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Hi everyone! If you are in the Cape Town area it would be great if you can help as a participant in this study for Sam's doctorate. She needs quite a few more participants as her current sample size is too small. Give it a go UCT REQUIRES PARTICIPANTS FOR KNEE LAXITY STUDY: Questioning the effect of genetics on knee laxity and risk of ACL rupture What is the study about? Our study aims to determine whether genetics effects knee joint laxity (looseness of the joint) and risk of knee ligament injury. By gaining a better understanding of the role of specific gene variants in knee joint laxity, we improve our understanding of the cause of ACL injuries, this in turn could help us to better prevent them in the future. Who is eligible to participate? We are looking for healthy individuals (with or without previous ACL injury) who: • Have had no lower limb or spinal cord injuries in the past 6 months • Are 18 - 50 years of age • Have a BMI of less than 30 • Are physically active • Have not been diagnosed with connective tissue or skeletal muscle disorders What will be required of you? One visit to the Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Boundary Rd Newlands, for: o Completion of questionnaires (personal particulars, sports participation, etc.) o A small blood sample being drawn blood o Height and weight measurement o Flexibility measurement using a sit and reach test o Four joint laxity tests What are the benefits? • You will receive results of the various joint laxity tests. • On completion of the study, feedback with regards to the overall results of the study. To apply to take part in the study or for more information, please contact Sam on sambeckley@gmail.com or call 082 974 3046. Knee laxity study 22-05-2018.pdf

We are recruiting well-trained cyclists or triathletes who are following a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet for a study at the Sport Science Institute of South Africa, Cape Town. Please consider the attached advert and contact me for more information!

Dear fellow HubSA members, The MRC/UCT Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine is conducting a study to investigate the psychophysiological determinants of pacing during prolonged endurance. The aim of the study is to determine the physical and mental factors that make up the High Performance Athlete. The study will investigate the differences between 'Elite' and 'Sub-Elite' cyclists as well as the differences between the 'Winners' and 'Losers' of a simulated head-on-head competition on a virtual hilly 70km time trial course. Eligibility criteria are: Male Age 18-45 'Elite' cyclists: Sub-3 hours Cape Argus, Sub-4:20 One Tonner, Sub-2:17 Die Burger, A-seeded, >8h per week, and if available a PPO of 5.3 to 5.7 W/kg and a VO2max of >60 ml/min/kg 'Sub-Elite' cyclists: 3:15 to 3:30 Cape Argus, 4:40 to 5h One Tonner, 2:30 to 2:40 Die Burger, C-seeded, 6-8h per week, and if available a PPO of 4.5 to 4.9 W/kg and a VO2max of >55 ml/min/kg Requirements are: 4 visits to the Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Newlands, Cape Town in the next 6 to 8 weeks Visit 1: 3.5-4h, incl. Anthropometry, VO2max testing and 70km Familiarization Visit 2: 2.5-3h, maximal 70km Baseline Time Trial Visit 3: 3-3.5h, maximal 70km Individual Time Trial, incl. questionnaires and blood sampling Visit 4: 3-3.5h, maximal 70km Competition Time Trial against an equally matched cyclist, incl. questionnaires and blood sampling Benefits are: A full and comprehensive VO2max Report Spin Scan analysis of your two Experimental Time Trials A Psychological Performance Profile For more Information see Research Posters attached and/or contact: Dr. Andreas Venhorst, MD andreas.venhorst@gmail.com We are looking forward to having you as a participant! Kind regards Andreas Research Poster Psychophysiology Sub-Elite.pdf Research Poster Psychophysiology Elite.pdf

In our article last week, we spoke about the proposed benefit of compression garments to enhance recovery following an intense cycling test. We are sticking to the recovery theme this week, but we are changing exercise modes and athletes. Triathletes are challenged to improve their performances in three different exercise modes. In order to achieve this they will often perform more than one session in a single day and often train in two modes of exercise (swimming, cycling and running). Click here to view the article

The Sports Science Institute of South Africa (SSISA) together with my Training Day Triathlon Academy, PowerTap, CycleOps and Bicycling magazine, is proud to present an evening workshop with world -acclaimed coach Joe Friel & exercise physiologist at SSISA, Dr Ben Capastagno. Click here to view the article

On Monday night, the Discovery High Performance Centre of the Sports Science Institute of South Africa held a workshop on “Recovery strategies to enhance performance”. One of the techniques discussed was the use of lower-leg compression garments to speed up recovery. In this week’s article we will dissect the findings of a recently published study, which examined the effect of lower body compression garments on subsequent cycling performance. Click here to view the article

Tapering is a training strategy that allows endurance athletes to achieve peak performance for major competitions. Manipulating both the volume and the intensity of the training during the taper allows the athletes to flush out any fatigue without losing training induced adaptations. View full article

2014 presented South Africa’s top cyclists with a ‘new’ challenge as some of the major races took place at moderate altitudes. The first race of the 2014 MTN National MTB series took place in Dullstroom and one of the SA XCO Cup Series races took place at the Afriski resort. These two locations would have compounded the usual stress of racing with the additional stress of lower oxygen availability. In this article I will explain the physiology behind competing at altitude and also offer some practical tips on how to minimise the potential detrimental effects of competing in this oxygen-starved environment. Click here to view the article

The purpose of all the hours we spend training for a specific event is to improve our performance. Depending on your current level of fitness and experience, improvements could mean finishing in the middle of the pack rather than at the back, winning your age category, or taking the top podium position at the elite level. Click here to view the article

The benefits of strength training on endurance performance have long been debated. Previously strength training was thought to negatively affect endurance performance due to increases in muscle mass and the feeling of tired or heavy legs. However, recent research has shown that it is possible to improve endurance performance by incorporating well-structured strength training as part of your preparations. In this article we will explain the proposed benefits of strength training as well as provide some guidelines on what to look for in a strength training programme. Click here to view the article

An area of performance often neglected by endurance athletes is an effective recovery strategy. Therefore the Discovery High Performance Centre of the Sports Science Institute of SA (SSISA), in conjunction with PeptoSport and Discovery Vitality, is pleased to present workshops on commonly available and best-practice recovery strategies used by endurance athletes and how best to apply them. The presentations will address both physical and nutritional strategies. Click here to view the article

A very important, but often neglected area of training for endurance athletes is strength-work. In light of this - the Discovery High Performance Centre of the SSISA will be hosting a workshop specifically geared at strength training for endurance performance. Click here to view the article