This week in the world of sports science, here’s what happened…
- The latest research backed guidelines for weight cutting in combat sports
- An inside look into the operations of the England rugby team
- Questions raised about a popular technology software in volleyball
The latest research backed guidelines for weight cutting in combat sports
The Journal of The International Society of Sport Nutrition has been consistently publishing valuable and informative Position Stands, and their latest release focuses on nutrition and weight-cutting strategies specifically for mixed martial arts (MMA) and other combat sports.
In terms of weight loss, the Position Stand recommends that athletes should not lose more than 6.7% of their body weight within 72 hours, 5.7% within 48 hours, and 4.4% within 24 hours prior to weigh-in. During fight week, effective water loss strategies such as sauna use, hot water immersion, and mummy wraps can be employed, but it is advised that athletes do not exceed a 4% loss in body weight using these methods within the 24 hours leading up to the weigh-in.
The Position Stand also provides essential guidance on rehydration and refuelling strategies after the weigh-in. It recommends an intake of 1 to 1.5 litres of fluid per hour, combined with a sodium concentration ranging from 50 to 90 mmol/dL. Additionally, the consumption of fast-acting carbohydrates at a manageable rate of ≤ 60 g/h is suggested, along with limiting fibre intake to prevent gastrointestinal distress.
This overview highlights just a few key points from the Position Stand. For those involved in mixed martial arts or combat sports, it is highly recommended to review this Position Stand for its extensive insights on weight cutting, as well as rehydration and refuelling strategies. Notably, the researchers emphasise that further investigation is necessary to understand the long-term effects of frequent weight cuts on both performance and overall health.
If you are interested in this topic, check out our highly detailed course by the excellent Dr. James Morehan “Making Weight in Sport”.
Also we have a range of excellent blogs on this topic too!
- Weight cutting tips: Nutrition secrets you need to know
- Weight cutting in combat sports: What is it and how can you minimise the risks?
- The severely detrimental effects of making weight the wrong way
An inside look into the operations of the England rugby team
During the recent Men’s Six Nations Rugby Championship, England’s Instagram was buzzing with activity, giving us a behind-the-scenes look at the England rugby camp.
If you’re a strength and conditioning coach, sports nutritionist, or physiotherapist, you’ll find plenty of valuable content on their Instagram! One of my favourite clips featured the foods that rugby players eat after a game. The video showcased items like sushi, crispy chicken tenders, fruit kebabs, and chocolate milk. These quick and delicious foods are selected to rapidly replenish glycogen stores and aid muscle recovery. Our very own and previously mentioned Dr. James Morehan also makes an appearance in the video!
Another of my highlights was the training clips featuring England players performing traditional strength exercises such as back squats and bench presses. There was also an impressive segment showcasing how they focus on their core with a rugby-specific exercise, which is definitely worth checking out if you’re a strength and conditioning coach in rugby.
Additionally, there was an informative tutorial where one of the physiotherapist demonstrated how to strap a player’s ankle before a game. This is essential viewing for any physiotherapist!
It’s not always easy to see what elite teams and athletes are doing, so a big thank you to England Rugby for being open and sharing insights into their operations!
Questions raised about a popular technology software in volleyball
The VERT Team System is quickly gaining traction in the volleyball community as an innovative management tool that focuses on injury prevention and enhancing player performance. Players wear an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) that connects wirelessly to an app, allowing support staff to monitor player data in real time.
A recent study examined the accuracy of the forces measured by the VERT device. Participants performed countermovement jumps (CMJ), spike jumps, and block jumps on force plates while wearing the VERT devices. The impact forces recorded by the VERT device were then compared with those obtained from the force plates.
In total, over 700 jumps were analysed, and the researchers found that the VERT device tended to overestimate impact forces when compared to the force plates. As a result, the researchers concluded that the VERT algorithm did not demonstrate strong validity.
While the VERT Team System undoubtedly serves as a valuable management tool for volleyball players, users should exercise caution when relying on it to accurately predict impact forces during jump tests like the CMJ and sport-specific jumping actions in volleyball matches.
From us this week:
>> New course: Cardiovascular Diseases
>> New podcast: 12 Months, 3 Formats, 1 Body: Cricket’s Survival Guide
>> New infographic: GPS Metrics – PlayerLoad
>> New article: Hydrotherapy
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