Dustin Joubert, M.A.Changes in the normal structure and size of the heart and its various chambers can indicate exercise training adaptations or disease. Of particular concern is the size and shape of the left ventricle, the hardest working chamber of the heart, which is responsible for ejecting blood through the entire body. It is generally accepted that the type of exercise training causes specific changes in characteristics of the left ventricle. Endurance exercise tends to increase the volum...

Kyle Levers, M.S. CSCSThe popularity of coconut water has increased significantly over the past decade due to its nutritional composition and rehydration capability. Natural coconut water is the clear liquid found inside of a young, green coconut, not to be confused with the white liquid typically squeezed from the coconut’s outer layer, known as coconut milk.  A growing number of nutritional advertisements promote the use of coconut water over other well-established sports drinks, su...

Kevin Shimkus, B.S.As is well known, physical gains become slower and more difficult to achieve as athletes reach a more elite status.  For those involved in strength- and power-based sports, improvements in strength and mass eventually plateau, and even rigorous workout and nutritional prescriptions may yield only minimal increases.  So it is little surprise that many in the athletic world are starting to pay more attention to some very special mice.      &nbs...

Julian Ong, MND, APDThe latest trend to hit the sports supplement industry stems from none other than the humble beetroot. This versatile root vegetable can be used in a variety of dishes and is well known for its rich content of healthful chemicals including betalains (antioxidants that are responsible for the deep red color), vitamins A and C, iron and other minerals, carotenoids, and dietary fiber. Recent research that is turning heads, however, examines its positive benefits on blood pressur...

 Adam Cohen, Ph.D In sports, we often hear stories about the rise and fall of athletes. One minute they are on top of the world leading every highlight show, the next minute the game has passed them by and a new superstar has stolen their thunder. It is far less often that you hear about these athletes rising again. This is exactly what happened, in an extreme fashion, with Lisa, a former Division I soccer player who ended up homeless in Sacramento, CA. Lisa's resurrection through ...

Brandon Macias, Ph.DCompartment syndrome is a serious condition that involves increased pressure in a muscle compartment. It can lead to muscle and nerve damage and problems with blood flow, according to the National Institutes of Health’s Medline. Compartment syndrome results from an abnormal elevation of intramuscular pressure (IMP) and can be mild, chronic, or acute.  Most compartment syndrome cases occur in leg muscles.  Mild chronic compartment syndrome can be treated w...

Kyle Levers, M.S., CSCSThe repetitive and high performance demands surrounding athletes of all levels forces many to find the most effective, yet practical recovery methods.  Various types of massage therapies have been investigated and employed by many athletes due to the historical background in rehabilitation and relaxation.             A specialized type of massage used during post-exercise recovery is myofascial release. ...

Ramon Boudreaux, M.S.It is often joked that if exercise could be given as a pill it would be the most prescribed drug in the world.  While some benefits of exercise are well known (e.g., the prevention of heart disease, high blood pressure, and obesity), some remain esoteric. Osteoporosis, a condition in which bones lose density by an increase in porosity, is one such example.  Low density bones are at a much higher risk of fracture.  If one were to compare the architecture of a b...

Yang Lee, M.S.Heart cells (myocytes) have distinctive shapes, structural integrity, and functions that are maintained by proteins that are part of the “cytoskeleton”. The cytoskeleton is scaffolding or framework around the cells serves to stabilize cells and tissues and regulate internal function of the cells. The dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC) is a structure comprised of proteins on the outer side of the cell membrane that links the cell and its cytoskeleton to the connective...

Kyle Levers, M.S., CSCS While sports performance and training have become increasingly competitive and demanding, recovery techniques continues to rely on existing therapies.  Many athletes find water therapies helpful to hasten the recovery process in order to return to bouts of exercise sooner, while minimizing fatigue and injury.Two of the most common water immersion therapy techniques used in the recovery from fatiguing exercise are cold water immersion (cryotherapy) and contrast w...