sports science
Performance optimization field
Sports science is the study of how the human body performs during physical activity and athletic training.
It integrates physiology, biomechanics, nutrition, and psychology to optimize athletic performance, prevent injury, and aid recovery.
The team hired a sports science consultant to redesign their training program.
Study of bodily motion
- motor controlRegulation of bodily movement
- athletic trainingPreparing athletes physically
- physiotherapyTreatment restoring bodily function
- biomechanicsScience of organism movement
performance analysis · occupational therapy · health promotion
Division into distinct periods
- progressive overloadIncreasing exercise demands over time
- specificityExactness of detail
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- interval trainingAlternating hard and easy periods
strength training · conditioning · drills · training load · detraining · cross-training · plyometrics · high-intensity
Rate of motion
- powerEnergy transfer rate
- agilityQuickness and ease
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
- strengthPower to exert force
skill acquisition · peak performance · benchmarking · performance metrics · periodization · tapering · race strategy · personal records
Study of movement itself
- kineticsScience of motion forces
- motion captureRecording movement for animation
- torqueRotational force measurement
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
musculoskeletal · posture · proprioception · movement patterns · stability · flexibility · center of mass · stride length
Of heart and blood vessels
- aerobic capacityBody's oxygen utilization limit
- VO2 maxPeak oxygen consumption rate
- heart rate variabilityBeat-to-beat timing differences
- oxygen uptakeBody absorbing breathed gas
muscle fiber · metabolism · energy systems · fatigue · recovery · body composition · thermoregulation · cardiac output
Impetus toward a goal
- mental toughnessPsychological resilience capacity
- focusConcentrated attention point
- visualizationForming mental or graphical images
- anxiety managementControlling excessive worry
confidence · flow state · self-talk · goal setting · resilience · concentration · team cohesion · leadership
Primary nutritional building blocks
- hydrationBodily fluid replenishment
- glycogenStored glucose polymer
- electrolytesConducting ions in solution
- carbohydrate loadingStrategic pre-event fuel accumulation
protein synthesis · supplementation · micronutrients · body composition · antioxidants · muscle repair · pre-workout · post-workout
kinesiology
Study of bodily motion
- motor controlRegulation of bodily movement
- athletic trainingPreparing athletes physically
- physiotherapyTreatment restoring bodily function
biomechanics · performance analysis · occupational therapy · health promotion
periodization
Division into distinct periods
- progressive overloadIncreasing exercise demands over time
- specificityExactness of detail
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
interval training · strength training · conditioning · drills · training load · detraining · cross-training · plyometrics · high-intensity · tapering
speed
Rate of motion
strength · skill acquisition · peak performance · benchmarking · performance metrics · periodization · tapering · race strategy · personal records · elite athletes
kinematics
Study of movement itself
- kineticsScience of motion forces
- motion captureRecording movement for animation
- torqueRotational force measurement
leverage · musculoskeletal · posture · proprioception · movement patterns · stability · flexibility · center of mass · stride length · body mechanics
cardiovascular
Of heart and blood vessels
- aerobic capacityBody's oxygen utilization limit
- VO2 maxPeak oxygen consumption rate
- heart rate variabilityBeat-to-beat timing differences
oxygen uptake · muscle fiber · metabolism · energy systems · fatigue · recovery · body composition · thermoregulation · cardiac output · glycolysis
motivation
Impetus toward a goal
- mental toughnessPsychological resilience capacity
- focusConcentrated attention point
- visualizationForming mental or graphical images
anxiety management · confidence · flow state · self-talk · goal setting · resilience · concentration · team cohesion · leadership · imagery
macronutrients
Primary nutritional building blocks
- hydrationBodily fluid replenishment
- glycogenStored glucose polymer
- electrolytesConducting ions in solution
carbohydrate loading · protein synthesis · supplementation · micronutrients · body composition · antioxidants · muscle repair · pre-workout · post-workout
- sports sciencekinesiology, biomechanics, athletic training, performance analysis, injury prevention
- academic fieldsmathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, history
- fitnessfitness, exercise, gym, workout, running
- sciencesbiology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, geology
- academiaprofessors, universities, graduation cap, biology department, professor
- sports historyOlympic history, Olympic records, Olympics, Olympic Games, Olympic training
sports sciencefolk wisdom
Traditional communal knowledge
gut instinct · trial and error · superstition · pseudoscience · conventional wisdom
sports sciencesedentary lifestyle
Habitual physical inactivity
sedentary · inactive · deskbound · inactivity · physical inactivity
sport, science, sports, sporting, sportsman, sportsmanship, sportive, sportsmanlike, sportswoman