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10 Tips To Shopping For The Perfect Athletic Shoes
If you are active in exercising, hiking, sports or any other type of physical activity that requires you to be on your feet often, athletic shoes are a must. These shoes are designed for comfort and support, durability and promise to withstand plenty of use. With a few simple tips, you will be ready to shop for athletic shoes and will soon be stepping out with confidence.
Comfort. The first thing to consider with any footwear, including athletic shoes, is comfort. If a shoe isn’t comfortable, there is no use in wearing it. Blisters, balance problems and overall discomfort are the result of poorly fitting shoes.
Affordability. Just because you are looking for a new pair of athletic shoes, there’s no reason to empty the bank account in doing so. Quality athletic shoes can be comfortable and affordable at the same time. By shopping around and comparing prices, you will find the perfect athletic shoes at the perfect price.
Durability. A good pair of shoes must be durable and able to withstand various weather conditions, including rain. The worst thing to have in a rain storm is leaky shoes, which is why durability is part of a quality pair of athletic shoes.
Design. Everyone wants a shoe that looks good, which is why design is very important. In selecting a color scheme that suits your taste and lifestyle, you will not only feel good in your new athletic shoes, but you will look good too.
Versatility. One of the most important factors of shoe selection is versatility. Will the shoes work with your daily exercise regimen and look equally snazzy with your favorite pair of jeans? Athletic shoes are a terrific compliment to blue jeans for a classic look.
Support. Every good athletic shoe has support. It should cradle the foot and make it feel as if every step is one of leisure. Support is very important, especially if you are involved in a lot of walking or running. In either of these instances, your feet really take a pounding on the pavement. Athletic shoes that feature support are noticeable immediately during wear.
Know what you are buying. Always purchase from a reputable, authorized athletic shoe retailer. There are a lot of imitation products out there, including clothing and footwear. Buying from an authorized retailer will eliminate the chances of buying fake merchandise.
Try before you buy. If you are purchasing locally, go in and sample several pairs of athletic shoes. Try them on, take a few steps and move your foot around inside the shoe. In making sure that you have ease of movement and a proper fit, you will be much happier with your purchase.
Layaway. Certain brands of athletic shoes can be expensive, which is why layaway is often a popular option for anyone who doesn’t have quite enough cash to pay upfront. Even if it’s just to secure a purchase until payday, layaway programs offer customers with the opportunity to own the perfect pair of athletic shoes.
Make sure the shoe fits with your lifestyle. Avoid purchasing anything that doesn’t really fit your schedule. Athletic shoes are designed to work with you and your level of activity.
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Herbal Supplements for Athletes
Article by Den Jayasinghe
Herbal health supplements have numerous benefits especially to an athlete whoneeds more energy than a common man.
Today, we want to be more energetic and we want to do more our daily life. Athletesrequire more energy. They want to run faster, jump higher, throw longer, play betterand win their sporting event.
It is a well proven fact that the steroids involve the risk of health dangers.Athleteswere looking for supplements which are safe and are effective to enhance endurance.Herbal supplements suffice the requirement as they are safe and have very few or noside effects. They reduce the risks manifold that the manufactured steroids anddrugs.
Herbal supplements are the excellent and safe source of energy and strength for anathlete. For example: Gingko Biloba is a herb which can increase an individual’smental power, it helps in increasing energy levels too. The herb is a safe supplementfor athletes when taken under strict medical supervision.
Common herbs like turmeric and ginger help athletes by boosting their energy levels.Though they are not regarded as energy giving herbs but they help in easy andbetter digestion of food. As better digestion means more release of energy, theseherbs help in supplementing the release of energy and induce better energy levels inan athlete.
An herb named Gotu Kola was used by Indian Americans as an energy giving tonic.This herb can facilitate the brain to think clearer. It also boosts the flow of bloodthrough blood vessels.
Another herb named Siberian Ginseng is an herbal supplement for athletes. Athletesfrom Russia as well as all over the world used to take Ginseng regularly to increasetheir stamina and reduce their stress.
Licorice, an herb increases the level of energy in an athlete. It arouse the adrenalsecretions and reduces the symptoms of allergies.
The best herbal supplements for everyone, including athletes, are manufacturedfrom standardized herbal extracts. This means that they are the finest ingredientsavailable. Look for the herbs that you are interested in at a local health food store.
Eleuthero: helps in increasing oxygenation of body cells. It increases the enduringpower.
Fo-ti– It provides strength and improves cardiovascular system.
Codonopsis: It is a mild substitute of Ginseng. It reduces weakness, stress andstrengthens muscles. It also increases digestive power and thereby increasingenergy level in body.fDang gui: is a very popular herb used in the herbal supplements for athletes. It tooprevents cardiovascular diseases, strengthens muscles and builds blood.
Nettles: They are highly nutritious and are good sources of protein. They counteractfatigue and helps in building blood.
Dandelion root: this herb helps in improving liver functions. It helps sportspersonsto pull through quickly after exercise.
Dipsacus: It stimulates metabolism. it develops ligaments and bones too. In China,this herb is used for discomfort in lower back and knees.
Cayenne : This herb removes toxin in blood. It stimulates entire body.
Herbal supplements for athletes are unique in their own way and is finding its use inall the sporting events in the modern times.f
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Sudden Cardiac Death In Sports: Pre-Participation Screening Of Athletes
Definition
Sudden death in sport (SD) is defined as natural death that occurs within one hour of onset of symptoms in a fit individual, participating in, usually, an elite level sport. Sudden cardiac death contributes to 93% of all sudden deaths in sport. This apparently occurs in a person without previously recognized predisposing cardiovascular conditions. In some instances, pre-existing symptoms may already have been present, but the time and mode of death are unexpected.
Sudden death excludes deaths occurring due to cerebrovascular, respiratory, traumatic and drug related causes which are responsible for the remaining 7% of sudden deaths.
A significant cause of death in contact sports is commotio cordis or mechanical trauma to the chest (referred to in one of my other articles).
Incidence
The incidence of SD is estimated to be about 1 in 200,000 per year with an average of 300 deaths per year. An Italian study suggests an incidence of 1.6 – 2.3 per 100000 athletes per year, clearly reflecting an increased incidence in athletes.
Symptoms
Most of cases are asymptomatic.
In the symptomatic ones, a combination of the following events may occur prior to with SD
i. angina (chest pain)
ii. dyspnoea (breathlessness)
iii. palpitations (awareness of one’s heart beating)
iv. pre syncope or syncope (light headedness or fainting)
Etiology
Cardiovascular causes of sudden death
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) non obstructive, obstructive, ischemic, etc – Valvular disease: Aortic stenosis, Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Coronary artery disease
- Congenital anomalies of coronary arteries
- Idiopathic concentric left ventricular hypertrophy
- Aortic rupture
- Right ventricular dysplasia (ARVC)
- Myocarditis: viral, sarcoidosis, amyloidosis
- Arrhythmias and conduction defects Congenital heart disease: Marfan’s, WPW syndrome
- Pulmonary embolisation
Drugs
- QT interval increasing: cisapride, domperidone,chlorpromazine, haloperidol, pimozide, erythromycin and clarithomycin
- epinephrine, ephedrine, cocaine, etc
- performance enhancing: erythropoietin (hyperviscocity & thrombogenesis) anabolics
Commotio cordis (CC)
sudden impact on the precordium, during a vulnerable period of the cardiac cycle cause ventricular fibrillation and sudden death without any visible injury to the sternum or ribs, e.g. contact sport. In 80% of cases of sudden cardiovascular death in athletes, the cause has been identified to be either hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or arrthymogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.
Age considerations
In general, in athletes > 35 years of age, atherosclerotic coronary arterial disease is the leading cause while in those < 35, it is often caused by HCM, a silent cardiac condition which gets unmasked during performance.
Geographic considerations in etiology
In the US, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the major cause of SD. In contrast, in Europe, cardiac arrhythmias and abnormal cardiac arterial anatomy is supposed to be the leading cause. An interesting statistic is that of all the sudden deaths in the US, 50% were found to be amongst athletes of Afro-American origin. In Asia, on the contrary, (the Philippines, Thailand, Japan), Brugada syndrome seems to be the most common cause of natural death in men younger than 50 years of age. This relates to cardiac arrest occurring during sleep or at rest and not during a sport performance . An importance observation in these cases is the reported episode of nightmares occurring prior to the event suggesting a role of the sympathetic nervous system.
Risk Stratification of Sudden Cardiovascular Death
Clinical
a. Double apical impulse with each ventricular contraction
b. Carotid jerky double pulsation, called pulses bisferiens
c. Ejection systolic murmur
Laboratory Investigations
Non-invasive
a. ECG: suggestive of LVH, in addition, there is ST segment depression, gross T wave inversions, pathologic Q waves, and suggestion of LBBB, left axis deviation
b. 2D Echocardiography: to measure the thickness of the Left ventricular wall, and the anatomical variations of the Mitral valve
c. Angio–CT
d. MRI
e. Doppler Study: to access the blood flow through the chambers
f. Ambulatory Holter monitoring Invasive Cardiac catheterization: to assess the pressure gradient between the LV and the ascending aorta, in normal heart there being no such difference.
Pre-participation screening / exercise testing of athletes
Overwhelming majority of sports researchers agree on the need for preparticipation screening in sports. it is mandatory in the US and Italy. In Australia, it has been made compulsory in some sports. The American Heart Association has laid down specific recommendations for the screening of athletes. These state that ‘some form of pre- participation cardiovascular screening for high school and collegiate athletes is justifiable and compelling, based on ethical, legal and medical grounds’. Non-invasive testing can enhance the diagnostic potential of the standard history and physical examination; however it is not prudent to carry out routine tests such as 12-lead ECG, echocardiography, or graded exercise testing for detection of CV disease in large populations of athletes. The Laussane recommendations have also laid down specific guidelines for pre-screening.
However, guidelines by different bodies have given rise to a lot of debate and no single guideline can be considered satisfactory.
Treatment
Usually, the underlying mechanism of sudden cardiovascular death is ventricular fibrillation; hence, as such can be treated with defibrillation. Thus in elite sport, up gradation of sport first aid infrastructure, with routine employment of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) is the need of the hour. Keeping in mind the ABC of resuscitation, the surviving sports person is then transported to a referral heath unit for investigation into the causes of the event. Admission to an ICU for observation or management is usually warranted.
Discussion
In general, a lot of research has been done and a lot written about sudden cardiovascular death related to sport, but thanks to different outcomes of various studies, confusion still prevails about the exact definition of the condition, and indeed, what exactly causes it. Although, we know of conditions which may predispose to sudden death, we cannot as yet, on the basis of screening tests or procedures available, say for sure what condition(s) will definitely lead to sudden death. Hence, the major dilemma surrounding banning athletes from competition. On the one hand, there is the ethical issue of blocking out risks that lead to death, while on the other, there is the thought of banning the athlete when you are not sure if his/her heart condition is indeed a pathologic one.
One may argue that taking risks is an inherent part of sports, esp. boxing, car racing, etc and risks taken by the athletes is what makes the game thrilling. But life threatening risks should be a strict ‘no-no’.
To conclude, exercise or sport may lead to sudden death but the benefits of exercise far outweigh the risks involved. Even in elite athletes, the risk-benefit ratio is to be taken into consideration when disqualifying him or her from competition. It is of paramount importance to judge whether the left ventricular wall thickness is a measure of physiologic adaptation to exercise or relates to a cardiac pathologic state.
Physical exercise per say does not cause cardiovascular death. Does it, then, unmask a cardiac condition to cause a cardiac event which otherwise would not have occurred had the person not been exercising or playing sport? That is the question for the medical community to answer. With a society dealing with ever increasing medical conditions associated with a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy dietary habits, humanity can ill afford to be discouraged from participation in sport or exercising under any pretext unless irrefutable proof of exercise in certain conditions causing death exists.
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Leave a commentLASIK and Athletes
Article by Erich Shrefler
If you are an athlete, you already know the highly important role sharp eyesight plays in your performance.
Ironically, that important role is what makes LASIK surgery both so exciting and so intimidating for athletes. After all, following LASIK, an athlete generally stands to improve his or her visual performance substantially without the need for glasses or contact lenses. But complications from the surgery certainly could pose a problem as well.
The good news is that with the development of Custom LASIK and other laser vision correction procedures, more athletes than ever are turning to these procedures without the fear and hesitation of the past. In fact, professional athletes like Tiger Woods have emerged as big proponents of what LASIK can do for your athletic performance.
Benefits of LASIK for AthletesAthletes who have been diagnosed with nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism typically have had to use prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct their vision. Glasses are problematic because they can be easily knocked off and broken, and they tend to limit peripheral vision. Contact lenses can dry out, fall out, tear, or capture dirt and sweat beneath them, causing eye irritation during the game.
LASIK offers a long-term way to improve athletic vision without all of these hassles.
Risks of LASIK for AthletesAthletes who choose to undergo LASIK vision correction need to keep in mind one very significant factor in their recovery: they are at a higher risk of complications and infection after LASIK. That’s because athletes are at a higher risk for eye injury, which can be a real problem if the eye has not healed properly prior to the injury.
Those who play full-contact sports, such as football, hockey, boxing and wrestling, have the highest risk for LASIK complications. Athletes who participate in low-impact sports, like golf, tennis, soccer, baseball and basketball, are at a much lower risk for problems, since their risk of injury is much lower, as well.
How to Reduce the RisksThe risk to athletes, even those in high-impact sports, can be greatly reduced by allowing the eyes to heal completely after the LASIK procedure is performed. Experienced LASIK surgeons recommend avoiding sports for two or three weeks, at the very minimum. An even better option is to have LASIK performed during your game’s off-season so that there is a long period of recovery.
See what happened in qualifying for the men’s and women’s 100 metres at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore
Nutrition That Is Fitting For An Athlete
Article by Pat Adams
For an athlete achieving peak performance is paramount particularly in the competitive world of athletics. Athletes perform at their very best when they undergo proper training and eat a balanced and nutritious diet. Whether you are a keen sports person or an athlete competing at the highest level, good fitness is necessary to maintain strength, fight infections and injuries and provide energy. Therefore let us examine the nutritional elements that make up an athlete’s diet alongside other tips worth considering. An athlete’s diet is largely made up of carbohydrates known as complex and simple carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates are found in foods such as cereals, pasta and potatoes and simple carbohydrates are in foods namely sugar, honey and fruit. Complex carbohydrates are broken down by the body during digestion and turned into glucose which is then stored in the body as glycogen. During exercise the glycogen is converted back to glucose and used for the energy required to sustain prolonged and strenuous bouts of activity. It is important that an athlete’s energy levels are kept up during this time as a lack of it may well lead to fatigue and a weakened mental attitude, vital if he or she is to win and perform at their best. Glycogen is a form of glucose. The body cannot store much glycogen although athletes need a lot of it. Therefore in order to keep the ‘glycogen tank’ full, try to eat carbohydrates as much as you can and drink plenty of water as glycogen is stored better when the body is well hydrated. Try to avoid white sugar and honey as this increases the pain of injuries. Should an injury occur, get a fresh pineapple and eat as much of it as you can as it contains an enzyme called Bromelain, which helps the healing process by breaking down the injured tissue. Taking vitamin B6 is also good as it is a natural diuretic and helps carry damaged tissue out of the system. A good diet which contains a variety of foods will ensure that an athlete gets sufficient vitamins and minerals. Vitamins such as Thiamin B1, Riboflavin B2 Niacin and Folacin maintain a healthy body and are found in foods such as whole grains, liver, lean meats, milk and green leafy vegetables. Calcium is also good for bone structure and strength and a lack of it can lead to osteoporosis later in life. A excellent supply of Calcium can be found in foods such as eggs, cheese and milk. Iron serves an important part in the body as it carries oxygen to the red blood cells and removes carbon dioxide. Many growing athletes, women and vegetarians are prone to having an iron deficiency due to poor iron intake, low absorption or loss of iron in sweat. A diet sufficient in fruits, vegetables, cereals and red meat will help rectify any shortage. The function of protein in the diet also provides a vital role. Protein is used for building and repairing muscle, bone, skin, hair and other tissues. It is essential in the diet as the body doesn’t store protein, the best sources coming from eggs, milk, meat and fish. In general athletes who train hard tend to need more protein than the average individual, and the amounts they need depend on the duration, intensity and frequency of the exercise. Athletes whose diet is low in protein may experience fatigue and poor performance. Foods that contain fats provide fuel for the body and the amount of fat used depends on the athletes physical fitness and the event that he or she is competing in. Trained athletes tend to use up more fat than an untrained athlete. A good amount of body fat is needed and care must be taken when eating foods with a high fat content as it can lead to weight gain. Select lean cuts of meats and low fat dairy products along with ‘healthy’ fats and oils such as Canola and Olive oils. Water is crucial in the life of an athlete and drinking 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day will ensure that you are replacing fluids loss during exercise. Dehydration can cause fatigue and muscle cramps. Drinking chilled liquids throughout the event is advisable as they lower body temperature. Other tips to note are:-Always eat breakfast as this will help kick start your day and your metabolism.Do not eat any foods that you are not familiar with. An athlete doesn’t need any ‘suprises’ on the big day. Experiment after the event and not before.Any food eaten should be well digested before the exercise or event begins. The body must feel as light as possible. Leave 3.5 hours after eating a high carbohydrate meal and 2-3 hours after eating a big meal. So for anyone who enjoys sports competing is only half the fun. Keeping your body in peak condition will not only benefit you in years to come but will ensure that you excel and win at your chosen sport. After all as the saying goes ‘You are what you eat’ a phrase that rings notably true in the world of athletics.
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