Training Articles - Ergogenic Aids

• Bet you never knew there were so many ergogenic aids in the Coaches arsenal

  A look at a selection of ergogenic aids that can be used to help you develop your level of fitness

• Sodium Bicarbonate - Research suggests it may boost performance in short events, but it can have nauseating side effects

  The benefits and side effects of using Sodium Bicarbonate to improve performance

• The Effects of Caffeine on Performance in Sports

  Athletes who use caffeine before exercising or competition may be helping themselves more than they think. Caffeine is classified as a stimulant and is the most common drug used in the world. It has the same affects that amphetamines and cocaine have, just in a lesser degree.

  Caffeine - it does not boost performance but increases the heart rate

  A review of a study which suggests caffeine does not improve short term performance

• Are some athletes using legally available drugs to gain a competitive edge?

  A review of the misuse of a number of legally available ergogenic aids

• How hypnosis can help your athletes to produce their top performance

  How hypnosis can help to give sports people the competitive edge

• Can NaHCO3 enhance your performance?

  Review of studies on the use of sodium bicarbonate for athletes

• This ergogenic aid allows the athlete to train harder for longer

  How Creatine supplements can help athletes to train harder

• Athletes and coaches agree - it makes you feel good

  How sports massage can aid training, performance and recovery from injury

• Using Ergogenic Aids to Develop Ice Hockey Players

  Examples of 'off-ice' skill development programmes for ice hockey players

• Get a grip - relevancy for your sport

  Tips on how to improve your grip strength

• Alternative ways to improve abdominal strength and core stabilization

  Core-stabilisation exercises for experienced athletes whose sports require dynamic balance

• How to improve muscular endurance with a Kettlebell

  The benefits of kettlebell training, the basic movements and an example training routine

• Choline - is this the solution to the marathoner's "wall"?

  Choline supplements, if taken at the right time and in the right amount, might help the nervous system continue to stimulate muscle cells and keep you striding toward the marathon finish line at your desired pace

• Squat or ScrumTruk: which is best for quadriceps training for athletes?

  An alternative to the squat that rugby players and other athletes may consider for developing their quadriceps strength

• Steroid Abuse & Young Athletes - Do we facilitate this problem?

  A review of the concerns about the use of steroids among young athletes

• Vibrate yourself to fitness

  An overview of whole-body vibration technology

• The benefits of breathing techniques

  How to take control of a stressful situation by focusing on your breathing and relaxing your muscles

• Triathlon swimming - wetsuit considerations

  During the 1980's, triathlon events began to permit the use of wetsuits in competition. Benefits include increased buoyancy, expansion of potential workout and race venues, increased safety and general comfort

• Heart Monitors as a Tool for Training

  How to use a Heart Rate Monitor to set exercise intensity

• Heart Rate Training Zones

  The benefits of training in prescribed heart rate training zones and how to determine your heart rate training zone values

• How to use heart rate to quantify your fitness training intensity

  Another approach to determining your maximum heart rate which takes into consideration your sport and age

• Environmentally friendly - perhaps not to athletes

  How altitude, temperature and time can effect athletic performance

• Why loitering within tent may be good for your game

  How the use of hypoxic tents can influence athletic performance

• The heart rate monitor - an athlete's best friend

  How a heart rate monitor can help you to achieve your fitness objectives

• The fitness-related benefits of sports massage

  It's the most effective form of injury rehabilitation therapy for speeding the healing process and preventing re-injury. Without it, the injured athlete very rarely recovers fully

Literature Review - Ergogenic aids

• The impossible is often the untried
• Fallacy or fact?
• 'Smart' or 'sharp' practice?
• Balance fluid intake to optimise performance
• Effect of stimulant drinks
• Neutralize acid to enhance performance
• Material matters
• 'One-time' oxygen provides no help for endurance
• But, strengthening the breathing muscles can
• As does maximal strength training
• Cool endurance athletes perform best
• 'Good vibrations' benefit performance
• Effect of recovery on optimal performance
• Prior exercise can enhance power output
• Massage - it feels good but does it really do you good?
• Poor performance - blame it on the wind
• Mastery climate wins athlete vote
• A cautionary message about massage
• More on heart rate monitors
• More on creatine
• And other ergogenic substances
• Success at any cost…?
• On a lighter note, or maybe not
• Get high AND do the work
• Oxygen is no miracle cure
• Shocking outcome!
• Don't be a dope
• Banned substances - cry for more awareness!
• Shoe technology better than nature?
• Beta 2 agonist improves power by 10%
• Ergogenic claims disproved
• 'Live High Train Low'
• Altitude training - How high? How low?
• Creatine creating an advantage
• Caffeine makes a comeback!
• Unfair treatment of asthma sufferers
• Supplements continue to colour sport
• Ergogenic update - bicarbonate keeps you going
• Milk race improvements
• Herbal myths unveiled
• Latest papers reporting on ergogenic substances
• Caffeine may be good for endurance
• Caffeine is terrible for speed
• Glucose alone ineffective for endurance
• Good vibrations for specific strength
• Whey too good for strength gains
• Multivitamins could make all the difference
• Supplements and performance
• Supplements - resistance training
• Supplements - aerobic performance
• Supplements - heat effects in running
• Supplements - body composition and hormone levels
• Supplements - performance improvements through reduced muscle damage
• Supplements - injury avoidance
• Supplements - health
• Hyperoxic training - just a lot of air
• Bicarb helps Judo players
• More bicarbonate work needed
• Vests improve performance of jumpers
• Caffeinated sports drinks good for hydration
• Carbo loading in relation to a woman's menstrual cycle
• Hypoxic training does not improve aerobic or anaerobic performance
• Carbs make you feel better and perform better
• Caffeine – in a stir again?
• Supplements

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