This week in the world of sports science, here’s what happened…
- How to treat knee osteoarthritis?
- The inclusion and eligibility of transgender athletes
- “Putting the long in LTAD” – Jordi Taylor
How to treat knee osteoarthritis?
Recently, Jeffrey Peng MD shared a knee osteoarthritis treatment table on a social media platform that received a lot of attention. The post garnered over 100,000 views within 24 hours and sparked a lot of engagement. The table is an informative guide that presents different treatments for knee osteoarthritis and ranks them based on factors such as short and long-term benefits, side effects, impact, and cost. The table uses a traffic light system that makes it easy to understand and navigate.
According to Peng, weight management, diet, and exercise are the most effective treatments for knee osteoarthritis. He does not recommend bone marrow, adipose tissue, or umbilical cord stem cell treatments due to insufficient evidence and high costs. Instead, he favours platelet-rich plasma injections as an injectable option.
In addition to the treatment table, Peng discussed the table in detail in the comments section of the post. He also created an informative YouTube video where he delves deeper into the different treatments available for knee arthritis. If you are a physiotherapist or someone seeking effective knee arthritis treatments, then checking out Peng’s post and referring to his YouTube video is highly recommended.
The inclusion and eligibility of transgender athletes
The issue of inclusion and eligibility of transgender athletes in elite sports has sparked a contentious debate. A recent study effectively gauged the concerns of those potentially most affected by giving them a voice. The study involved 175 female athletes, both current and retired, from diverse nationalities and sports, including 26 World Champions and 22 Olympians.
The participants completed a survey, and their responses were subjected to statistical analysis. A significant proportion, approximately 95%, expressed support for gender transition in society. However, nearly 60% of the participants believed sports should remain categorised by biological sex.
Notably, the study results were staggering when the sample size was narrowed to current Olympic athletes. Approximately 93% of these athletes opined that an elite athlete who has competed in one gender category should not be allowed to compete in the same sport under a different gender category, especially in sports that heavily rely on physical capacity. Similarly, over 85% of current Olympic athletes believed that transitioning gender categories should not be allowed in contact sports. In contrast, 63% of all participants believed that people could switch gender categories for precision sports.
The debate on the inclusion and eligibility of transgender athletes in elite sports will undoubtedly persist. However, it is crucial to consider the opinions of those most affected. The study’s findings suggest that current female Olympic athletes hold strong views on this issue, which must be respected and considered.
“Putting the long in LTAD” – Jordi Taylor
Australian strength and conditioning coach, Jordi Taylor, recently posted an insightful message on LinkedIn regarding Long Term Athletic Development (LTAD). In the post, Taylor emphasises the importance of establishing a broad foundation of movement capacity and quality before solely chasing strength gains. Taylor highlights the significant window of adaptability in youth athletes, where even small modifications to training programs can result in considerable gains in both motor learning and strength.
Taylor suggests that introducing variability in the foundational athletic base of young athletes is critical. Being exposed to diverse movement patterns across multiple planes of motion with varying loads can establish a broad athletic foundation. Conversely, Taylor advises against specialising too early in the foundational years and warns against solely focusing on the load of the exercise.
Taylor’s philosophy is exemplified in an excellent video of a youth athlete performing a lower-body training session. The athlete performs a range of exercises, including landmine squats, goblet squats, counterbalance single squats, single-leg, and double-leg RDLs, and Copenhagen side planks.
We highly recommend this post to those interested in LTAD. On a related note, our blog, Neuroplasticity, discusses the benefits of learning correct movement and multi-skill development when young, as they can carry positive effects into adulthood. You can find the blog here!
From us this week:
>> New course: Strength Training For Rowers
>> New podcast: Breath-Holding Improves Physical Performance
>> New infographic: Multi-Sport Practice In English Football Academies
>> New article: These Are The Best Open & Closed Trap Bars In 2024
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