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Friday 17 October Papers / Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 18S (2014) e108–e135
Symposium 47 Supplements in sport – To be or not to be – That is the question M. Cort 1,∗ , G. White 2,∗ , P. Harcourt 3,∗ , L. Burke 4,∗ 1
Cricket Australia, Australia Sports Doctors Australia, Australia 3 Australian Football League, Australia 4 Australian Institute of Sport, Australia 2
Sports Doctors Australia Abstract Submission This symposium is on a very topical area in Australian Sport especially with the issues that came to a head on “darkest day in Australian Sport” in Feb 2013. Speakers to discuss the issues highlighted by recent ASADA investigations into AFL & NRL teams problems in recent seasons, and what we need to learn from these. In this context, the professional ethics and doping risk that comes with the use of supplements. Description of the symposium Areas aiming to be covered: • “Food first”!!: Importance of eating well, hydrating well, training well, sleeping well and having some down time • Are supplements worth taking? • Which supplements work? • What is the evidence and nutrition basis of their use. • Concept of targeted use of supplements–avoiding the shotgun approach. • Recognising the limitations and distractions of using supplements. • Risks of using supplements even in good faith with risks of contamination and other possible more planned contaminations. • Risks especially associated with imported supplements. • Growth of the supplements industry and the amounts of revenue driving this. • The role of “Sports Scientists”, Sports Dietitians and Sports Doctors, and coaches in considerations re use of supplements. • The risks of supplements being managed by support staff with inadequate knowledge of the whole area, with potential to marginalise medical practitioners, and the poor accountability in relation to health and doping risks. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2014.11.105 48 Lower limb biomechanics and muscle function G. Lichtwark 1,∗ , D. Farris 1 , L. Kelly 1 , N. Brown 2 1 2
University of Queensland, Australia Australian Institute of Sport, Australia
Introduction: While the basic principles of lower limb biomechanics have been explored extensively with respect to understanding performance, injury or disease, there is still a significant amount that we do not know, particularly at the level of muscle function and control. Biomechanics research has typically focused on performance outcomes that describe whole body or joint movement and inferred muscle function from these measurements. However, recent developments in measurement technologies have made it possible to zoom in and directly analyse individual muscle function. These approaches have provided a new understanding of how humans control movements, ranging from walking and
running, to jumping and sprinting. This symposium will explore various concepts of lower limb biomechanics at different levels of organisation and under different locomotion conditions. The aim of the symposium is to: (a) provide information about how specific lower limb muscles are used to control movement under different locomotion conditions; (b) explore new methods that can provide detailed information about the control of movement at the level of individual muscles; (c) develop a detailed understanding of how different aspects of muscle design can be used to understand how the body performs movements and the constraints this imposes on our performance. Main body: The session will start with a brief overview of how new research methodologies can be used to gain new insight into muscle function. Four research papers will follow this, where a variety of innovative biomechanical technologies have been used to provide new insight into muscle function of the lower limb. Paper 1 will explore muscle function at the limits of human performance and examine lower limb biomechanics during sprinting. Paper 2 will then provide new insights into the role of the foot musculature in controlling foot stiffness during running. Paper 3 will investigate the role that elastic structures in muscles play in absorbing energy at foot contact during walking. Paper 4 will then explore how using external devices that are aimed to assist humans (e.g. exoskeletons) may have unexpected consequences in terms of muscle function. Following the four papers, a discussion about how these findings might be important for understanding performance, injury or disease will be led by the chair. Introduction: Innovative methodologies for understanding muscle function in the lower limb (Dr. Glen Lichtwark).
Paper 1: Lower limb muscular strategies for increasing running speed (Dr Nick Brown). Paper 2: Active regulation of foot stiffness during running (Mr Luke Kelly). Paper 3: The role of the tibialis anterior muscle and tendon in absorbing energy during walking (Dr Glen Lichtwark). Paper 4: Does unloading muscles save you energy? Paradoxical effects of spring-loaded ankle exoskeletons on plantar flexor muscle mechanics and energetics (Dr Dominic Farris). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2014.11.106 49 Lower limb muscular strategies for increasing running speed N. Brown Australian Institute of Sport, Australia A copy of this abstract may be made available at a later date (not available at time of printing). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2014.11.107 50 Active regulation of foot stiffness during running L. Kelly University of Queensland, Australia Background: The longitudinal arch (LA) provides the human foot the capacity to adapt and conform to variations in environment and loading demand. When encumbered with load, the LA lengthens and lowers, subsequently recoiling as the load is removed. This