Featured series on The Science of Sport

Over the course of the last 10 months, we've tried from time to time to run series on various aspects of exercise physiology. In these series, we try to methodically move through the topics to debunk some myths and provide practical advice that will hopefully improve understanding and performance.

These series include the following - each line is a link so you'll be taken directly to the article in question:

• Running shoes
• Are your shoes the CAUSE, rather than the solution of injuries?
• Running injury - Shoe or training? A debate with missing information on shoes
• Barefoot vs. shoes: Biomechanics and important concepts
• The running shoe industry: Where will we be in 10 years' time?
  

• Exercise in the heat
• How does exercise in the heat affect marathon performance? Lesson from Osaka

• Exercise and dehydration

• History of fluid intake during exercise and the evolution of the sports drink industry
• Why dehydration does NOT CAUSE heat stroke
  
• Drinking to thirst - what we learn from research in the field and elite athletes
  
• Why DRINKING to thirst is the optimal way to drink
  
• Do sports drinks really help prevent electrolyte loss, dehydration and impaired performance?
  

• Sudden death during exercise

• The case of Alberto Salazar - coronary artery disease
• Sudden cardiac death - electrical disturbances in the heart
• The Chicago Marathon 2007 - Chad Schieber
• Ryan Shay in New York
• Putting it into perspective - implications and practical advice
  

• Muscle cramps

• Theories and fallacies behind muscle cramping
• The electrolyte model for muscle cramping
• A novel theory for muscle cramps - the role of the brain and nerves
• Do sports drinks help to prevent muscle cramping?
• Practical steps to reduce and control muscle cramping
  

• Running technique

• Is there is a "right" way to run?
• The Philosophy of how we run
• Biomechanical discussion and evaluation of Pose Running
• The scientific study on Pose running - what did it show?
• The second Pose study - effect of Pose on running economy
• Some suggested changes YOU can make to your running technique
• The marketing of running technique
  

• Running economy

• What is running economy? Introduction to key concepts
• Who are the most economical runners in history?
• Biomechanics of running economy
• How can YOU improve your running through running economy?

As we move forward, we're planning as range of other (hopefully) interesting series - as we go, we'll continue to post the links here so that you can catch all the content at a glance!

Ross