Do compression clothes really impact sport performance?

Two new studies from researchers at Indiana University suggest that the new fad of athletes wearing compression clothing to enhance performance may be little more than that, a fad. In two separate inquiries analyzing the effect of compression legwear on athletic performance, Abigail Laymon and Nathan Eckert both found no evidence for improved performance or efficiency of oxygen consumption. The two studies are being presented this week at the annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine in Baltimore.

Are elite athletes equipped with “sports genes”?

An article in this week’s issue of Sports Illustrated examining the latest science on genetic influence over athletic ability suggests that the world’s elite athletes aren’t necessary equipped higher proportions of superpowered genes. In fact, David Epstein writes that when it comes to genes that research has linked to athletic performance and endurance, the world’s [...]

People don’t take drinking cues from elite athletes

Though the unruly behavior of inebriated sports stars may spark some righteous indignation (remember the hubbub about Canada’s women’s Olympic ice hockey team celebrating their gold on the ice?) and make for good tabloid headlines, when it comes to influencing fans’ own drinking habits, those alcohol-infused shenanigans have little impact. That’s the finding of new [...]