The risks and rewards of early specialization in sport
Early Sport Specialization Part 1: Your Chances at Becoming a Pro Athlete Suck
Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Yes, the title of the article is a bit harsh. But, it’s also true.
Articles and evidence-based blog posts about sports science, nutrition, exercise, and general health.
The Hip in Ice Hockey Part 6: How to Treat Hip Pain and The Impact of Early Sport Specialization on Femoroacetabular Impingement in Young Athletes
Groin pain can have a variety of pathologies. It’s extremely important to identify the root of the pain because the specific cause may drastically affect the appropriate treatment for pain relief and return to optimal athletic performance.
(more…)
Supplement Review: Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) and MCT Oil
Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are exactly what you would think; triglycerides (i.e. fat molecules) with medium chain lengths of molecules. Some triglycerides have long chains, containing 13+ carbon atoms, whereas others have short chains, containing 5 or fewer carbon atoms. MCTs are right in the middle, and contain 6-12 carbon atoms in their chains [1-4].
Supplement Review: Dietary Nitrate and Beetroot Juice
In the human body, Nitric Oxide (NO) promotes vasodilation, or widening of the blood vessels, which increases blood flow and reduces blood pressure [1-3]. NO is heavily involved with many physiological processes that affect exercise performance, including the regulation of blood flow, skeletal muscle contraction, and mitochondrial respiration and biogenesis [3-5].
The Hip in Ice Hockey Part 5: How to Design the Optimal Hip Screening Protocol and Identify At-Risk Athletes
Designing and implementing testing and monitoring procedures to identify athletes who are at increased risk for suffering hip-related pathology is crucial for sustained, high-level, ice hockey performance.
The Hip in Ice Hockey Part 4: The Cost of Injury
Having healthy hips is an integral facet of sustained, high-level ice hockey performance. Due to their heavy use in the sport, they are frequently injured. The financial, performance, and time-loss costs can be extremely burdensome.
(more…)
Supplement Review: Gotu Kola
Gotu kola, or Centella Asiatica, is a plant that has, traditionally, been commonly cultivated in Asian countries [1, 2], and is on the Thailand National List of Essential Medicines for its antipyretic (fever reducing) and wound healing properties [3].
The Hip in Ice Hockey Part 3: The Groin Strain Impostors
There are many core and hip-related injuries that cause groin pain in ice hockey athletes. Although the groin pain is real, a groin strain may not be the primary cause. Here are a few hip pathologies that oftentimes result in groin pain.
(more…)
Shakebot Listed as Go-To Resource for Sports Dietitian at American Society for Nutrition (ASN) 2018 Annual Meetings
The American Society for Nutrition (ASN) is a society for professional researchers and practitioners in the field of nutrition.
The Hip in Ice Hockey Part 1: The Role of the Hip and Non-contact Injuries in Sport
Sporting injuries can be caused by contact (e.g traumatic) or non-contact (e.g overuse) mechanisms in nature, with contact injuries more often being associated with extrinsic risk factors, which are out of the control of the athlete in a single, identifiable incident [1-5].
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) in Sport: A Review of the Research
Most athletes and sport science personnel understand the importance of recovery after exercise, which is defined as the return of body homeostasis after training to pre-training or near pre-training levels [28].
(more…)
BCAAs and Muscle Growth: Complete Sense, or Nonsense?
Are you a rodent? If not, BCAA supplementation may not help you increase muscle mass. Please, let me explain.
Virgile’s Story
An article was recently published about Shakebot founder, Adam Virgile, by his alma mater, The University of Vermont (go Catamounts!). Take a glimpse at exactly how Adam was able to land in New York with the NY Rangers, and what he does for them today.
On-Ice Acceleration Technique: How to Get a Leg Up on the Competition
We’re going to get into a recent study which looks at differences in acceleration techniques between high-caliber and low-caliber ice hockey players. But first, a little background:
NFL Combine RB Comparison: The 40-Yard Dash
“Like anything else that can be measured in numbers at the combine, the 40 is meaningless. Receivers have to do so much more than run a straight line. They have to be able to read the defenses on the fly, adjust their patterns, check out the quarterback and focus on the ball.” – Andrew Perloff
Measuring Exercise Intensity Using A Simple Yet Accurate Method: The Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) Scale
“Why can’t you just tell me how you really feel, because the way you act is confusing me” – Unknown
5 Easy Ways to Improve Sleep
Rest is a weapon; sleep deprivation decreases productivity in the office, and on the field. More than 1 out of every 3 Americans doesn’t get enough sleep [1].
(more…)
The most overlooked necessity for successful weight loss
Weight loss can be achieved by reducing calorie intake, increasing physical activity, or both. Having a higher proportion of lean-mass-to-fat-mass translates into a more attractive physique and competitive advantage in sport [1-3].
Find out which of your peers knows the most about sports nutrition
Do you know what you need, nutritionally, to reach your athletic potential? According to research, probably not.