Physiological Bases of Sport Performance

Physiological Bases of Sports Performance takes an in-depth look at how the body responds to high physical activity in exercise and sport and on how to enhance performance through a variety of physiological techniques, such as training, nutrition and cryogenic aids. The book covers the basic elements of physiology and explains the effects of sport on those areas. The second section on improving sport performance provides a practical angle that will be useful for sports coaches and athletes.

Table of Contents:
ForewordIntroduction Fundamental principles of sports performance Performance power output/speed PART 1 EXERCISE AND SPORTS PHYSIOLOGY Chapter 1 Skeletal muscle Introduction Function and structure of skeletal muscle Muscle force and power Classification of muscle fibre types Motor unit recruitment Fibre type and performance The influence of training on skeletal muscle Summary Chapter 2 Exercise metabolism: fuels for sport Metabolism during high-intensity exercise Metabolism during endurance exercise Factors influencing exercise metabolism Summary Chapter 3 Oxygen transport system Respiratory response to exercise Cardiovascular responses to exercise Maximal oxygen uptake Summary Chapter 4 Thermoregulation and fluid balance Introduction Temperature regulation in exercise Sweating: water and electrolyte losses Sweat loss: effects on exercise performance Control of water and electrolyte balance Fluid intake: thirst Fluid and electrolyte replacement during exercise Pre-exercise hydration Post-exercise rehydration Chapter 5 Mechanisms of fatigue Introduction Definitions and manifestations of fatigue Existence of both central and peripheral fatigue Impaired muscle membrane excitability and ionic disturbances Failure of excitation-contraction coupling (ECC) in fatigue Metabolism is intricately involved in muscle fatigue Conclusion Chapter 6 Overtraining Introduction The overtraining syndrome Training and recovery to avoid overtraining Types of overtraining Diagnosis of overtraining Can recovery be accelerated? Treatment of overtraining Final considerations PART 2 FACTORS INFLUENCING SPORTS PERFORMANCE Chapter 7 Training for enhancement of sport performance Introduction and historical development of training practices The objectives of physical training The scientific principles of training The training stimulus and the training response Classification of different sport activities Current training practices of athletes Planning a training program Constructing a training program: the periodisation of training Evaluation of training methods Chapter 8 Nutrition for training and competition Introduction Energy needs of the athlete Achieving optimal physique Meeting requirements for protein and micronutrients Acute nutrition strategies for competition Fuelling up before an event The pre-event meal Fluid and CHO during the event Post-exercise recovery Summary Chapter 9 Sports supplements and sports foods Introduction Sports foods and supplements Balancing the use of sports foods and supplements A system for managing the use of supplement and sports foods by athletes Valuable sports foods and supplements Summary Chapter 10 Exercise in the heat Introduction Cardiovascular alterations during exercise and heat stress: new perspectives Metabolic alterations during exercise and heat stress Limits to exercise performance in the heat Preparation for exercise in the heat What is the best nutritional preparation for exercise in a hot environment? Summary Chapter 11 Exercise at altitude: physiological responses and limitations Introduction The high altitude environment Physiological responses to altitude Performance Conclusion Chapter 12 Gender differences in sport Introduction Morphological differences Cardiovascular differences Muscle morphology and histology Metabolism and substrate use Muscle fatigue and endurance Exercising when oestrogens are high: an advantage? Could women outperform men? Conclusion Index

About the Author :
Mark Hargreaves, is Professor of Exercise Physiology and Head, School of Health Sciences at Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. He has published extensively in the area of exercise physiology and metabolism. John Hawley is Professor of Exercise Metabolism at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia. His research has focused on the physiological and metabolic responses to exercise and the determinants of sports performance.

Review :
"This is a worthwhile book for any student or scientist who seeks to have a better understanding of this files. It takes aspects of many other books (i.e.: exercise physiology, sports nutrition, etc.) and integrates them into a single resource."