What are the key benefits of strength training for endurance athletes and why is it an essential component of any training regimen?Strength training has traditionally been seen as the domain of bodybuilders and powerlifters. However, its benefits extend far beyond the realm of muscle size and brute strength, particularly for endurance athletes. Whether you're a runner, cyclist, swimmer, or triathlete, incorporating strength training into your routine can provide a multitude of advantages.“Do...

Recent advancements in medical understanding mean that athletes with HCM can safely compete.Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic condition characterised by the thickening of the heart muscle, which can impede normal heart function and increase the risk of arrhythmias and sudden cardiac arrest. Historically, the diagnosis of HCM has often meant an immediate halt to an athlete’s career, with the presumption that intense physical activity exacerbates the risks associated wi...

IAAF allowed to impose DSD regulations on female athletesRuling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport2 May, 2019According to today's article in the Sydney Morning Herald:Olympic 800-metres champion Caster Semenya has had an appeal dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to halt the introduction of regulations to restrict testosterone levels in female athletes.The court ruled the regulations were needed for athletes with differences in sexual development (DSDs) to ensure fair comp...

So, you've had an episode of atrial fibrillation that is now resolved. What next?The findings of a UK-based study published in the British Medical Journal in 2018, which involved nearly 50,000 patients in general practices, found that patients with resolved atrial fibrillation remain at higher risk of stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) than patients without atrial fibrillation. The researchers concluded that:"Guidelines should be updated to advocate continued use of antic...

Exercise may stimulate the growth of more new heart muscle cells, even after having a heart attack.Exercise prescription is gaining significant importance in clinical practice, as more and more research provides compelling evidence to support the role of exercise in disease prevention and chronic illness management. In short, we are running out of excuses not to exercise.Researchers from the Harvard Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medi...

Does screening athletes for cardiac conditions save lives?Advocates of screening athletes for cardiac conditions claim that "screening saves lives". Research is showing that this approach may actually be flawed, and that screening might be doing more harm than good. I tend to agree.An article in the Guardian by Nicola Davis (April 2016) summarises very nicely the inadequacies with pre-participation screening programs for athletes and the research gaps that sit behind them. Davis draws on the wo...