Health/Fitness news, tracks medical research and epidemiological discoveries related to behavior and health in diet and exercise. Also look for articles about the relationship of diet and exercise to special populations.
Injury Watch tracks significant sports or activity injuries that are in the news.
Media Programs lists online fitness, health and wellness campaigns published by news organizations and other media companies, such as magazines, web portal publishers, etc.
Running is popular in many different events from amateur to collegiate and in the Olympics. Important considerations are the proper fit and selection of footwear for different anatomy types and various running event speeds, attention to terrain surfaces, proper strength exercises, and training at careful running levels of progression (e.g., mileage of <10% increase per week). Neglect of these considerations can result in cumulative trauma to lower extremity tissues that are vital to the biomechanics of running. Damage to the low back or lower extremity tissues (e.g., hips, knees, shins, ankles and feet and toes) can cause pain, decreased performance and eventually complete disability of the running event.
COMPETITIVE RUNNING EVENTS Cross Country Teams of runners compete to complete a course over open or rough terrain against other teams. Courses vary, but a common flag system is a red flag means turn left from the right of the flag, a blue flag means pass straight either side of the flag, and a yellow flag means turns right from the left side of the flag. High School varsity distances are usually about 3.1 miles or 5000 meters. U.S. Nationals are 5000 meters. University distances are 5,000 or 6,000 meters for females and 8,000 meters or 5 miles for males for most invitationals and up to 10,000 meters at regional and national competition in NCAA Division I.
Marathon The Marathon is a long-distance track event of 26 miles and 385 yards (42.195 kilometers). Many cities also hold Marathons on city streets. Top time for men is about 2 hours and 5 minutes. Top time for women is about 2 hours and 15 minutes. Marathons are also completed by amateurs and ‘fun’ runners with goals of personal best or simply finishing the distance … some completing the event upwards of 3-5 ormore hours. Runners frequently hit a ‘wall’ (extreme fatigue) at about 20 miles (32 km). This probably coincides with the depletion of glycogen — the body’s stored sugar in liver and muscles.
Middle Distance Standard middle distances are the 800 meter, 1500 meter, mile (in the US), and the 3000 meter. Other distances in this category are 600 meter, 1000 meter, 1200 meter (distance part of the Distance Medley Relay), 2000 meter
Long Distance Many popular road races are 5 kilometers and 10 kilometers over roads and streets. These races are often competitive combined with fun-loving participants going for personal bests. These events are mostly aerobic endurance events with competitive runners pushing their anaerobic threshholds.
Sprinting The sprinting events are dominated by individuals with superior fast twitch muscle. Most commonly found in Track events, the 100 (yard or meter) and the 200 meter or 220 yard dash are top speed events that use primarily the ATP/PC energy system of the human body. These events last under 10 and 30 seconds, respectively.
Short Sprints include any sprint 60 meters or below, the 40 yard dash (a common speed test for NFL style football), 100 meter, 150 meter, and 200 meter.
Long Sprints include the 300 meter (usually just a training distance), the 400 meter (once around the track) and the 500 meter. The 400 meter is most common long sprint and dedicated competitors run at a continuous high speed sprint. Lesser runners back off to a slower pace during part of the race.
Triathlon Triathlons vary in distances for the three events of swimming, cycling and running.
The Ironman Triathlon is a 3.8 km (2.4 mile) swim, 180 km (112 mile) bike ride and a 42 km (26.2 mile) run. This is the longest distance Triathlon.
The Half Ironman Triathlon is a 1.9 km (1.2 mile) swim, a 90 km (56 mile) bike ride, and a 21 km (13.1 mile) run.
The Long Distance Triathlon is a 4 km (2.5 mile) swim, 120 km (75 mile) bike, and a 30 km (18.6 mile) run.
The Olympic Distance Triathlon (also known as the Classic Distance ) is a 1,500 meter swim, 40 km bike ride, and a 10 km run.
The Sprint Distance Triathlon is a 750 meter swim, 20 km bike ride, and a 5 km run.
Ultra-Marathon A running event longer than a Marathon (i.e., > 26 miles and 385 yards). A Double Marathon is 52 miles (84 km). Ultramarathons are often 50 or 100 miles or kilometers.
During the winter training period there is a shift from aerobic endurance development to strength development.
Monday AM: Weight workout PM: 2 hrs, keep cadence high, 95+rpm, stay seated on hills but include 2-3 uphill sprints of 8 seconds each, these are maximum efforts out of the saddle for the entire sprint
Tuesday through the following Tuesday USPS Training Camp Austin
Wednesday AM: Weight workout PM: 2 hrs, keep cadence high, 95+rpm, stay seated on hills but include 2-3 uphill sprints of 8 seconds each, these are maximum efforts out of the saddle for the entire sprint
Thursday 4 hours with high cadence on all hills, 95-100 rpm, stay in the saddle on hills, low cadence on flat terrain, 60-65 rpm at Tempo level intensity, 135-140 heart rate on flat terrain.
For more information, see lancearmstrong.com and look for the link to ‘Training.’ Workout is reportedly designed by Chris Carmichael www.trainright.com.
Touring, off-road and racing are popular activities around the world. Important considerations are, ergonomic fit of the body with the bike, preventing traumatic injuries in collisions, preventing overuse injuries, and proper training for intensity and volume. Bicycling involves anaerobic and endurance intensities.
COMPETITIVE BICYCLING EVENTS All-Terrain (ATB) Rider is usually on heavier, low gear bikes with big tires and upright handlebars. Course is hilly and/or bumpy.
Criterium A bike race on a short course of usually 5 km or less with a course on city streets barricaded from automobile and other every day traffic. The race length is determined by the number of laps. Racing bicycles are most common in criterium events, but mountain bikes are
Criterium events often have prizes (known as primes, usually cash or bicycle accessories and attire) for winning specific intermediate laps (for example, every 10th lap).
Criterium athletes require a mix of good technical skills such as the ability to corner rapidly and sharply in a large group of cyclists in tight spaces on a short circuit. Exceptional cardiovascular and anaerobic threshhold fitness to pass other riders and accelerate hard on corners.
Cyclo-Cross Off-Road race where rider wins with the most laps on a one or two mile rough terrain course.
Road Race Road races may involve both team and individual competition ranging from a one-day road race, criterium, and time trial to multi-stage events like the Tour de France and its sister events which make up cycling’s Grand Tours.
Stage Race
Touring
Track Racing
Triathlon
Ultra Race
Physiological Goals for Physical Training Improve sustainable power output (that is, below anaerobic heart rate threshold) Cross-sectional muscle fiber usage of all muscle fiber types (Type I, Type IIa, Type IIb) Strength (muscle Type IIa, Type IIb development) — especially for hilly courses Improve sprinting and acceleration Decreased heart rate recovery time Flexibility, Stretching, Muscle Activation by Parallel Agonist/Antagonists, Motor Recruitment Nutrition (diet and timing, body composition/weight control, glycogen storage, muscle building) Mind over matter (i.e. no pain, no gain versus speed) increased AT tolerance
Technique/Ergonomics Bike handling skills Tactics Power from hip extension, hip flexion, knee extension, knee flexion, ankle dorsiflexion, plantar flexion Ergonomics: proper pelvic tilt, knee placement over pedal, seat height related to proper hip/knee flexion and extension, arm reach, head/neck position
Safety, Ergonomics, Mechanical, Bicycle Efficiency Safety helmet, sunglasses/eye protection Minimize rolling weight & resistance (wheels & hubs, tires & tubes) Maximize braking performance (cables, brakes, brake pad compounds, rim surfaces) Aerodynamics (aerodynamic wheels, aero bike frame, aero bottles, aero helmet) Minimize frame flex (bike frame materials, design and build)
You hear about them on the news, in the gym and on the street. You’ve seen them on television. They are famous workouts by famous athletes, celebrities and politicians. They have an influence on what many people believe is the correct way to exercise to reach physical fitness goals. Some of it is nonsense and some of it makes sense. Now Exercise-Reports.com is tracking these workouts and reporting them by category.
Optimal human performance is all about generating forces with your muscles and safely accepting forces from your performance environment. It’s all about stabilizing those forces so that the proper muscles are doing the proper job of being either the main movers, the assistors, or the stabilizers.
Optimal human performance is also about having the energy to endure throughout your event or performance — and through the entire season. Endurance and stamina requires proper cardiovascular conditioning (specific to your sport or activity), proper nutrition, and proper rest. Musculoskeletal health requires muscle strength, muscle endurance, muscle flexibility, agonist/antagonist balance and optimal muscle length-tension activation for joint stability and core stability.
Professional baseball teams/players play 162 games per season. Professional basketball teams/players play 82 games in a season. NCAA Division One basketball teams/players play about 37 games per season. Professional football teams/players play 16 games per season. NCAA Division One football teams/players play 12 games per season.
We are working on public sections and secure sections of Exercise-Reports.com. Each directory represented by a folder icon in the left column is being built to serve everyone with helpful information.
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Infectious Diseases are transmitted by air droplets or by direct contact with people or objects that people just touched. For any of these conditions, except perhaps minor colds, seek medical treatment.
Precautions for all infections that can be transmitted by skin contact :
Don’t share towels
Don’t wipe your face with a towel you use on equipment.
Don’t place your face directly on places or pieces of equipment (eg. physioballs, machine pads, benches). If you must place your face on an object, use a clean towel.
Shower after a workout.
Use shower slippers when walking in the locker room and showers.
Don’t sit naked on benches. If you must sit, put a clean towel on the bench.
Don’t use a towel on your feet and DO NOT then proceed to use the towel on your face or groin region.
Use liquid soap, not bars.
Wash your hands — well. To kill germs you must wash under nails and rub thoroughly for 20-30 seconds.
Be very careful with hands in or near garbage cans. It is best to use gloves or a stick to search in the can. If you must place your hands in a garbage can, watch for sharp objects that may have been inappropriately placed in the garbage can. Wash your hands immediately after contact.
Keep an eye out for people that might have suspicious rashes or infections. Take extra precautions if you follow such an individual on a piece of equipment. Most health clubs have antiseptic sprays or antiseptic disposable towels on hand in the fitness center floor area.
Don’t ignore skin infections that won’t heal.
Precautions for infection of illnesses transmitted by air:
Avoid close quarters in small rooms where people are known to be sick
Avoid inhaling in an area where someone has just sneezed. Move calmly and inhale out of the immediate area.
If you are visiting someone at the hospital, follow any hospital posted instructions, such as wearing a mask, etc.
Prevention Tips Specific to Prevention of the Common Cold: Follow these simple rules to help prevent catching a cold:
Practice regular hand-washing. Never eat, touch your eyes, nose or mouth before you have washed your hands that have been in contact with public items, such as door handles, merchandise, money, shaken hands, exercise equipment — to name just a few. The virus can survive for weeks on contaminated surfaces.
Disinfect and use antibacterial gels. The chemicals probably don’t kill the cold virus but the mechanical washing probably removes the virus.
Avoid people who are sick — close your eyes and avoid breathing air near the mist where someone has just sneezed.
Get plenty of rest and don’t skip meals or go hungry. Eat balanced meals.
Frequent Hand Washing, especially in Winter can cause hands to become red and dry and can even cause the skin to crack. Use hand lotions to prevent skin aggravation.
Herpes Infections Herpes Gladiatorum Skin infection with HSV-1 reported in wrestlers and rugby players. Lesions occur most often on the head and neck. Primary infection may cause constitutional symptoms with fever, malaise, weight loss, and regional lymphadenopathy. Ocular involvement includes keratitis, conjunctivitis, and blepharitis. In a national survey of 1477 trainers of athletes, approximately 3% of high school wrestlers were reported to have developed HSV skin infections during the 1984-85 season
MRSA Methycillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, some call it a “superbug,” What starts as a skin infection can become a deadly pneumonia or blood or bone infection in a matter of days if not treated correctly. MRSA is resistant to anywhere from 15 to 30 different antibiotics. A communal locker room, with many people in one area, can help bacteria spread
MRSA infections are reportedly on the increase in health clubs, high school athletics, college athletics and professional athletics. NFL players Kenyatta Walker of the Tampa Bay Buccanneers and Junior Seau and Charles Rodgers of the Miami Dolphins are reported to have been hospitalized with MRSA infections.
Tinea Corpis — Body Ringworm Tinea corpis is an in infection in the skin of the body caused by a dermatophyte fungus. More commonly transmitted in close person-to-person contact in warm, humid areas. Wrestling teams have the most need for concern to prevent transmission of Tinea Corpis. Tinea Cruris — Jock Itch Tinea cruruis is an infection of the groin area due to a dermatophyte fungus. Infection often comes from the feet (tinea pedis) or nails (tinea unguium) originally and then is spread by scratching or by the use of an infected towel.
Tinea Pedis — Athletes Foot Tinea pedis is a foot infection due to a dermatophyte fungus. Tinea pedis thrives in warm humid conditions and is most common in young adult men. The fungal spores, dermatophyte, can persist for years in bathrooms, changing rooms and swimming pools. Walking bare foot on a communal floor or sharing a towel can result in infection. See also DermNet NZ
Tinea Unguium — Nail Fungus Tinea Unguium is a fungal infection of the nails of the fingers or toes, known as “onychomycosis.” Can result from prolonged Tinea Pedis infections.
Additional Notes: ABC Primetime conducted an undercover investigation of a number of gyms, swabbing everything in sight — from the free weights to the locker rooms — and found germs practically everywhere. Here are important notes from the January 13, 2005 report:
On a set of dumbbells, “Primetime” found staphylococcus, streptococcus viridans, diptheroids and e-coli — the most common bacteria in human feces.
On one exercise bike, “Primetime” found candida — the germ that causes yeast infections.
E. Coli was most prevalent on the shower floor. Germs were noted to survive on the floor and on the shower walls.
