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Sports medicine news

Exercise is good for us—but why?

To understand what goes wrong in the body, scientists must first know what right looks like. Salk Institute researchers are building a scientific reference, piece by piece, for what makes a body healthy. Their latest effort ...

Doing a short cardio session after weight training probably won't boost your gains—here's why

Spend long enough on fitness social media and you'll see the same tip. Finish every weight training session with about 15 minutes of cardio to boost your "gains." But does it actually work? Probably not as much as you'd think.

Feeling the burn? It's not lactic acid

If you've ever pushed yourself through a hard workout, you've probably "felt the burn." It's that familiar sensation of pain and exhaustion in the muscles when they almost feel like they're on fire.

Examining how heavy training affects elite soccer athletes

As athletes and coaches work to outperform their competition, physical training becomes a key resource for gaining an advantage. However, new research led by a University of Oklahoma faculty member shows that heavier training ...

When the brain gets tired, endurance suffers

After a day spent perusing reports, juggling emails, resolving conflicts and making decisions, a bike ride will seem more taxing, even though your legs aren't any weaker. To shed light on this phenomenon, Benjamin Pageaux, ...

Why the start of your run feels so difficult

Many runners describe the first 10 to 15 minutes of a run as the hardest of all. Breathing can feel labored, the legs can feel heavy and a pace that would normally seem manageable may suddenly feel surprisingly difficult.

Student-athletes report need for suicide prevention, training

A survey of college athletes found that nearly 40% reported having suicidal thoughts during their lifetime. Some 86% also said the NCAA should require mental health and suicide prevention training for all athletes. The University ...

Why 'accidents' can happen during intense exercise

There are very few downsides to exercise. But a recent viral story highlighted one of the more embarrassing—and potentially dangerous—issues that can occur when your body reaches its limit during exercise.