athletic performance

Simply improving our breathing can significantly lower high blood pressure at any age. Recent research finds that just five to 10 minutes daily of exercises that strengthen the diaphragm and certain other muscles does the trick.

Daily 'breath training' can work as well as medicine to reduce high blood pressure

5:10am September 20, 2022

by Allison Aubrey

Research finds five to 10 minutes daily of a type of strength training for muscles used in breathing can help anyone reduce or prevent high blood pressure. The training can also help elite athletes.

Researchers studied the gut microbes of runners from the Boston Marathon, isolating one strain of bacteria that may boost athletic performance.

Health & Safety

Elite Runners' Gut Microbe Makes Mice More Athletic — Could It Help The Rest Of Us?

2:12pm June 24, 2019

by Jonathan Lambert

Researchers identified a strain of bacteria that flourishes in the guts of athletes after exercise. When transferred to mice, it gave a big boost in endurance. Could runners' probiotics be on the way?

Alexander Naddour, of the U.S. men's gymnastics team, bears the circular mark of cupping on his right arm as he prepares to compete on the pommel horse at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on August 6.

How The Placebo Effect Could Boost An Olympic Performance

6:00am August 14, 2016

by Katherine Hobson

One athlete's "psych-up" ritual may psych out an opponent. And even treatments that lack hard evidence of benefit, scientists say, might provide a competitive edge if the athletes believe they work.

Detweiler was surprised to learn she wasn't eating enough to fuel her training regimen. As an athlete, doctors and nutritionists say, she needed more food variety and more calories — three snacks daily, as well as bigger meals.

To Thrive, Many Young Female Athletes Need A Lot More Food

7:52am September 01, 2015

by Patti Neighmond

Doctors and parents often miss the signs of female athlete triad syndrome — low energy, low bone density and irregular menstruation in an otherwise healthy-looking girl or teen.

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Why We Play Sports: Winning Motivates, But Can Backfire, Too

5:08pm July 17, 2015

by Patti Neighmond

How we view winning and losing may help shape whether we play sports as adults, some psychologists say. In NPR's recent poll, 56 percent of adults who play sports say winning is important to them.

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Olympic gold medalist Sanya Richards-Ross pulls on compression sleeves before a 400-meter race at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Istanbul in 2012.

Health & Safety

Compression Clothing: Not The Magic Bullet For Performance

10:30am March 31, 2015

by Lauren Silverman

Tight elasticized socks, sleeves and T-shirts supposedly make you a better athlete. But alas, science is pouring some cold water on those alluring claims.

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