Enhanced Health to Enhanced Athletic Performance - A Spectrum

Abstract

Advancements in sport science and medicine are often complementary. Scientists get excited when thinking about applying new advances from the medical field that have the potential to influence elite athlete performance. Likewise, training interventions used by the athletic elite often filter down to the recreational exerciser and may improve health. Elite performance enhancement and improving health outcomes are different ends of the same spectrum. While the elite athlete often does not immediately benefit from what the medical field has to offer at the health end of the spectrum, scientists often modify and experiment with the techniques to see if there is potential to find the correct mix to influence performance. Between health and the elite ends of the spectrum, is the recreational exerciser and often this is where the greatest improvements are to be gained.