Historical/Cultural/Philosophical Aspects
of Exercise and Sports Science
Foundations of Exercise and Sports Science
Introduction

Science of Human Movement

Interdisciplinary Science

Multiple Applications
Foundations of Exercise and Sports Science
Emergence of a Scientific Discipline




Scientific discipline has central focus
Merging disciplines create new ones
More advances with combined research
Common interests are sometimes the cause
Foundations of Exercise and Sports Science
Exercise Science and Related Discipline

Multiple parent disciplines including:




Physics
Chemistry
Physiology/Anatomy
Medicine
Creation and growth of a new “discipline” or an
“interdisciplinary” area of study occurs as a result
of the interaction of previous work and the growth
of related disciplines – this interaction can be noted
from a historical perspective
Historical Aspects of Exercise and Sports Science
Early writings – Concentration on anatomical and medical aspects – some sports
aspects
Herodicus –late 400’s BC
Hippocrates – 460-377 BC
Galen – 131-201 AD
Middle Ages/Renaissance – Strong Anatomical and Medical Aspects – beginnings
of “Biomechanics”
Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519)
Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564)
Giovanni Alfonso Borelli (1608-1679)
History Con’t
18th and 19th Century – Emergence of Physics, Chemistry and Physiology as “Disiplines”
Joseph Preistly (1733-1804) – oxygen
Cal Willhelm Scheele (1742-1786) – oxygen
Joseph Black (1728-1799) – carbon dioxide
Antoine Lavoisier (1743-1794) – metabolism
William Prout (1785-1850) – beginnings of exercise metabolism
Edward Hitchcock (1793-1864) – structure and function
Edward Hitchcock Jr. M.D.(1828-1911) – described use of
“physical education” for health
Claude Bernard (1813-1878) – Father of Physiology
History Con’t
20th Century: growth of “Exercise Science”
George Wells (1860-1934)– Harvard – Scientific
basis for Physical Education
Bruce Dill (1891-1986) – Director of Harvard
Fatigue Lab (1927-1946)
Archibald V. Hill (1886-1977) – muscle
contraction mechanics, energy
consumption –Oxygen Uptake”
Thomas K. Cureton (1901-1993) Physical Fitness for Health
David C. Costill – glycogen replacement swimming physiology
Jack H. Wilmore – Physical Fitness and Health
History Con’t
Current
Robert B. Armstrong- Texas A&M – muscle
physiology
Michael Joiner – Mayo Clinic – blood flow
Larry Durstine – U. South Carolina – exercise
and blood lipids
Travis N. Triplett – Appalachian State –
resistance training and
osteoporosis/women
Current Sports Scientist in the USA
Randy Wilber – USOC – triathlon, road cycling
Jay T. Kearney- Carmichael Training Systems sports science- canoe/kayak and road
cycling
William A. Sands- USOC – gymnastics “explosive strength”
-
Brian Schilling – Memphis University – weightlifting- MU
type and training alterations
Greg G. Haff – West Virginia – weightlifting resistance
training effects on fuel use
Mathematics
Psychology
Physiology
Chemistry
Physics
Exercise and Sports Science
Sub-disciplines
The scope of Exercise and Sports Science –three
primary areas (sub-disciplines)
Psychology: deals with behavioral aspects of
exercise and sport including learning aspects
Physiology: How physiologic systems respond
and adapt to human movement
Biomechanics: Study of
physical/mechanical principles that underlie
human motion
Foundations of Exercise and Sports Science
Exercise and Sports Science— “New”
Interdisciplinary Sciences
Characteristics of Science

A “science” needs objectivity and evidence

Need to distinguish between anecdotal and scientific
evidence
Foundations of Exercise and Sports Science

In search of Truth in Science (and Advertising)

Testimonial approach – often incorrect assumptions
Tenacity - Propaganda
Knowledge of authority

Rationalistic method – may lead to right or wrong



hypothesis
Scientific method can alleviate inappropriate
conclusions
Foundations of Exercise and Sports Science
The Scientific Method



Goal is discovering what is true – science is not a
philosophical debate
Basic tenet – truth is out there and it can be measured
Questions lead to research




Observation: Phenomenon to be explained
Hypothesis: Logical explanations
Experiment: Scientific study to verify hypotheses
The statistical approach

Mathematical tool to understand evidence
The Research Continuum: a generalization
Basic
Applied
performance
mechanisms
translational
Exercise Scientists
Sports Scientists
Foundations of Exercise and Sports Science
Basic Versus Applied Research



Basic Research

To acquire new knowledge

Knowledge has to be developed before it can be applied
Translational Research: bridging the gap between basic and applied –
“assigns” mechanisms to applied findings
Applied Research

Obvious applications (sport – health)

Answers very specific research question
Foundations of Exercise and Sports Science
Animal Research in Exercise and Sports Science




Many advances obtained through research on
animals
Animals have also benefited
Often combined with human research
Goal is to enhance knowledge of Exercise and
Sports Science
Foundations of Exercise and Sports Science
The Research Continuum

Questions may lead to other areas of science

Need both basic, translational and applied research

Maximum usefulness when adjacent levels
understand and communicate issues of other levels
Foundations of Exercise and Sports Science
Movement at Every Level


Performance continuum: Individuals at different
levels
Three categories




Subnormal
Normal
Supernormal
Studying all three categories yields better
understanding of Exercise Science
Professional and Interest Group Organizations
Associated with Exercise and Sports Sciences
(Examples)
American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and
Dance (AAHPERD)
American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
European College of Sports Medicine (ECSM)
International Society of Biomechanics in Sports (ISBS)
National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA)
Sports Science – What is it?
Michael H. Stone, PhD
PEXS
East Tennessee State University
EXERCISE SCIENCE
SPORTS SCIENCE
MECHANISMS
ADULT FITNESS/
MEDICAL ASPECTS
PAEDIATRIC FACTORS
GERIATRIC FACTORS
NUTRITION
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
Biology: interdisciplinary study of life
EXERCISE SCIENCE: GENERAL TERM •study of biological responses and adaptations to
exercise and training
•depends upon the disciplines of biomechanics,
physiology, psychology, sociology, mechanical,
electrical, and computer engineering
• includes various specialities
SPORT SCIENCE:
• enhancement of sport performance
and sport equipment through the
application of scientific methods and
principles
EXERCISE SCIENTISTS:
-
uses exercise or training to understand
biology
SPORT SCIENTISTS:
-
uses biology to understand sport
•
function to bridge the gap between science
and sport
To be a better sport scientist(s):
1. be a very good scientist
2. be interested in the sport(s) and the development of elite
performance
3. knowledge of sport(s) – personal interest
4. knowledge of training practices and outcomes
5. be willing to train like they do ? – better understand the sport
6. regular discussions with athletes and coaches
7. understand the politics
8. provoke thought -challenge
Become part of the sport.
SPORTS SCIENCE:BASIC FUNCTIONS
1. EDUCATION
2. SPORTS TESTING AND FEEDBACK
3. RESEARCH
EDUCATION
1. coach (coaching the coach)/students
2. athlete
3. other sports scientists – mentor junior scientists
SPORTS TESTING AND FEEDBACK
• INTEGRATED APPROACH
• PICK THE BEST TESTS - BUT!!!
- relatively simple test - good reliability
- insure fast and reliable feedback for coaches and athletes
- make sure results are comprehensible and usable
ONGOING RE-EXAMINATION OF TESTING SERVICE
RESEARCH
•a diligent and systematic enquiry or investigation
in order to discover facts or principles
•to investigate carefully
•SEARCH FOR TRUTH AND CLARITY
•CURRENTLY - WITHOUT RESEARCH – SPORT IS
RARELY PUSHED AHEAD
RESEARCH AND SPORT SCIENCE
1. Practical
2. How can it be applied – not always apparent to the
coach/athlete
3. Performance oriented
- coach - sport scientists interaction
- results should be reported ASAP
- often carried out within the sports testing
programme
DEVELOP INNOVATIVE TESTING-RESEARCH
PROGRAMMES
Example:
1. get the coaches involved in collecting data
- sport testing
- research
- talent ID
2. get NGB sport science committees involved in
collecting data
3. use on-line services (MONITORING)
A NECESSITY: INTEGRATED
PROGRAMME PLANNING
•Why should coaches be interested in Sport Science?
– a good coach does not simply imitate but innovates
- Art and Science
•IDEALLY- SPORT SCIENCE , NGB’S AND COACHES
WORK TOGETHER TO FORMULATE A
TRAINING/TESTING PROGRAMME
THE IDEAL: DELIVERING SPORT SCIENCE TO
THE ELITE ATHLETE AND COACHES IN THE
USA
NGB
COACH/ATHLETE
USOC SPORT SCIENCE
NGB SS
COMMITTEE
DATA
COLLECTION
TESTING/RESEARCH/PROGRAMME
PLANNING:
TWO IMPORTANT CONCEPTS
EXERCISE CONTINUUM
STRENGTH
EXERCISE
POWER
EXERCISE
ENDURANCE
EXERCISE
?
STRENGTH
TRAINING
POWER
TRAINING
ENDURANCE
TRAINING
RECOVERY RECOVERY RECOVERY
Foundations of Exercise Science
Summary Points



Exercise Science and Sports Science are new fields of
study formed by merging other disciplines
Major areas of concentration include: physiology,
biomechanics and psychology
Anecdotal evidence can be presented through:
testimonial approach, tenacity, knowledge of authority,
and rationalistic method
Foundations of Exercise Science
Summary Points (cont.)


Scientific method uses : controlled observation,
hypothesis, and experimentation
Basic research lays foundation for Applied and
“Translational” research, which allows for
improvements to specific areas of Exercise and
Sports Science
THE END