The Biochemical Basis of Sports Performance

ABOUT THIS BOOK

• Provides a valuable insight into the relevance of metabolism to sports performance, clearly describing the biochemical processes specific to different sports
• Unique structure organizes the subject by sporting event to represent the differing needs of athletes
• Underlying principles of biochemistry adeptly explained, eliminating the need for additional biochemistry texts
• Online Resource Centre features additional resources for lecturers and students to enhance the educational value of the text

New to this edition

• New Techniques and Leaders in the Field features to furnish the reader with technical and background information
• Increased coverage of limitations to performance and molecular techniques
• New two colour design enlivens the text and improves the clarity of illustrations
• Online resources expanded to include news updates

Some understanding of the biochemistry of exercise is fundamental to any study of the factors that contribute to sports performance. It is the physical, chemical and biochemical properties of cells and tissues that determine the physiological responses to exercise, and yet the teaching of exercise biochemistry is poorly developed compared with exercise physiology. Where the subject is taught, the student often finds the approach somewhat daunting, with its focus on thermodynamics, chemical structures and metabolic pathways.

Many students find the subject difficult, when it should not be so. This book introduces the student of sports science or exercise physiology to the biochemical processes that underpin exercise performance and the adaptations that occur with training. The focus is on skeletal muscle metabolism and the provision of energy for working muscles and the principles of exercise biochemistry are introduced in a context that is immediately relevant to the student of sports science.

Instead of the traditional approach of working through the main classes of biomolecules and metabolic pathways, the subject is tackled by considering the biochemical processes involved in energy provision for different sports events and the way in which limitations in energy supply can cause fatigue, and thus limit performance. Recovery from exercise is important for athletes who train and compete with only a limited rest period, and the biochemical processes that influence recovery and restoration of performance capacity are also addressed. The processes fuelling the activities that contribute to sport form the core of this book, together with the changes that occur with training and the role of diet in providing the necessary fuels. But sporting talent is a rare gift, and a brief description of its hereditary basis is included.

· A complete introduction to the biochemical basis of sports performance, appealing to undergraduate students, coaches, and athletes
· Numerous links made between biochemistry and physiology for an integrated view of the subject
· The student is directed to carefully chosen further reading articles, allowing them to readily explore key topics in more detail

Online Resource Centre
The Online Resource Centre to accompany The Biochemical Basis of Sports Performance features:

For students:
· 'In the News' updates
· Multiple choice questions
· Hyperlinked bibliography
· Extended case study following an athlete through a season, with exercises

For lecturers:
· Figures from the book, available to download

Readership: Aimed primarily at undergraduate students of sports science or exercise science, but also highly relevant to students of human physiology, human nutrition and metabolism, and mammalian biochemistry, as well as coaches and athletes.

AUTHOR INFORMATION

Ronald J Maughan, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Loughborough University, and Michael Gleeson, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Loughborough University

REVIEWS

"I believe that this book really does fill a gap most texts don't address and I would recommend it without hesitation. Les Tumility, Aberystwyth University"

"This well-written book does an excellent job of sorting through the volumes of information on physiology and sports to provide key concepts necessary in order to maximise performance while minimizing injury and overtraining." - University of Tennessee at Knoxville

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface

1: Introduction: The biochemical basis of exercise and sport
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Historical perspective
Evolution of records
The appliance of science
The abuse of science
Key points

2: The Weightlifter
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Muscle structure and function
Proteins: structural and functional characteristics
Proteins as enzymes
Energy for muscle contraction
Nutritional effects on strength training and performance
Key points
Selected further reading

3: The Sprinter
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Anaerobic metabolism
Metabolic response to very high intensity exercise
Loss of adenine nucleotides
The cellular energy charge and the adenylate pool
Causes of fatigue in sprinting
Post-exercise recovery: the resynthesis of phosphocreatine
Nutritional effects on sprint performance
Key Points
Selected further reading

4: Middle Distance Events
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Energy and oxygen cost of middle distance runnning
Glycolysis
The glycolytic pathway
Oxidative metabolism of carbohydrate
Fatigue mechanisms in middle distance events
Recovery after exercise
Nutritional effects on the performance of the middle distance athlete
Key points
Selected further reading

5: The endurance athlete
Learning objectives
Introduction
Energy supply
Aerobic power
Fractional utilization of aerobic capacity
Energy metabolism
Integration and regulation of fuel use
Fatigue in prolonged exercise
The role of the brain in fatigue
Nutrition and endurance exercise performance
Key points
Selected Further reading

6: The Games Player
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Activity patterns and work rate in games play
Metabolic responses to intermittent high-intensity exercise
Fatigue in multiple sprint sports
Nutritional strategies for team sports athletes
Key points
Selected further reading

7: Sporting Talent: The genetic basis of athletic capability
Learning Objectives
Introduction; factors determining success in sport
The nature of genetic material
Principles of heredity
Gene doping: a realistic prospect?
Key points
Selected further reading

8: Adaptations to training
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Training strategies and the associated adaptations
Training for strength
Training for speed
Training for middle distance: increasing anaerobic capacity
Training for endurance: increasing aerobic capacity
Mechanisms and limitations to adaptation
Overreaching and overtraining
Exercise training, immune function, and susceptibility to infection
Effects of detraining
Nutritional effects on training adaptation
Free radicals and antioxidants
Key points
Selected further reading

Appendices
Key concepts in physical, organic and biological chemistry
Glossary of abbreviations and biochemical terminology
Units commonly used in biochemistry and physiology

Index