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Book Exercise induced Fatigue and Recovery in the Ageing Athlete

Download or read book Exercise induced Fatigue and Recovery in the Ageing Athlete written by James William Fell and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Abstract : There is a common belief among older athletes that intense training becomes more difficult with ageing. One of the reasons attributed to this performance limitation is an impairment of recovery processes that can prolong the time taken for the body to adequately adapt between training sessions or after competition. However, there has been limited research to address this assumption through the investigation of recovery of performance after training or competition in well-trained older athletes. This thesis reviews the literature pertaining to ageing and exercise with particular reference to athletic performance, muscle damage and muscle repair/regeneration, with the intention of exploring the effects of ageing on training, overload and recovery from exercise in the well-trained ageing athlete. Two arguments are presented for an impaired recovery from training and competition in the older athlete. The first is that muscle damage after exercise is greater in the older athlete, and the second is that tissue repair is slower, both factors potentially prolonging recovery duration. The importance of adequate nutrition for recovery in athletes is recognised and discussed in regard to optimising recovery and to identify any specific dietary requirements or limitations that might be unique to the ageing athlete. Therefore, the aims of this thesis were to: 1. describe the common beliefs and practices amongst athletes regarding ageing and recovery from intense training and competition demands, 2. assess and compare the nutrient intake of young and ageing athletes via the completion of diet records, 3. quantify any differences between well-trained young and ageing athletes, that were matched for fitness and training variables, in their performance impairment, perceived physical impairment or rate of recovery after intense exercise. In addressing these aims four studies are presented. The first utilised a brief questionnaire administered as a method of subject recruitment for future studies. Thirty six athletes under 30 years of age (24 3 years) and sixty four athletes aged 30 years and above (41 8 years) provided responses to a series of questions pertaining to training history, current training activities, post exercise symptoms of fatigue, perception of recovery duration, and the use of recovery strategies. Results indicated that there were significant differences (p less than 0.05) between the young and older groups for training frequency (9 3 vs. 7 3 sessions per week), training volume (17 8 vs. 11 5 hours per week) and recovery duration (10 9 vs. 16 14 hours). There was also a significant positive correlation between recovery duration and training history (R=0.28, p less than 0.01). The majority of athletes surveyed indicated that they used specific strategies to promote recovery (76%). The second study compared the nutrient intake of young and veteran athletes (veteran: up to 35 years). The purpose of the dietary analysis was to establish if any apparent differences in recovery attributed to ageing could be a result of differing nutritional practices. Three-day diet record data from 13 young (24.0 ł 4.8 years) and 16 veteran (43.8 ł 5.0 years) athletes were collected and compared for differences in nutrient intake that might contribute to impaired recovery from exercise. Diet records were analysed by a qualified dietitian using the dietary analysis software Food Works (Xyris Software, Highgate Hill, Australia). Physical activity levels were assessed using the Baecke physical activity questionnaire. Energy expenditure was also estimated using the equations of Schofield and Harris-Benedict. The results indicated that there were no significant differences between young and veteran athletes for overall energy intake. However, the veteran athletes had a significantly higher percentage of daily energy intake from fat than the young athletes (35 5 vs. 29 6 g.day-1; p less than 0.05). The mean dietary intake of CHO for both age groups was substantially lower than the recommended guidelines for endurance athletes. The third and fourth studies compared measures/markers of recovery in nine young (23.7 ł 4.8 years) and nine veteran (44.3 ł 5.4 years) cyclists and triathletes that were matched for training and performance. Recovery was measured over three days (T1 to T3) of intense exercise that replicated heavy training and/or competition demands. Functional performance measures included a progressive maximal test, thirty-minute time trial performance (TT30), leg power (countermovement jump), leg strength (maximal voluntary isometric contraction), sprint cycling performance (10 second sprint) and analysis of blood markers associated with exercise induced muscle damage (creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase). Perceptual and report of recovery (psychological recovery) was assessed using verbally anchored Visual Analogue Scales used to measure motivation, muscle soreness (SOR), ratings of fatigue (FAT) and the total quality recovery scale (TQR). For the measures of functional performance there were no significant differences between the two age groups. Both groups maintained their time trial performance over the three days of intense endurance exercise. The average height jumped in the countermovement jump decreased slightly (2.6%, p less than 0.05) over the three days. There was also a significant decrease in average heart rate during the TT30 over the three days (̃3 b.min-1) for both groups. In response to the testing protocols serum CK activity was significantly elevated for both age groups on days two and three (combined age data: T1- 122 ł 43, T2- 178 ł 90, T3- 166 ł 87, p less than 0.05). For the perception and report of soreness, fatigue and recovery, non-parametric statistics indicated that the veteran group reported a significant (P less than 0.05) change in SOR (6.2 ł 2.6 to 28.2 ł 14.1), FAT (1.7 ł 1.2 to 2.2 ł 0.09), and TQR (15.8 ł 2.5 to 13.8 ł 2.1) over the T1 to T3, while these changes in the young group were non-significant (SOR: 15.5 ł 15.5 to 24.2 ł 17.1, FAT: 1.7 ł 1.1 to 2.2 ł 0.9 and TQR: 16.3 ł 2.6 to 15.1 ł 2.9). The change in muscle soreness was significantly (p less than 0.05) greater in the veteran group than in the young group (Veteran, 22 ł 14; Young, 9 ł 12). This investigation has provided the first comprehensive description of recovery from exercise in well-trained veteran endurance athletes. The common perception of a delayed recovery with ageing was supported by the longer reported duration required to recover between intense training and competition in athletes 30 years and older. This slower recovery does not appear to be due to major dietary differences between young and veteran athletes. In contrast to the perception of slower recovery repeated days of intense endurance cycling exercise was similarly tolerated by young and veteran athletes with respect to performance. However, there is a greater change in the perception of, muscle soreness and significant changes in fatigue and recovery in veteran athletes. This finding has implications for the effective monitoring of training load in the older athlete.

Book Fatigue in Sport and Exercise

Download or read book Fatigue in Sport and Exercise written by Shaun Phillips and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2024-03-14 with total page 327 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fatigue is an important concern for athletes at all levels, recreational sport and exercise participants, athletic coaches, personal trainers, and fitness professionals. The study of fatigue is also important for students of the sport, exercise, and health sciences, as it enables a deeper understanding of fundamental physical function and the limitations behind human performance. There remains considerable debate about the definition of fatigue, what causes it, its impact during different forms of sport and exercise, and the multitude of factors that can influence the nature and severity of fatigue. The vast body of literature in these areas can make it challenging to understand what we know and what we still need to understand about fatigue in sport and exercise. The second edition of this book presents a fully revised and updated overview of the contemporary research evidence into sport and exercise fatigue. The book examines the latest thinking into how we conceptualise fatigue, as well as how we measure it. The fundamental science of fatigue is introduced, focussing predominantly on physiological aspects of energy depletion, metabolic acidosis, environmental challenges, electrolytes and minerals, and the perception of fatigue as it relates to mental fatigue and the central regulation of sport and exercise performance. Each chapter includes real case studies from sport and exercise, as well as useful features to aid learning and understanding such as definitions of key terms, guides to further reading, and discussion questions. Fatigue in Sport and Exercise, Second Edition is an invaluable companion for any degree-level course in sport and exercise science, fitness and training, or strength and conditioning.

Book Recovery for Performance in Sport

Download or read book Recovery for Performance in Sport written by Christophe Hausswirth and published by Human Kinetics. This book was released on 2013 with total page 297 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Recovery for Performance in Sport encompasses the latest scientific research in the study of recovery and draws from the experience of applied sport scientists working with elite athletes in leading performance and recovery centers around the globe.

Book The Masters Athlete

    Book Details:
  • Author : Joe Baker
  • Publisher : Routledge
  • Release : 2009-09-10
  • ISBN : 1134023480
  • Pages : 341 pages

Download or read book The Masters Athlete written by Joe Baker and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2009-09-10 with total page 341 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Masters athletes are those that continue to train and compete, typically at a high level, beyond the age of thirty-five and into middle and old age. As populations in the industrialized world get older and governments become increasingly keen to promote healthy aging and non-pharmacological interventions, the study of masters athletes enables us to better understand the benefits of, and motivations for, life-long involvement in physical activity. This is the first book to draw together current research on masters athletes. The Masters Athlete examines the evidence that cognitive skills, motor skills and physiological capabilities can be maintained at a high level with advancing age, and that age related decline is slowed in athletes that continue to train and compete in their later years. Including contributions from leading international experts in physiology, motor behaviour, psychology, gerontology and medicine, the book explores key issues such as: motivation for involvement in sport and physical activity across the lifespan evidence of lower incidence of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes the maintenance of performance with age. Challenging conventional views of old age, and with important implications for policy and future research, this book is essential reading for students and practitioners working in sport and exercise science, aging and public health, human development, and related disciplines.

Book Post Exercise Recovery  Fundamental and Interventional Physiology

Download or read book Post Exercise Recovery Fundamental and Interventional Physiology written by Sergej M. Ostojic and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2016-05-25 with total page 80 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Physiological responses after maximal and submaximal exercise are routinely monitored in a plethora of diseases (e.g. cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, asthma, neuromuscular disorders), and normal populations (e.g. athletes, youth, elderly), while slower or irregular post-exercise recovery usually indicates poor health and/or low fitness level. Abnormal post-exercise recovery (as assessed via blunted post-exercise heart rate dynamics) helps to predict the presence and severity of coronary artery disease, while differences in recovery outcomes in athletes might discriminate between fit and unfit individuals. Disturbances in post-exercise recovery might be due to acute or persistent changes in: (1) adaptive responses mediated by the autonomic nervous system and vasodilator substances, (2) cellular bioenergetics, and/or (3) muscular plasticity. Preliminary evidence suggests possible role of time-dependent modulation of nitric oxide synthase and adenosine receptors during post-exercise recovery, yet no molecular attributes of post-exercise recovery are revealed so far. Currently several markers of post-exercise recovery are used (e.g. heart rate measures, hormone profiles, biochemical and hematological indices); however none of them meets all criteria to make its use generally accepted as the gold standard. In addition, recent studies suggest that different pharmacological agents and dietary interventions, or manipulative actions (e.g. massage, cold-water immersion, compression garments, athletic training) administered before, during or immediately after exercise could positively affect post-exercise recovery. There is a growing interest to provide more evidence-based data concerning the effectiveness and safety of traditional and novel interventions to affect post-exercise recovery. The goals of this research topic are to critically evaluate the current advances on mechanisms and clinical implications of post-exercise recovery, and to summarize recent experimental data from interventional studies. This knowledge may help to identify the hierarchy of key mechanisms, and recognize methods to monitor and improve post-exercise recovery in both health and disease.

Book Exertional Heat Illnesses

    Book Details:
  • Author : Lawrence E. Armstrong
  • Publisher : Human Kinetics
  • Release : 2003
  • ISBN : 9780736037716
  • Pages : 300 pages

Download or read book Exertional Heat Illnesses written by Lawrence E. Armstrong and published by Human Kinetics. This book was released on 2003 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The only text to focus exclusively on heat-related illnesses. Full of practical advice for professionals in a variety of medical, academic, & commercial settings. Learn how to identify, treat & prevent exertional heat illnesses & ensure your sporting events are safe.

Book Recovering from Training

    Book Details:
  • Author : Dr Mike Israetel
  • Publisher :
  • Release : 2018-09-18
  • ISBN :
  • Pages : 146 pages

Download or read book Recovering from Training written by Dr Mike Israetel and published by . This book was released on 2018-09-18 with total page 146 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Recovering from Training is the ultimate guide to the theory and practice of recovery from training. It describes the multiple causes, correlates, and consequences of fatigue, and also gives real-world recommendations on how to manage and reduce it for best health, fitness, and physique results. This book is for lay persons interested in fitness, athletes, coaches, hobbyists, and sport scientists alike. It leans heavily on peer-reviewed science and explains the physiology of fatigue and recovery in great depth. While based on scientific data, it is written to be easily digested by non-scientists. Attention is also paid to outlining practical application that readers can easily incorporate into recovery strategies for themselves or their athletes.Recovering from Training will allow the dedicated athlete and coach to plan out training, diet, and recovery strategies for optimal results. If you can recover better, you can train more, train harder, and make better gains over time. Peaking and tapering strategies are included so that competitive athletes can make sure to recover on time for competitions. Even if you're just interested in the theoretical underpinnings of recovery processes, this book is very unlikely to disappoint. Lastly, because peer-reviewed journal articles are referenced, you can use this book as a starting point to further your exploration of any of the recovery concepts discussed within.

Book Post Exercise Recovery  Fundamental and Interventional Physiology

Download or read book Post Exercise Recovery Fundamental and Interventional Physiology written by and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Physiological responses after maximal and submaximal exercise are routinely monitored in a plethora of diseases (e.g. cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, asthma, neuromuscular disorders), and normal populations (e.g. athletes, youth, elderly), while slower or irregular post-exercise recovery usually indicates poor health and/or low fitness level. Abnormal post-exercise recovery (as assessed via blunted post-exercise heart rate dynamics) helps to predict the presence and severity of coronary artery disease, while differences in recovery outcomes in athletes might discriminate between fit and unfit individuals. Disturbances in post-exercise recovery might be due to acute or persistent changes in: (1) adaptive responses mediated by the autonomic nervous system and vasodilator substances, (2) cellular bioenergetics, and/or (3) muscular plasticity. Preliminary evidence suggests possible role of time-dependent modulation of nitric oxide synthase and adenosine receptors during post-exercise recovery, yet no molecular attributes of post-exercise recovery are revealed so far. Currently several markers of post-exercise recovery are used (e.g. heart rate measures, hormone profiles, biochemical and hematological indices); however none of them meets all criteria to make its use generally accepted as the gold standard. In addition, recent studies suggest that different pharmacological agents and dietary interventions, or manipulative actions (e.g. massage, cold-water immersion, compression garments, athletic training) administered before, during or immediately after exercise could positively affect post-exercise recovery. There is a growing interest to provide more evidence-based data concerning the effectiveness and safety of traditional and novel interventions to affect post-exercise recovery. The goals of this research topic are to critically evaluate the current advances on mechanisms and clinical implications of post-exercise recovery, and to summarize recent experimental data from interventional studies. This knowledge may help to identify the hierarchy of key mechanisms, and recognize methods to monitor and improve post-exercise recovery in both health and disease.

Book Antioxidants in Sport Nutrition

Download or read book Antioxidants in Sport Nutrition written by Manfred Lamprecht and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2014-09-17 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The use of antioxidants in sports is controversial due to existing evidence that they both support and hinder athletic performance. Antioxidants in Sport Nutrition covers antioxidant use in the athlete ́s basic nutrition and discusses the controversies surrounding the usefulness of antioxidant supplementation. The book also stresses how antioxidants may affect immunity, health, and exercise performance. The book contains scientifically based chapters explaining the basic mechanisms of exercise-induced oxidative damage. Also covered are methodological approaches to assess the effectiveness of antioxidant treatment. Biomarkers are discussed as a method to estimate the bioefficacy of dietary/supplemental antioxidants in sports. This book is useful for sport nutrition scientists, physicians, exercise physiologists, product developers, sport practitioners, coaches, top athletes, and recreational athletes. In it, they will find objective information and practical guidance.

Book Exercise Immunology

    Book Details:
  • Author : Michael Gleeson
  • Publisher : Routledge
  • Release : 2013-06-26
  • ISBN : 113645585X
  • Pages : 581 pages

Download or read book Exercise Immunology written by Michael Gleeson and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-06-26 with total page 581 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Exercise immunology is an important, emerging sub-discipline within exercise physiology, concerned with the relationship between exercise, immune function and infection risk. This book offers a comprehensive, up-to-date and evidence-based introduction to exercise immunology, including the physiological and molecular mechanisms that determine immune function and the implications for health and performance in sport and everyday life. Written by a team of leading exercise physiologists, the book describes the characteristics of the immune system and how its components are organised to form an immune response. It explains the physiological basis of the relationship between stress, physical activity, immune function and infection risk, and identifies the ways in which exercise and nutrition interact with immune function in athletes and non-athletes. The book shows students how to evaluate the strengths and limitations of the evidence linking physical activity, immune system integrity and health, and explains why exercise is associated with anti-inflammatory effects that are potentially beneficial to long-term health. Every chapter includes useful features, such as clear summaries, definitions of key terms, discussions of seminal research studies and practical guidelines for athletes on ways to minimise infection risk, with additional learning resources available on a companion website. This is an essential textbook for any course on exercise immunology or advanced exercise physiology.

Book Regulation of Coronary Blood Flow

Download or read book Regulation of Coronary Blood Flow written by Michitoshi Inoue and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-11-09 with total page 330 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Research centering on blood flow in the heart continues to hold an important position, especially since a better understanding of the subject may help reduce the incidence of coronary arterial disease and heart attacks. This book summarizes recent advances in the field; it is the product of fruitful cooperation among international scientists who met in Japan in May, 1990 to discuss the regulation of coronary blood flow.

Book Human Muscle Fatigue

    Book Details:
  • Author : Craig Williams
  • Publisher : Routledge
  • Release : 2009-06-18
  • ISBN : 1134053517
  • Pages : 529 pages

Download or read book Human Muscle Fatigue written by Craig Williams and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2009-06-18 with total page 529 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When human muscle fatigues, athletic performance becomes impaired. For those individuals suffering muscle or metabolic diseases the effects of muscle fatigue can make everyday tasks difficult. Understanding the scientific processes responsible for skeletal muscle fatigue is therefore central to the study of the physiology of sport, exercise and health. Written by a team of leading international exercise scientists, this book explores the mechanisms of muscle fatigue and presents a comprehensive survey of current research on this important topic. Examining the wide variety of protocols, assessment methods and exercise models used to study muscle fatigue, the book explores the differential effects of fatigue as influenced by: age gender fitness and training the use of ergogenic aids medical conditions including cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and glycogenosis. Human Muscle Fatigue covers both clinical and applied approaches in sport and exercise physiology and devotes an entire section to the conceptual framework underpinning research in this area, helping readers from a wide range of backgrounds to engage with the topic. Accessible and detailed, this book is a key text for students and practitioners working in exercise and sports science, medicine, physical therapy and health.

Book Military Strategies for Sustainment of Nutrition and Immune Function in the Field

Download or read book Military Strategies for Sustainment of Nutrition and Immune Function in the Field written by Institute of Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1999-05-13 with total page 722 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Every aspect of immune function and host defense is dependent upon a proper supply and balance of nutrients. Severe malnutrition can cause significant alteration in immune response, but even subclinical deficits may be associated with an impaired immune response, and an increased risk of infection. Infectious diseases have accounted for more off-duty days during major wars than combat wounds or nonbattle injuries. Combined stressors may reduce the normal ability of soldiers to resist pathogens, increase their susceptibility to biological warfare agents, and reduce the effectiveness of vaccines intended to protect them. There is also a concern with the inappropriate use of dietary supplements. This book, one of a series, examines the impact of various types of stressors and the role of specific dietary nutrients in maintaining immune function of military personnel in the field. It reviews the impact of compromised nutrition status on immune function; the interaction of health, exercise, and stress (both physical and psychological) in immune function; and the role of nutritional supplements and newer biotechnology methods reported to enhance immune function. The first part of the book contains the committee's workshop summary and evaluation of ongoing research by Army scientists on immune status in special forces troops, responses to the Army's questions, conclusions, and recommendations. The rest of the book contains papers contributed by workshop speakers, grouped under such broad topics as an introduction to what is known about immune function, the assessment of immune function, the effect of nutrition, and the relation between the many and varied stresses encountered by military personnel and their effect on health.

Book The Resolution of Inflammation

Download or read book The Resolution of Inflammation written by Adriano Rossi and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-03-17 with total page 246 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides readers with an up-to-date and comprehensive view on the resolution of inflammation and on new developments in this area, including pro-resolution mediators, apoptosis, macrophage clearance of apoptotic cells, possible novel drug developments.

Book Recovery and Stress in Sport

Download or read book Recovery and Stress in Sport written by Michael Kellmann and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2019-03-19 with total page 143 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Balancing training, stress, and recovery is essential for achieving optimal performance. The performance of professional athletes can be severely compromised by overtraining, injuries, prolonged periods of competition, or even life events outside their sporting lives. The current recovery-stress state depends on preceding stress and recovery activities, but through simultaneous assessment of stress and recovery, a differentiated picture can be provided. This manual includes two measurement instruments to gauge individual recovery, enabling both athletes and coaches to better understand the often-unconscious processes that impinge upon peak performance, and to monitor the physical, mental, emotional, mental, and overall recovery-stress state before and after training. The Acute Recovery and Stress Scale (ARSS) and the Short Recovery and Stress Scale (SRSS) are instruments that systematically enlighten the recovery-stress states of athletes. Through utilization of the ARSS and the SRSS, athletes and coaches can better understand the importance of daily activities, including how they can relate to stress/recovery and the direct impact on athletic performance. In addition to the instruments themselves, both of which are simple and easy to use, the manual also discusses their development, their basis in theory, and case studies showcasing their usage. The ARSS and the SRSS provide important information regarding the current recovery-stress state during the process of training, and are essential tools for coaches, sport scientists, sport psychologists, and athletes alike.

Book The Physiology of Physical Training

Download or read book The Physiology of Physical Training written by Zsolt Radák and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2018-06-06 with total page 282 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Physiology of Physical Training provides complete coverage of the physiological and methodological aspects of physical training, providing essential knowledge for anyone involved in exercise physiology. Physiological processes at the cellular level (and for the whole organism) are covered to better explain particular training methods and convey a deeper knowledge and understanding of training techniques. Coverage of exercise training-induced adaptive responses and the most appropriate training methods to bring about targeted adaptive changes are also included. This is the perfect reference for researchers of physiology/kinesiology and human kinetics, practicing coaches, graduate students and sports medicine specialists. Describes exercise-induced adaptation, from the cell to the whole body Demonstrates practical applications of exercise for injury, disease prevention and improved physical performance Fully integrates the knowledge of molecular exercise physiology and training methods

Book Immune Function in Sport and Exercise

Download or read book Immune Function in Sport and Exercise written by Michael Gleeson and published by Elsevier Health Sciences. This book was released on 2006-01-01 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This title is directed primarily towards health care professionals outside of the United States. Designed to help readers understand and evaluate the relationship between exercise, immune function and infection risk, this book presents evidence for the "J-shaped" relationship between exercise load and infection risk. It also describes the components of the human immune system and key functions that protect the body from disease, the impact of acute and chronic psychological stress on immune function, and practical guidelines for minimizing the risk of immunodepression and infection in athletes. Further chapters explore different ways of measuring immune function, as well as the effects of heavy training on innate and specific (acquired) immunity, exercise in environmental extremes, and nutrition. Connections between exercise, infection risk, and immune function in special populations (elderly, obese, diabetic and HIV patients) are also addressed. Authored by a team of highly experienced experts. The "J-shaped" relationship between exercise load and infection risk is described, backed by current research and evidence. Components of the immune system and normal immune function are explained in detail, as well as methods for measuring immune function. The impact of acute and chronic psychological stress on immune function is presented, along with suggestions for minimizing the risk of immunodepression and infection in athletes. The effects of heavy training, exercise in environmental extremes, and nutrition are discussed with regard to their impact on innate and specific (acquired) immunity. Immune function in special populations (elderly, obese, diabetic and HIV patients) is also addressed, exploring links between exercise and infection risk in these groups. Evidence-based coverage includes a list of references in each chapter, as well as suggestions for further reading that direct readers to important texts and review articles. Information is presented in an easily accessible format, following a logical progression of material. LEach chapter begins with a list of learning objectives and ends with a list of key points to reinforce learning. A glossary at the end of the book defines all key terms and abbreviations.