No Bolt from the Blue

Usain Bolt broke three world record while gathering 3 gold medals in the mens' 100 meters and 200 meters and 4x100 meter relays in this years Olympics. Never been done. The New York times recently raised speculation as to whether or not his performance was clean. The issue was also raised as to the improved performance of the whole Jamaican track team. Usain was beating older athletes at 15 in Jamaica so he is no bolt from the blue. I'm a podiatrist and make my living watching movement patterns. There is no wasted energy with Bolt (other than his celebratory arm waving just before the finish). If thats the way he can do it more poer to him! At 6'5" his head does not move up and down and he is tight getting out of the blocks (little lateral movement). Having said that I choose to embrace his accomplishment with the recognition that there is uncertainty with respect to PED use in modern sports. To acknowledge some uncertainty is not bashing the performance of an athlete like Bolt. It is living in reality.

Newton: Function vs. Hype

The Newton running shoe is part of the forefoot running craze. The concept was put together by 2 guys that got the thumbs down from Saucony on their idea. The premise is that forefoot running is more efficient and that the nature of the design is
more suited for forefoot running The concept of energy efficiency is especially attractive to the triathlete community as they are all about energy efficiency on that third leg. It has an energy return system on the forefoot hence the name Newton which is supposed to provide energy return. As I am a podiatrist, I tend to see only the folks that are having problems and this is what prompted me to write this piece. I had a patient that was not a competitive runner that developed shin splints after switching to running with the Newton shoe. The trouble with making the switch to the Newton is that many runners do not have the level of conditioning or the efficiency in their forefoot running to make the transition. My patient had both these problems. There is another subset of runners/trend setters that are simply caught up in the boutique aspect of the shoes at $175 a pop. If John Mayer is wearing them on that you-tube snippet in West Hollywood I must get a pair. The reviews from the running shoe stores have been mixed as well. One running shoe specialist I spoke with reiterated the concern that if you are not a forefoot runner to begin with there may be some breaking in soreness. Others have reported calf and achilles pain. A japanese study reports that elite marathon runners fared better with a forefoot/midfoot striking pattern but is this correlation or causation. the answer remains to be seen.

Gary Hall Jr. Covering the Olympics

Gary Hall Jr. covered the Olympics and sharing his insights on the competition. His last blog entry is a reflection on what it means to be an Olympian. You will need to cut and past a couple of these into the browser.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/olympics_blog/2008/08/the-united-stat.html

Hall's in the house

Walking the Plank


http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/olympics_blog/2008/08/clean-athletes.html

The 2000 US 4 x 400 meter relay track team had the gold medal revoked because of doping by one of the team members. I treated one of the alternate relay members and I wonder what course his Olympic career would have taken had some of his teammates not cheated.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/olympics_blog/2008/08/faster-higher-s.htmljavascript:void(0)

VO2 MAX:Know What You're Paying For

SImon Bartlett at Quest Sports Science is My Guest Post:
Considerations for Athletes Prior to Physiological/Metabolic Testing

With the advent of inexpensive, easy-to-use metabolic assessment systems on the market today, the availability of metabolic testing (VO2 max) has grown considerably. Today’s athletes have an array of testing services available to them because of these less costly systems. However, questions remain:

1. How reliable are these cheaper devices for accurately assessing and measuring changes in the cardiorespiratory performance of an athlete?
2. What legitimate scientific research is available demonstrating the accuracy, validity and reliability of such systems?
3. Can the user interpret the data correctly?

Quest Sports Science Center uses one of the most trusted systems on the market today- the ParvoMedics TrueOne metabolic cart. The TrueOne cart is currently used worldwide by many universities in addition to NASA, the NIH and US Olympic Training Centers—a true testament to the system’s reputation! Operation of the TrueOne cart requires extensive knowledge, experience and training to calibrate, maintain and assess outcomes.

Recent scientific studies compared the TrueOne Metabolic Cart with two other popular systems: the CardioCoach (KORR Medical Technologies) 1 and the New Leaf (MedGraphicsVO2000)2. The studies unequivocally concluded that the TrueOne metabolic cart proved to be the most accurate and reliable system for measuring cardiorespiratory fitness. Conversely, the CardioCoach and New Leaf metabolic carts were significantly less reliable demonstrating an overestimation in VO2 capacity at most work rates and the CardioCoach’s inability to measure changes in VO2 resulting from 14 weeks of physical training. Implications for the athlete? Caveat Emptor---Buyer Beware! Results from unreliable systems can produce erroneous data that could be used to establish incorrect training volumes and intensities.

In conclusion, Quest Sports Science Center recommends that an accurate, unbiased measurement of VO2 max by qualified* fitness professionals (exercise physiologists, trainers and qualified coaches) is utilized for a valid and reliable assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness. The data extrapolated can then be effectively applied to the development and implementation of an appropriate exercise program to help the athlete reach their goals.

* American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Certified Exercise Specialist and/or National Strength and Conditioning (NSCA) Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).
* Registered Dietitian (RD) and licensed in the state (LD/LDN).

1. Monitoring VO2 Max During Fourteen Weeks of Endurance Training Using the CardioCoach: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2007, 21(1), 62-66

2. Accuracy and Reliability of the ParvoMedics 2400 and MedGraphics VO2000 Metabolic Systems: Eur J Appl Physiol, 2006 Aug 3; 16896734 (P,S,E,B)



Quest Sports Science Center, Annapolis, MD, 410-626-1566, www.questssc.com