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From the laws of physics on a skateboard to the effects of weather on a ball, this title explores the science behind the skills in sport. It features the images that show sports stars in action. It explains the mechanics of successful techniques in words and examples. ... Read more

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This is the first motor learning textbook to look specifically at the processes associated with sporting movement, sporting expertise, and performance sport. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Lots of research and theory, not so much practice
For a book billing itself as "Skill Acquisition in Sport: Research, Theory and Practice" the book focused altogether too heavily on the first two to the near exclusion of the third.

The book brings together various theorists on skill acquisition to discuss the cutting edge of research in the field along with new theories about motor learning.But that's about where it stops.

Anybody looking for practical application of the information is out of luck.With the exception of a couple of tidbits that I essentially had to infer from what was being discussed, there is almost no practical application that a coach could take to practice and apply.

One chapter stands out in particular, it involves a discussion regarding whether implicit or explicit learning is superior, arguing that much data supports that idea that individuals learn better when they are not explicitly aware of what they are doing.Interesting but the authors of the chapter fail completely to give any reasonable or useful guidelines for how this might or even could apply to the real world of sports performance or skill acquisition.

A large part of the problem I had with the book is that many of the conclusions being drawn about motor learning are being based on exceedingly trivial and simple motor tasks.While things like moving a cursor into a circle are fantastic, how this is meant to apply to a complex movement such as sports is barely addressed in the book and there is no indication that studies on learning simple tasks has any relevance to learning something complex like a typical sports skill.

Only one chapter really addresses it in any such form, after making a rather good case that too much knowledge of results (KR) can be harmful to motor learning (at least for trivial tasks), they point out that 100% KR gave superior results in a ski simulator task.Basically, they made the point that 75% of their chapter didn't even apply to complex motor activities in the first place.I suspect this holds for much of the information discussed in the book.

The bottom line is that this is a well written book with the cutting edge of research on motor learning.Anyone seeking practical application as a coach or trainer should look elsewhere, they will get little to nothing from this book. ... Read more

Product Description
In Stability, Sport, and Performance Movement, renowned physiotherapist and performance consultant Joanne Elphinston teaches that sporting technique is rooted in movement efficiency, stability, symmetry, and balance. These elements work together to ensure that physical restrictions and inefficient muscle recruitment patterns don’t inhibit technical movement goals. The right muscles firing at the right time, and in the right sequence, can help athletes achieve their full physical potential.

Elphinston provides clear explanations using applied sports examples, shows how to evaluate movement accurately, and provides a detailed method for improving performance. Filled with Performance Movement guides readers through an approach that has been used with international-level athletes in every sport.

A major focus is on injury prevention. Athletes sustain injuries and want to know why they have them and how to prevent them. Sports medicine professionals need to know how to relate their rehabilitation back to sports-specific movement, and coaches need to understand the relationship between injury prevention and performance. This practical guide presents new ways to understand stability as it pertains to injury prevention in sport, bridging the gap between sports science and sports medicine. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Best Book on Rehab I Have Ever Read
I've struggled with hyper-mobility for all of my life, and have spent the last couple of years reading up on different physical therapy systems in an attempt to deal with some of the nagging injuries it has produced. I've enjoyed learning about the human body a long the way, and have met many interesting people. Yet, no one has put it together like Joanne. Her book touches on literally everything: breathing patterns, local and global stabilization training, balance, sports psychology, to create the definitive manual on performance. I am not an athlete, and even though this book is aimed towards them and rehabilitation professionals, I think it is a wonderful addition to the library of any fitness buff or anyone dealing with chronic functional problems. Highly recommended.

Dense and Chewy
As a sports medicine focused chiropractor, I eagerly awaited the arrival of this book. Ms. Elphinston does an exemplary job of teasing out and explaining thoroughly the most common movement dysfunctions that afflict athletes. Much of this info can also be generalized to the desk jockeys that find it difficult to get up and down stairs as those movement disturbances affect daily life as well.

Often, books of this type focus on the standard analysis and prescriptions that have become rote and somewhat ineffective in manual therapy and sports med environs. These well-worn remedies often lead athletes searching for a bit more. A typical example might be the observation that distance runners often suffer from tightness in the ITB. A "cure" is often offered as foam rolling, and/or regular manipulation. While this type of treatment can be helpful, in essence it is only so much manual aspirin. Ms. Elphinston delves deeper, encouraging the engaged athlete and the heads up clinician to get to the root with thorough analysis. She then follows with detailed exercise instructions to help work the athlete towards a sustainable and more functional solution.

Well cited, and dense enough to satisfy clinicians, I suspect that it will overshoot the understanding of all but the most saavy athletes. I would also highly encourage the author to follow up with a DVD to better illustrate the exercises. While the included exercises are well described, a 2D explanation pales before the nuances that can be elicited from 3D movement examples. These are not shortfalls though, and are only offered as ways to make upcoming editions that much better. Great work Ms. Elphinston and thanks for your contribution!!
Dr. Phillip Snell
Portland, OR ... Read more

Product Description
This text, intended for physiotherapists and sports medicine specialists, covers topics including: pre-employment physical evaluation; ageing skeletal muscle; muscle mass and strength; trangenic animal models; and the effects of training on plasma lipids and lipoproteins. ... Read more

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This user-friendly collection of essays on topical issues in philosophy of sport draws principally from philosophy, but contains some writings from sociological and psychological literature that has a philosophical slant. The anthology contains 44 essays on diverse and contemporary issues in sport from different perspectives. Each article addresses critical and topical issues such as “What is Sport?”“Are female athletes of the same rank as men?”“Is sport a species of art?”and each invites critical discussion. The essays address the following issues: the nature of the sport; aesthetics and sport; ethics and sport; sportspersonship; cheating; winning; violence; performance-enhancing drugs; epistemological issues in sport; sport and society; heroism; gender; race; pedagogy; and sport in society. For athletes and sports fans interested in the philosophy of sport.

Customer Reviews (1)

Review for Philosophy of Sport Textbook
The textbook I received was acceptable.The book does contain marks like underlining and highlights.The textbook was being sold as acceptable condition, so the markings did not surprise me. ... Read more

Product Description
Coaching Science and Coaching Studies courses are appearing in increasing numbers in many universities. The textbooks used in most of these courses are either theoretically based sports science texts or practically based coaching books. The former are generally lacking in application while the latter rarely have any scientific input. The reader is, therefore, left to make the links themselves.

Coaching Science will bridge that gap covering both theory and practice and, most important, showing how theory informs practice. The book will be multi- and, to some extent, inter-disciplinary, as it is not possible to examine the interaction between coach, performer and task from a single discipline perspective.

Each chapter will include overviews of the main theories, but the bulk of the material will be concerned with how such theories can be applied in practice. Good and frequent use of examples will be provided. Throughout, the student will be given problems to solve. At the end of each chapter there will be revision notes, recommended readings and questions on chapter content. ... Read more

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This accessible new textbook introduces the areas that a student needs to understand in order to successfully undertake independent quantitative research. ... Read more

Product Description
This book gives a scientific account of all aspects of the game of golf and answers the questions which occur to all who play the game.
The mechanics of the swing and the impact of the club on the ball are explained. Together these decide the range of the ball - which is shown to be the most important factor for success.
The aerodynamics of the ball's flight has several surprises, including the effects of dimples and spin. Understanding these effects allows a calculation of the ball's flight and explains how the range depends on the clubhead speed and the characteristics of the club.
Putting is analyzed to find the optimum strategy and to understand how winds, slopes, and mud affect the run of the ball.
Handicaps are perhaps the most discussed topic in golf and the book examines the handicaps system to identify their consequences in matches and competitions, with results which will surprise many players.
The famous question - "what is the probability of a hole-in-one?" is discussed and a neat way of answering it is proposed.
Further chapters examine the players, the equipment, and the economics of the game, discussing the aspects of play that determine success, how much the improvements in clubs and balls have affected performance and the remarkable growth of both the amateur and the professional game. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Golf
This is the type of book I have needed for some time. Rather than many pages of fine details like where to put you feet and how to cock your elbow, etc.
the author relates the golf swing to physics and science. Probably one of the most helpful books on golf I have ever owned.
This allows you to determine how to fix any swing problems. ... Read more

Product Description
Although there are chapters in exercise physiology texts and a few books on the topics of human bioenergetics and energy metabolism, those chapters and books often do not cover the pertinent information in sufficient detail and are generally highly research oriented or outdated. Bioenergetics Primer for Exercise Science is an up-to-date text that encompasses all available information regarding human bioenergetics and energy metabolism and brings together diverse issues that are of theoretical interest and practical importance.

Written as a primer, this text explains the foundational and critical knowledge and research findings in bioenergetics and the application of those findings. To evaluate research more knowledgeably and decide which techniques best fit their own research, students and professionals will learn about lab- and field-based techniques used to measure energy metabolism, including lipid metabolism.

In addition to bioenergetics concepts and research, the text emphasizes the metabolic challenges brought about by obesity and diabetes. A dedicated chapter discusses metabolic impairments associated with both diseases, alterations in metabolism during exercise for affected individuals, and the role of exercise in enhancing energy utilization and improving glucose response and insulin sensitivity.The text also provides amore specific discussion of bioenergetics applied to the subpopulations of children, elderly people, and women.

Without weighing down the reader will highly academic and technical jargon, the text explains the science behind energy metabolism in an accessible and inclusive format specifically designed for exercise science students studying areas other than bioenergetics and professionals working in related areas such as health and fitness, nutrition, and weight management. Bioenergetics novices will appreciate the cohesive presentation of information within a four-part structure:

• Part I illustrates how carbohydrate, fat, and protein are metabolized and converted into energy for sport and physical activity. It conveys basic but critical information before pursuing more advanced topics in bioenergetics.
• Part II presents lab- and field-based techniques for measuring energy metabolism, including a variety of instrumentations and protocols commonly used to assess energy and fuel utilization. Connections to sport and physical activity, including the energy cost of walking, running, cycling, and resistance exercise, are emphasized. Strategies that can be used to enhance energy utilization with special focus on weight management are also introduced.
• Part III explores ideas and strategies for enhancing energy production and expenditure. Metabolic adaptations to exercise training are covered (such as changes in cellular function, fuel utilization, and oxygen uptake after aerobic, anaerobic, and resistance training). Special attention is given to obesity and diabetes, primarily the effect of glucose responses and insulin sensitivity on affected populations and how age, gender, and metabolic diseases affect those populations.
• Part IV discusses additional aspects of bioenergetics, including factors influencing resting metabolic rate and the thermic effect of food and its relationship to physical activity and obesity. Also included is a discussion of intended use, working mechanism, related research, and potential side effects for select pharmacologic and nutritional substances.

Customer Reviews (2)

This is a best buy.
I like this volume!I learned something about biological energy system, but I had to use several texts.This book seems to have everything in one place.

The book that fits everyone!!!
This book is quite thorough and has almost all the info I need as I am trying to understand how energy is consumed and flows in our body.I am a registered dietitian, and I found this book to be a pretty good resource. ... Read more

Product Description
Univ. of Copenhagen, Denmark. Textbook provides comprehensive coverage of all aspects of sports and exercise physiology, injury, and training. Focuses on current research and clinical approach to the diagnosis and rehabilitation of sportssports-related disabilities, injuries, and diseases. For students and clinicians. ... Read more

Product Description
This title is directed primarily towards health care professionals outside of the United States.Designed to help readers understand and evaluate the relationship between exercise, immune function and infection risk, this book presents evidence for the "J-shaped" relationship between exercise load and infection risk. It also describes the components of the human immune system and key functions that protect the body from disease, the impact of acute and chronic psychological stress on immune function, and practical guidelines for minimizing the risk of immunodepression and infection in athletes. Further chapters explore different ways of measuring immune function, as well as the effects of heavy training on innate and specific (acquired) immunity, exercise in environmental extremes, and nutrition. Connections between exercise, infection risk, and immune function in special populations (elderly, obese, diabetic and HIV patients) are also addressed.

• Authored by a team of highly experienced experts.
  
• The "J-shaped" relationship between exercise load and infection risk is described, backed by current research and evidence.
  
• Components of the immune system and normal immune function are explained in detail, as well as methods for measuring immune function.
  
• The impact of acute and chronic psychological stress on immune function is presented, along with suggestions for minimizing the risk of immunodepression and infection in athletes.
  
• The effects of heavy training, exercise in environmental extremes, and nutrition are discussed with regard to their impact on innate and specific (acquired) immunity.
  
• Immune function in special populations (elderly, obese, diabetic and HIV patients) is also addressed, exploring links between exercise and infection risk in these groups.
  
• Evidence-based coverage includes a list of references in each chapter, as well as suggestions for further reading that direct readers to important texts and review articles.
  
• Information is presented in an easily accessible format, following a logical progression of material.
  
• LEach chapter begins with a list of learning objectives and ends with a list of key points to reinforce learning.
  
• A glossary at the end of the book defines all key terms and abbreviations.

Product Description
Can sports drinks improve the way you play and exercise? Athletes-both competitive and recreational-turn to the consumption of sports drinks to optimize their performance. A volume in the Nutrition in Exercise and Sports Series, Sports Drinks: Basic Science and Practical Aspects provides a review of current knowledge on issues relating to the formulation and consumption of these popular drinks. The only single volume that addresses these subjects, this text also covers in depth the science that underpins the physiological, biochemical and nutritional roles of the sports beverage. ... Read more

Product Description
This title is directed primarily towards health care professionals outside of the United States.
It addresses the key issues relating to sport and exercise nutrition by employing a critical review perspective.Sport and exercise nutrition has been recognised as a major component of any sports science/studies course for many years now.In this book, Don Mclaren has bought together many of the key issues in the field, written by recognised experts, to providean outstanding sports nutrition treatise.The chapters focus on the key areas endemic to any sports nutrition programme. ... Read more

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Offers a comprehensive introduction to the study of modern sport from a sociological perspective. It covers areas such as sport and the emotions, the commercialization and professionalization of sport and sport and gender. ... Read more

Product Description
The Handbooks of Sports Medicine and Science present basic clinical and scientific information in a clear style and format as related to specific sports events drawn from the Olympic Summer and Winter Games.Each handbook is written by a small team of authorities co-ordinated by an editor who is internationally respected and recognized in the particular sport activity. Their charge is to present material for medical doctors who work with athletes, team coaches who have an academic grounding in basic science, physical therapists and other allied health personnel and knowledgeable athletes.Each volume presents up-to-date information on the basic biology of the sport, conditioning techniques, nutrition, and the medical aspects of injury prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.

This Handbook will constitute the most complete and authoritative source of information in nutrition, biomechanics, injury prevention, treatment and care of medical problems, and conditioning for competition.

Written by experts in both science and practice

Includes the latest information in an easy to read and understand form ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Academic
I bought this book expecting great things given the FIS and IOC endorsement.What happen was that it forced me to sit down and read critically about my sport.There is alot of worthwhile information here, but there are also a lot of errors.It is very typical of reports about sports written by academics who do not ski.To say that because these scientists could not see "adominal muscules working, in xc skiing therefore they do not contribute to ski skating" shows blunt ignorance of the reality of the sport.Unfortunately, great scientific data is spoiled by wild conclusions based on observation not experience.Buy this book if you are experienced enought to know the difference. ... Read more

Product Description

Michel Foucault’s work profoundly influences the way we think about society, in particular how we understand social power, the self, and the body. This book gives an innovative and entirely new analysis of is later works making it a one-stop guide for students, exploring how Foucauldian theory can inform our understanding of the body, domination, identity and freedom as experienced through sport and exercise.

Divided into three themed parts, this book considers:

• Foucault’s ideas and key debates
• Foucault’s theories to explore power relations, the body, identity and the construction of social practices in sport and exercise
• how individuals make sense of the social forces surrounding them, considering physical activity, fitness and sport practices as expressions of freedom and sites for social change.

Accessible and clear, including useful case studies helping to bring the theory to real-life, Foucault, Sport and Exercise considers cultures and experiences in sports, exercise and fitness, coaching and health promotion. In addition to presenting established Foucauldian perspectives and debates, this text also provides innovative discussion of how Foucault’s later work can inform the study and understanding of sport and the physically active body.

Customer Reviews (8)

A MUST have
It's been said before, this book is not only for the athletes, it can be applied to anyone who wants to gain knowledge about nutrition. Of course he does address the athlete needs over and above non-athletes, so any serious athlete should not miss out on this important information. Every mineral and vitamin is covered in separate chapters with references to scientific quality studies. You will also find useful information about soy, creatine, melatonin and more. It makes for easy reading and the book is usable as a reference book. The writing style is easy to follow, but he does down-talk FDA numerous times, so if you just ignore that and focus on the facts, this book is excellent. It also covers the importance of antioxidants. HOWEVER, it is written in 2002 and stuff has happened since then, therefore you also NEED his "You can prevent cancer" from 2006 or better yet "Brain Power" in order to get the important info about "Mitochondrial Antioxidants". 90% of free radicals made in your body are generated at the mitochondria and ordinary antioxidants CANNOT neutralize them! "Sports Nutrition" does not cover the "Mitochondrial Antioxidants", that's why.

Dr. Colgan is my husband's most trusted source for sports nutrition and exercise!
I bought this book for my husband, who lives by the first Sports Nutrition Guide by Dr. Colgan.His old book has significant signs of wear and tear from overuse, so I thought my husband would be happy to receive Dr. Colgan's more recent publication of Sports Nutrition and I was right!Now he's constantly referring and comparting and incorporating the information he finds in this book into his health regime!

Sports Nutrition Guide
I am not sure about this book.It is very informative.It is easy to read and comprehend but it tends to stear me in another direction since this book tends to down the ADA (American Dietetic Association).The book is broken down into individual chapters about each mineral and vitamin and what it does to your body if you're an athlete.I am a nutritional consultant and never really learned much about sports nutrition in school.This is my first book on sports nutrition so I really have no comparision.Like I stated before, it tends to go against my believe system and the knowledge I have gained in clinical nutrition.

Don't let the title fool you, this is for everyone!
Not just "athletes."Essentially, this is an update to Colgan's popular "Sports Nutrition Guide" from 1993.Along with Dr. andrew Weil, Colgan is one of the only "doctors" who truly understands how degraded our food supply is relative to what is natural and healthy, and even more so than Weil, Colgan really tells it like it is and lays it on thick!i have been a long time follower of Colgan, and credit him for much of my success in bodybuilding, powerlifting, and professionally as a Personal Trainer.Colgan helped me on my way to becomming a trainer with much enhanced knowledge of nutrition that helped many a client achieve amazing results (especially compared to the knucklehead trainers who told their overweight clients to eat a bagle for breakfast, and/or to do more cardio to lose fat!).Colgan does not take any balogna from mainstream western medicine and the mess it has created, instead, he will expose the lies and show you the truth in a way that your intuition (and any research, if you have doubts), will assure you is correct!

Educational! For everyone to read.
As there are many books on the market concerning this topic, this one actually explains step by step why each supplement is important in our diet. A must read for anyone that is serious about a healthy lifestyle.
Do not hesitate to buy this book, you will not regret any of its pages.
Just look at the pictures of Dr. Michael Colgan for the results! ... Read more

Product Description

Do you cringe when a linebacker flattens a quarterback? Hold your breath when a field goal sails toward the goalpost? Watch in amazement as a touchdown pass spirals down the field? Behind those big hits, long kicks, and sensational throws is a science that will give you a whole new perspective on the game of football.

Customer Reviews (2)

The Physics--Especially Collisional--Aspects of Football
The author provides many lucid explanations, with numbers and equations, that deal with the physics of football. There is a good deal of emphasis on collisions. He thus distinguishes between inelastic and elastic conditions, giving a hilarious example of the latter (football players wearing spring-filled suits, so that they could bounce off each other. The bounces would be unpredictable.)

One form of collision is that between the tackler and runner. Another one is that which occurs between the foot of the kicker and the football. Gay's equations show how the force of the kicking leg, including its angular velocity, is transferred to the ball. The forces of football-related kicks are computed. Record-setting punts and field goals are featured and examined. The spin of the football is also factored.

A bibliography contains references for further study. As an experienced science teacher, I think that this book would serve as an excellent supplement to high school and early-college physics courses.

Great Book
I bought this book for my son to use to help him with a school science project. It was great, it had so much information that really helped him turn in a great project! ... Read more