The Biochemical Basis of Sports Performance

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

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

Michael Gleeson is Professor of Exercise Biochemistry, and Ronald Maughan is Professor of Sport and Exercise Nutrition, both at the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Loughborough University, UK