American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine

Using an integrated biopsychosocial approach, this paper examines the influences of physical ability, mental and emotional aspects, and the influences of home, school, and culture on the talent development of the elite athlete. The paper will also go beyond characteristics of individual Olympians to discuss how athletic performance can be enhanced through executive coaching, cognitive behavioral therapy, attention to aspects of health psychology, instruction, and neuropsychological interventions. A final section will address issues association with underperformance. The primary focus of the paper will be on Summer Olympians from the U.S., although similar examples could be provided from throughout the full range of countries competing in the Games.

American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 2015, 3(5), 108-111. DOI: 10.12691/ajssm-3-5-4
Pub. Date: December 08, 2015

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The Proposed Effects of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD) Supplementation on Energy Metabolism

by Benjamin David French

Review Article

Energy metabolism is a process that is essential in the maintenance of life and has obvious roles with regards to sporting performance. Oxygen’s role in aerobic respiration is to act as the final hydrogen/electron accepter to form water. If oxygen is not present the whole aerobic pathway cannot occur and so the body will rely on energy produced anaerobically. The question instantly raised is to whether oxygen is ever in short supply, does it become a limiting factor for energy metabolism? The body will adapt to training in a variety of manners so that only under extreme conditions is oxygen a limiting factor. All of these adaptations are beneficial from an exercise performance standpoint and increase the efficiency of the complex metabolic process. There are still however questions surrounding the idea that NAD+ plays a key role in this process and whether increasing the synthesis/concentration would be advantageous for the trained individual. Nicotinamide, nicotinic acid, tryptophan and nicotinamide riboside are all natural substances that are acquired in the diet. Due to the protein and other biosynthetic uses of tryptophan it may not be as efficient or indeed practical to use tryptophan as a supplement. Supplementation of nicotinamide and nicotinic acid appears to increase NAD+ biosynthesis and the intracellular NAD+ pool. Whether these effects can aid in sporting performance is currently unanswered with no research in this area.

American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 2015, 3(5), 96-107. DOI: 10.12691/ajssm-3-5-3
Pub. Date: December 01, 2015

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The Effect of Swimming Exercise on Motor Development Level in Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities

by Elif Top, Dilara Ozer, Mustafa Akıl and Kamil Ozer

Original Research

Objectives: In this study, it was aimed to analyze the effect of swimming exercise on motor development level in adolescents with intellectual disabilities. Methods: A total of 30 mild intellectual disability (MID) individuals between 15-18 age groups participated the study. Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proﬁciency-Second Edition (BOT-2)- Short Form were performed to determine basic motor characteristics of children. BOT-2-Short Form was applied to the participants before and after the ten-month swimming exercise program (60 dk/ 3 days /10 week). Results: According to research findings, in terms of body weight, manual dexterity, speed and agility, upper limb coordination, and BOT-2 total point parameters, there was no statistically significant difference found between groups, measurements (pre-test and post-test), groups and their measurements (p>0.05). In terms of fine motor precision, and fine motor integration parameters, while there was no statistically significant difference found between groups (p>0.05); a significant statistical difference was found between measurements (pre-test and post-test), groups and their measurements (p<0.05). In terms of bilateral coordination parameter, while there was no statistically significant difference found between measurements (pre-test and post-test), groups and their measurements (p>0.05); a significant statistical difference was found between groups (p<0.05). In terms of balance parameter and strength, while there was no statistically significant difference found between groups, groups and measurements (p>0.05); statistically significant difference was found between measurements (pre-test and post-test) (p<0.05). Conclusion: Consequently, regularly applied exercise programmes improve life quality level of individuals with MID by contributing to their motor development level.

American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 2015, 3(5), 85-89. DOI: 10.12691/ajssm-3-5-1
Pub. Date: November 21, 2015

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