Useful Performance Information

It's all about the right shoes!

Getting the right shoe for sporting activities really can make a difference to the likelihood of suffering a sports-related injury.

Sports are generally dynamic activities involving lots of movements at speed, so there are many ways in which injuries can happen. Good shoes can help the feet to function at optimum efficiency, absorbing shock from the force of the body's weight being transmitted through the bones, ligaments and tendons with each movement. People who take part in sport on a regular basis can suffer aches, pains, sprains and even fractures as a result of overload on the tissues caused by lack of shock absorption or mechanical inefficiency of the foot. Modern sports shoes are made of hi tech materials that have been developed on the basis of millions of pounds worth of research to ensure maximum performance with minimum risk of injury. This has resulted in the amazing array of shoes available on the shelves in the shop.

Sport Psychology

Sport psychology is the scientific study of people and their behaviors in sport. The role of a sport psychologist is to recognize how participation in sport exercise and physical activity enhances a person's development.

Born in 1861, the first sport psychologist is said to have been Norman Triplett. Triplett's first finding as a sport psychologist was that cyclists cycle faster in pairs or a group, rather than riding solo.

Today, sport and exercise psychologists have begun to research and provide information in the ways that psychological well-being and vigorous physical activity are related. This idea of psychophysiology, monitoring brain activity during exercise has aided in this research. Also, sport psychologists are beginning to consider exercise to be a therapeutic addition to healthy mental adjustment.

Just recently sport psychologists have begun to be recognised for the valuable contributions they make in assisting athletes and their coaches in improving performance during competitive situations, as well as understanding how physical exercise may contribute to the psychological well-being of non-athletes. Many can benefit from sport psychologists: athletes who are trying to improve their performance, injured athletes who are looking for motivation, individuals looking to overcome the pressure of competition, and young children involved in youth sports as well as their parents.

For further information check out this Wikipedia entry.