Memorandum from Professor M R Yeadon and
Professor R J Maughan, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences,
Loughborough University
HUMAN ENHANCEMENT TECHNOLOGIES IN SPORT
BIOMECHANICS
Improvements in performance in technically demanding
sports such as gymnastics have been largely based upon an improved
understanding of the mechanics of specific skills. Computer simulation
has proved to be a useful tool in this endeavour allowing the
consideration of alternative techniques without the inherent risk
of experimentation. Currently there is a virtual reality system
being developed at Loughborough by Professor Yeadon which allows
a gymnast to learn how to maintain visual contact with the landing
area throughout a twisting somersault.
IMMUNOLOGY
Keeping athletes healthy when training and competing
at the highest level is a major challenge. The physical and life
stresses associated with high level competition can result in
immune suppression, leading to increased susceptibility to minor
infections illnesses. Although minor in themselves, these infections
can limit, or even prevent, performance. Many of the recommended
strategies are ineffective, and some are potentially harmful.
Nutritional and other strategies to limit immune impairment in
athletes are being developed at Loughborough by Professor Mike
Gleeson, Dr Lettie Bishop and their research team.
NUTRITION AND
HYDRATION
Good nutrition and hydration practices can offer
effective alternatives to doping. Nutritional and other therapies
being developed for the recovery of muscle function after traumatic
injury can offer opportunities to the athlete, whether injured
or not, to enhance performance. The formulation of most sports
drinks is not tailored to the needs of the individual athlete:
there is a need to change this situation by learning lessons from
oral rehydration therapy. Professor Ron Maughan and Dr Susan Shirreffs
are working to develop biomarkers that can be used to assess needs
of individual athletes.
PHYSIOLOGY
Athletes must explore strategies appropriate
to their individual sports. New findings from Professor Ron Maughan
and Dr Phil Watson, together with overseas collaborators, include
the identification of some aspects of brain function that can
be influenced to alter exercise performance: the use of drugs—some
of which are not prohibited for use in sport—can enhance
performance in some exercise tasks. These findings also suggest
some genetic differences between those who exercise and those
who do not: whether this is related to performance is not at present
clear. This raises ethical challenges that must be resolved.
Key to the success of HETS in sport is education
of athletes, coaches and those who support them. Dissemination
of available information has lagged far behind scientific progress:
the use of new technologies to improve communication with athletes
must be an essential part of any strategy.
May 2006
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