Tendon overuse injuries, or tendinopathies, are a significant burden in elite sports, causing pain, reducing athletic performance, and sometimes curtailing careers.

Throwing is a fundamental athletic skill, critical in sports ranging from baseball and cricket to handball and American football. Developing and refining this complex motor skill requires countless repetitions and precise feedback. With the advent of Virtual Reality (VR) and virtual environments (VEs), there's growing interest in using these technologies to supplement traditional throwing practice.

In the relentless pursuit of athletic performance gains, elite sports organizations leave no stone unturned. From GPS tracking to advanced physiological monitoring, the quest for measurable indicators of success is constant. Anthropometry, including the assessment of somatotype (body shape and composition), has long been part of this equation. But how useful is this data in the modern era, and how can teams effectively leverage it for a genuine competitive edge?

The landscape of youth sports is increasingly defined by early and intense specialization, with young athletes often focusing on a single sport year-round in the pursuit of elite development. While proponents argue this is necessary for achieving high performance, a significant concern for sports organizations and performance staff is the associated rise in overuse injuries.

The challenge lies not just in accessing research, but in interpreting and applying sports science correctly within the unique context of an elite team. A recent article in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports on personalized nutrition highlights this very issue. While the pursuit of optimal nutrition for performance dates back centuries, the modern field grapples with significant hurdles.   

In the relentless pursuit of peak athletic performance, the mental game is as crucial as the physical. Concepts like mindfulness, resilience, and flow state are no longer fringe ideas but recognized components of elite sports success.

Strength and balance are essential components of athletic performance, contributing to power, agility, and injury prevention. While traditional strength training methods often focus on stable surfaces, incorporating unstable surfaces can provide additional challenges and benefits. A recent study investigated the effects of combining kettlebell exercises with a Bosu ball, an unstable surface, on muscle activity and balance in young athletes.

Bat speed is a critical factor in hitting success in baseball, influencing both hitting power and distance. While traditional training methods focus on strength and swing mechanics, recent research suggests that the countermovement jump (CMJ) can be a valuable predictor of bat speed.

Strength and coordination are fundamental components of athletic performance. While strength training focuses on building muscle mass and force production, coordination training emphasizes the efficient and controlled execution of movements. Integrating these two aspects of training can lead to significant improvements in athletic performance and reduce the risk of injuries.

Plyometric training, a form of exercise that utilizes jumping and explosive movements, has gained popularity in various sports for its ability to enhance athletic performance. However, concerns about the potential risk of muscle damage, particularly in young athletes, have led to questions about the safety and effectiveness of plyometrics. A recent study investigated the impact of plyometric training on high school baseball players, providing valuable insights for coaches and athletes.

Cupping therapy, an ancient healing practice, has gained popularity in recent years among athletes seeking natural ways to enhance recovery and manage pain. This technique involves placing cups on the skin and creating suction, which is believed to increase blood flow, reduce inflammation, and promote healing. While cupping therapy has been used for centuries in traditional medicine, scientific research is now shedding light on its potential benefits for athletes.

In the pursuit of athletic excellence, simply logging hours of training is not enough. To truly maximize potential and achieve peak performance, athletes need to engage in deliberate practice. This highly structured, focused approach to training involves setting specific goals, receiving feedback, and constantly pushing beyond one's comfort zone, even in areas of strength.