The most beneficial aspect of being part of the group was being with likeminded people, friendship, regularity and encouragement. Difficulties included family commitments and sometimes self motivation when energy levels were low and body was aching. Conclusion Exceptional group cohesion was attributed to assisting the high levels of motivation and adherence to the training programme. Upon completion, most women expressed the desire to continue exercising regularly. This structured, team-based group training programme has useful implications for health care professionals and breast cancer survivors to assist rehabilitation and promote an active lifestyle

Observation of a 10-day therapeutic fast of an obese female

This case study features an observation of an obese female (body mass index ≥ 30 kgm-2) who undertook a 10-day water and electrolyte fast with the aim of reducing body fat and improving physiological markers of health. A comprehensive range of physiological measures (body mass, girths, blood pressure, body fluid balance, urine osmolarity, and resting oxygen consumption), mood indicators, metabolic markers (blood ketones, blood glucose, breath ketones, urine ketones), and measurement of intake and expenditure (fluid intake, food intake, nutritional macros, steps taken, and estimated movement caloric expenditure) were measured before, during and after the fasting period to determine the effectiveness of undertaking extended therapeutic fasting for improving markers of health and weight loss. Body mass on the first day of the fast was 95.1 kg and on the tenth and final day of the fast it was 88.1 kg representing a loss of 7 kg at a rate of 0.7 kg·day1. Mean body mass in the 15 days after the fast was 88.3 ± 0.4 kg. This case study is novel in reporting key physiological and psychological markers over a 10-day fast, and in pre- and post-fast periods. A 10-day fast appears to be a safe and effective method of weight loss, mood is positively affected by fasting and weight loss from fasting can be sustained providing care is taken in the approach to post-fasting nutrition