Ewfsm n3

The official journal of the European Weightlifting Federation - N 3 / January-April 2016
SUMMARY
25
As a dear colleague of mine said
once: If you want different results
you must use a different system.
I agree but I would not only like
to have different results, but if
possible better results. By better
results I especially mean better
results the natural way.
2 EDITORIAL
by Antonio Urso
4 STRENGTH & CONDITIONING FOR A SCIENCE OF HUMAN

MOVEMENT MAXIMIZING ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE:
OBSERVATIONS ON PERIODIZATION AND VARIATION
by Jay R. Hoffman
12 RECENT ADVANCES IN THE IMAGING OF BIOMETRIC

POSTURAL SCREENING
by Stefano Sabatini
20 A DIFFERENT APPROACH THINKING OUT OF THE BOX

by Remco Eenink
26 BEYOND TRAINING
by Alberto Andorlini
65
42 OSGOOD-SCHLATTER DISEASE IN WEIGHTLIFTING
by Nicola Voglino, Antonio Urso
48 WHEN SIZE REALLY MATTERS

When it comes to sports, there is no
by Menotti Calvani
doubt that we have to engage with the
theory of complex systems. 54 DOPING AND GENE DOPING: THE ETHICAL APPROACH
In this context, the obvious question by Sofia A. Matsagkou
concerns the possibility of constructing
a mathematical model for the 60 COMPLEXITY AND SPORT
description and understanding of by Fabio Bagarello, Francesco Gargano,
sports performance and the chance to Francesco Oliveri, Salvatore Spagnolo
make some sort of prediction of a sport
performance.
70 DESTINATION RIO. ACCLIMATISATION: GENERAL ASPECTS
by Antonio Gianfelici
2
The official journal of the European Weightlifting Federation
EDITORIAL
T he simplifying
thought and the concept
of complexity
The current issue of the EWF-SM contains an arti- pillars consisting of:
cle, which, in addition to being extremely intere- Order
sting from my point of view, is capable of triggering Separation
reflections on a new way of conceiving the organi- Reduction
sation of training, based on an alternative vision of Deductive-Inductive-Identity-making logic
the human machine: in other words, its complexity. Lets take a closer look.
In the article, the concept of complex is explained
perfectly, in its entirety, however, in this editorial, Order - The universe is governed by imperative
I would like to address the simplifying thought, in laws. From the sovereignty of this pillar there
other words, the opposite of complexity. derives a deterministic and mechanistic concept
The simplifying, or reductionist thought is the pre- of the universe. This implies that everything in the
vailing thought in the sporting world, and beyond. universe is determined and can be determined. The
There is a continuous tendency to reduce various Newtonian and Galilean thought which is typical of
phenomena to a minimum, simplifying, for example, classical physics.
the application of the concept of training stress,
often verifying feedback in a reductive manner and Separability - To solve a problem with this approach,
seldom, or rarely correlating the various phenome- we must break it down into simple elements. In
na measured individually. doing so, however, we solve only part of the problem,
Despite everything, many important sporting resul- never the entire problem, and never from its root.
ts have emerged, but the question I put to myself, In addition, this approach has determined the
and to you is: are we sure that we could not have separation between major sciences and the birth
done better if we had started off, not from a simpli- of disciplines, the estrangement of the object of
fied concept, but rather through the vision of com- awareness from the knower and finally, the (serious)
plexity? separation of Science and Philosophy.
What happened in terms of the philosophical
structure, through the realisation and the vision of Reduction This is based on the idea that the
the simplifying or reductionist thought? knowledge of the basic elements of the physical
Reductionism is structured on four apparently solid and biological worlds is a determined knowledge,
3
therefore, such elements would, of Chaos is conceived in physics: a dressed complexity as: the la-
N 3 / January-April 2016
in theory, be more measurable, dynamic system is defined chao- test era in the history of modern
whereas the knowledge of them as tic when it presents the following medicine has been characterised
a changing and diverse set, would characteristics - Sensitivity and by an episteme marked by the di-
be secondary in this light. Unpredictability. scovery of complexity. It is a disco-
very that originates in 20th cen-
Deductive- Inductive - Identity- From this vision, it should be sim- tury philosophy and physics and
making logic - This approach ple to deduce that also sport, that has produced awareness of
came into being with Aristotelian because of its intrinsic characte- the fact that the world as a whole,
thought. In truth, it is a rather ristics, is a phenomenon which is is not linear, but rather irregular,
dated way of reaching a conclusion, subject to the law of chaos. Physi- variable, unstable, precarious and
a way which is characterised, in cist, James Gleik defines the con- uncertain, in short, COMPLEX.
terms of approach, by the triad: I cept of chaos as follows: where
induce, I deduce, and I identify, in chaos beings, classical science In all this evolution, what has
other words, operations that have stops. For as long as the world has sport done regarding its approach
had (and still have today) a total had physicists inquiring into the to complexity? To tell the truth,
and complete application in their laws of nature (classical science), not very much. We continue to
simplistic approach. Reasoning it has suffered a special ignorance study the phenomenon through
and theoretic construction come about disorder in the atmosphere, the process of reductionism and
about logically by deduction and in the turbulent sea, in the fluctua- simplification. We can rarely
induction. This approach, to which tions of wildlife populations, in the appreciate complex correlations
we are undoubtedly in debt, but oscillations of the heart and the that attempt to make an in-
with respect to which we must also brain. The irregular side of nature, depth analysis of the origin of
take a critical approach, excludes the discontinuous and erratic side performance. Naturally, if sport
the qualitative transformations have been puzzles, or worse, mon- were to change its point of view,
and the interactions between strosities to science. However, complexity would inevitably force
different forms of organisations. they represented and continue to us to see things from another
represent an inextricable truth! angle. But what would we see? In
Around the early 1900s, this ap- primis, performance through the
proach, which had so far appeared In the 1940s, Moshe Feldenkrais collection and integrated study of
steadfast, began to falter. The stu- (1904 1984), a physicist specia- the phenomena we know today.
dy and research method of the In- lising in cybernetic engineering, In order for performance to
finitely Small was born and the or- began studying movement, cre- change, it will be necessary to
ganisation of the Infinitely Small ating a method (the Feldenkrais adapt a new approach to training,
showed from the very outset, a method), assessing it through the which must start to study the
complexity of unexpected pro- application of mathematical algo- phenomenon in a correlated, not
portions. Quantum physics arose rithms and attempting, in this way, reductive manner. Furthermore,
from this new approach, thanks to to contextualise the phenomenon in close keeping with the concept
its supposed founder, Max Planck in terms of complexity. He dedu- of reform and methods of training,
(1858 1947), who defined the ced as follows: life is complex, things must change in terms
concept of complexity as follows: not only in its initial stages, it of their research, functional
the Universe maintains it rules tends to evolve towards an incre- assessment and application
which are very difficult to explain asingly complexity, which is an es- method. But perhaps this is too
to the majority of individuals who sential characteristic for its own complex?
often forgo scientific culture in its continuity.
complexity, creating irrational yet Antonio Urso
seductive answers. The theory of Not only physics was interested EWF President
Chaos was born alongside that of in applied complexity. In 2001, the
the Infinitely Small. The definition National Bioethics Committee ad-
4
Strength &
Conditioning
for a Science
of Human
Movement
MAXIMIZING
ATHLETIC
PERFORMANCE:
OBSERVATIONS
ON PERIODIZATION
AND VARIATION
BY Jay R. Hoffman
5
Courtesy of EWF
6 MAXIMIZING ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE
ZIn the past half-century a number Nonlinear Periodization

of studies have examined how ma-

450,0
nipulation of intensity and volume
Pre Post
of training can influence improve-
400,0
ments in strength and power. Early
investigations focused on exami- 350,0
ning an optimal training intensity W
(i.e. load) that should be used to 300,0
maximize strength gains (Berger,

250,0
1962; OShea, 1966). Subsequent
studies though have suggested
200,0 %1RM
that when training intensity and vo- 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
lume are altered within a training

cycle, that strength performance
Block or Linear Periodization
can be enhanced to a significantly
500,0
greater extent than when these
Pre Post
training variables are maintained 450,0
consistent during the training pe-
riod (Harris et al., 2000; Kraemer, 400,0
1997; Kraemer et al., 2003; Marx et

W 350,0
al., 2001; Stone et al., 1982; 2000;
Willoughby et al., 1993). The step- 300,0
like alteration of training intensity
and volume is commonly referred 250,0
to as the traditional model of pe-

200,0 %1RM
riodization (Baker et al., 1994; Hof- 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
fman, 2002; Rhea et al., 2002). It is
also referred to as linear or block
periodization in which each phase Figure no. 1
Comparison in Force/Power Curve Changes between Block/Linear
of the training program empha-
and Nonlinear Training Model. Adapted from Bartolomei et al., 2014.
sizes a specific training goal (i.e.,
hypertrophy, strength or power)
(Bartolomei et al., 2014). Linear or power and hypertrophy develop- non-periodized training (Kraemer,
block periodization is typically cha- ment. As a result alterations in 1997; Kraemer et al., 2003; Marx et
racterized by an inverse relation- daily program emphasis would pro- al., 2001; Rhea et al., 2002). Howe-
ship between intensity and volume vide the ability for athletes to train ver, comparisons between traditio-
of training. During the beginning for both at the same time. This nal linear and nonlinear periodi-
of the training cycle training volu- periodized training model is often zation models are quite limited. It
me is high and training intensity is referred to as nonlinear or an un- has been reported that a nonlinear
low. As the training cycle progres- dulating training model (Hoffman, periodized resistance training pro-
ses training intensity will increase, 2014; Kraemer, 1997). gram was more effective in stimu-
while training volume declines. lating strength gains than linear
This is typical for the training pro- Studies examining nonlinear pe- periodization following 12 weeks
gram emphasizing increases in riodized training programs have of training (Rhea et al., 2002). In
strength performance. However, demonstrated that daily program contrast, other investigators were
for many athletes the goal may be manipulation may be more benefi- unable to see any significant diffe-
to simultaneously emphasize both cial in eliciting strength gains than rences in strength gains between
MAXIMIZING ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE 7
these two periodization models tensity and volume of training were is to maintain the strength gains
following up to 9-weeks of training altered each week for 15 weeks made in the offseason, these stu-
(Baker et al., 1994; Buford et al., (Bartolomei et al., 2014). Subjects dies indicate that strength can
2007). However, the majority of were competitive strength/power be improved as well. Increases in
studies examining the efficacy of athletes. Results suggested that strength in football players have
periodized resistance training pro- the block periodization model ap- been seen in the 1RM squat (Hoff-
grams were not performed on com- peared to be more beneficial than man and Kang, 2001), while impro-
petitive strength/power athletes. the undulating model in enhancing vements in upper body strength
In the few studies examining com- upper body strength and power have been reported in basketball
petitive athletes, significant bene- performance, but not in the lower players (Hoffman et al., 1991b). The
fits of a nonlinear training model body measures. However, the block differences between these studies
compared to no periodization have or linear model appeared to cause are likely related to the demands of
been reported in college tennis an upward shift to the force/ve- each sport. Basketball players em-
players (Kraemer et al., 2003) and locity curve and a greater power phasize lower body training during
American football players (Krae- output at the lower intensity of the practice and games that may limit
mer, 1997). However, these studies athletes maximal strength capabi- lower body strength improvemen-
did not compare the non-linear lity in the bench press exercise (see ts during the season. In contrast,
periodization model to a linear pe- Figure 1). the greater potential for lower
riodization model. One of the few body strength gains in American
studies to examine linear versus The development of yearly training football players is likely related to
non-linear training in competitive programs includes specific empha- the players resistance training
athletes was performed by Hoff- sis on inseason training regimens. experience. Most American college
man and colleagues (2008). They The inseason program, also known football players in their initial sea-
examined experienced, resistance as a maintenance program is de- son of college football have been
trained American college football signed to primarily maintain the resistance training for at least
players during a 15-week offseason gains made during the offseason two years prior. However, we have
program. They randomly divided training program. However, depen- found that many of these athletes
the team into a linear, nonlinear, ding upon the training experience had limited experience in the squat
or no-periodized training program of the athlete or the design of the exercise. It is probable that the gre-
during the study. The results were training program, it appears to be atest window of adaptation in the
unable to demonstrate any clear possible to improve these variables younger (i.e, first year) players is in
evidence that one training pro- during a season of competition. lower body strength attainment.
gram was more effective than the
other. However, the investigators INSEASON TRAINING Improvements in strength during
suggested that the results of the PROGRAMS the season also appear to be re-
study were impacted by the pro- lated to the intensity of training
longed active rest period (7 weeks) Studies examining the effect of in- used during the inseason resistan-
that had preceded the start of the season conditioning program have ce training program. When trai-
study. It is likely that a longer pe- shown significant gains in both ning intensity exceeds 80% of the
riod of training would be needed to upper and lower body strength players 1RM the ability to stimulate
delineate any differences between (one repetition maximum [1RM] strength improvements is signifi-
the training paradigms following bench press and Squat, respecti- cantly greater than when training
prolonged periods of no training. vely) in both competitive football intensity is below 80% (Hoffman
A recent study followed up on that (Hoffman and Kang, 2001) and and Kang, 2001). This appears to be
study and compared a block perio- basketball (Hoffman et al., 1991a) more prevalent in first year players
dization scheme to an undulating players. Although the primary goal than in the older, more experienced
type training program in which in- of an inseason training program resistance trained athletes. It is
likely that the accumulated fatigue ning days. Although the average lifting group experienced an 18%
occurring in players that have gre- intensity of training per week was greater improvement in lower body
ater playing time limit the extent similar between the nonlinear and strength (p>0.05). These differen-
of muscle adaptation occurring du- linear groups (80.75% and 83.95% ces in strength improvement were
ring the season. in the squat exercise) and (81.3% likely the result of the inclusion of
A comparison of linear to nonlinear and 83.3% in the bench press exer- specific assistance exercises that
training has also been examined cise), the subjects in linear training were part of the subjects training
during an inseason training pro- group were able to train at an in- programs. The greater number of
gram. Hoffman and colleagues tensity averaging better than 80% assistance exercises of the upper
(2003) examining American fre- for both training sessions. Thus, it body incorporated into the training
shman college football players is likely that the subjects in the li- program of the power lifting group
reported that both linear and near training group were provided likely impacted the strength gains
nonlinear models of training are a greater stimulus to elicit stren- of the upper body, while the grea-
able to maintain strength during gth improvement compared to the ter number of multi-joint structural
the competitive football season in subjects in the nonlinear training exercises utilizing the lower body
freshman college football players. group. musculature that comprised the
Further, subjects performing the training program of the athletes in-
linear training program model Training Program corporating the Olympic exercises
showed significant improvements Variation during may have had a greater impact on
in 1-RM squat strength, while no Off-Season Conditio- lower body strength development.
significant strength changes were ning Programs In addition, the high number of pul
observed in subjects training with ling exercises (i.e. cleans, snatches
the nonlinear model of training. The traditional power lifting pro- and pulls) seen in the training pro-
The subjects in the nonlinear group gram may not provide the opti- gram of the Olympic lifting group
were required to train at approxi- mal training stimulus in football likely impacted the significantly
mately 70% of their preseason players. When Olympic lifting greater vertical jump improvement
1RM during the first training ses- exercises are added to the trai- seen in this group compared to the
sion of the week, and use a resi- ning program of these athletes power lifting group. These exerci-
stance approximating 90% during we can enhance leg strength and ses are mechanically similar to the
the second training session. The running speed to a greater extent vertical jump and the motor unit
subjects in the linear group were than power lifting exercises only firing patterns that are improved
required to train at 80% of their (Hoffman et al., 2004). Although during training of these exercises
1RM during both weekly training improvements in both upper and would likely enhance the firing pat-
sessions. Subjects in both groups lower body strength measures tern of these motor units during
were encouraged to aggressively were not significantly different the vertical jump as well.
increase the resistance used when between strength/power athletes Training programs that involve
they were able to complete the using an Olympic exercise routi- high velocity movements, such as
required number of repetitions ne and a traditional power lifting that seen with Olympic training,
for two straight training sessions. training program, there did ap- are thought to be superior for eli-
Examination of training logs at the pear to be a trend toward specific citing gains in power output and
end of the study showed that the strength adaptations that were speed. This is based primarily on
average training intensity during related to the subjects specific the high rates of force develop-
the high intensity training day for training program. Subjects in the ment and improved contractile
subjects in the nonlinear group was power lifting group experienced speed associated with high force,
less than 90% in both the squat and a two-fold greater improvement high velocity resistance training.
bench press exercises and greater in upper body strength (p>0.05), Although differences in sprint and
than 75% on the light intensity trai- while the subjects in the Olypmic agility performance was not stati-
stically significant, there did appe- emphasize greater improvemen- gram. The jump squat exercise
ar to be a tendency for a greater ts of force at the high velocity end appeared to significantly enhance
improvement in sprint times in the (Hakkinen, 1994). A combination of the strength performance in the
Olympic training group compared high force and high power training squat and power clean exercises
to power lifting group. The sprint would appear to result in adapta- in those athletes performing the
and agility training program that tion occurring at a greater part of ballistic movements compared
was incorporated into the training the force-velocity curve and have a to those athletes that did not.
program of both groups likely had greater impact on athletic perfor- However, no significant differences
a significant impact on speed and mance (Hakkinen et al., 1986). power performance was seen. It is
agility improvement in all subjects. Recent research has indicated that likely that in a group of well-trai-
Other studies have reported that the inclusion of ballistic exercises ned athletes a greater duration of
combination training may be more (i.e. jump squats and bench press training with ballistic exercise is
effective than training programs throws) may further augment needed to impact speed and agility
that focus primarily on either high the training response in these performance.
force or high power only (Harris et players (Hoffman et al., 2005). In This would be consistent with other
al., 2000; Wilson et al., 1993). Trai- a study of experience, resistance studies that have demonstrated si-
ning programs of high force only trained strength/power athletes gnificantly greater improvements
appear to improve force at the high these investigators incorpora- in power performance when balli-
end of the force-velocity curve, whi- ted jump squat exercises into the stic exercises are incorporated into
le the inclusion of high power or 5-week strength/power phase of the training program (Newton et
high velocity exercises appears to the offseason conditioning pro- al., 1999: Wilson et al., 1993).
References 14. Hoffman JR, Ratamess NA, Cooper JJ, Kang J,

Chilakos A, and Faigenbaum A. The addition of
1. Baker D., G. Wilson, and R. Carlyon. Periodi- eccentrically loaded and unloaded jump squat
zation: the effect on strength of manipulating training on strength/power performance in
volume and intensity. J. Strength. Cond. Res. college football players. J Strength Cond. Res.
8:235-242, 1994. 19:810-815, 2005.
2. Bartolomei S, Hoffman JR, Merni F, and JR Stout. 15. Hoffman JR, Ratamess NA, Klatt M, Faigenbaum
A comparison of traditional and block periodi- AD, Ross R, Tranchina N, McCurley R, Kang J
zed strength training programs in strength trai- and Kraemer WJ. Comparison between Diffe-
ned athletes. J. Strength. Cond. Res. 28:990- rent Resistance Training Programs in Division
997, 2014 III American College Football Players. J Stren-
3. Berger R.A. Optimal repetitions for the develop- gth Cond. Res. In Press.
ment of strength. Res. Q. 33:334-338, 1962. 16. Kraemer W.J. A series of studies the physio-
4. Buford T.W., S.J. Rossi, D.B. Smith, and A.J. logical basis for strength training in American
Warren. A comparison of periodization models football: Fact over philosophy. J. Strength Cond.
during nine weeks with equated volume and Res. 11:131-142, 1997.
intensity for strength. J. Strength. Cond. Res. 17. Kraemer W.J. K. Hakkinen, N.T. Triplett-Mcbri-
21:1245-1250, 2007. de, A.C. Fry, L.P. Koziris, N.A. Ratamess, J.E.
5. Hakkinen, K. Neuromuscular adaptation during Bauer, J.S. Volek, T. Mcconnell, R.U. Newton,
strength training, aging, detraining and immo- S.E. Gordon, D. Cummings, J. Hauth, F. Pullo,
bilization. Crit. Rev. Phys. Rehab. Med. 6:161- J.M. Lynch, S.A. Mazzetti, and H.G. Knuttgen.
198, 1994. Physiological changes with periodized resistan-
6. Hakkinen, K., M. Alen, H. Kauhanen, and P.V. ce training in women tennis players. Med. Sci.
Komi. Comparison of neuromuscular perfor- Sports Exerc. 35:157-168, 2003.
mance capacities between weightlifters, power- 18. Marx J.O., N.A. Ratamess, B.C. Nindl, L.A.
lifters and bodybuilders. Int. Olympic Lifter. Gotshalk, J.S. Volek, K. Dohi, J.A. Bush, A.L.
9:24-26, 1986. Gomez, S.A. Mazzetti, S.J. Fleck, K. Hakkinen,
7. Harris G.R., M.H. Stone, H.S. OBryant, C.M. R.U. Newton, and W.J. Kraemer. Low-volume
Proulx, and R.L. Johnson. Short-term per- circuit versus high-volume periodized resistan-
formance effects of high power, high force, or ce training in women. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc.
combined weight-training methods. J. Strength. 33:635-643, 2001.
Cond. Res. 14:14-20, 2000. 19. Newton, R.U., Kraemer, W.J., and K. Hakkinen.
8. Hoffman J.R. Physiological Aspects of Sport Effects of ballistic training on preseason prepa-
Training and Performance. 2nd edition. Human ration of elite volleyball players. Med. Sci. Sports
Kinetics: Champaign, IL. pp 207-218, 2014. Exer. 31:323-30, 1999.
9. Hoffman J.R., A.C. Fry, R. Howard, C.M. Maresh, 20. Rhea M.R., S.D. Ball, W.T. Phillips, and L.N. Bur-
And W.J. Kraemer. Strength, speed, and endu- kett. A comparison of linear and daily undula-
rance changes during the course of a Division I ting periodized programs with equated volume
basketball season. J. Appl. Sport Sci. Res. 5:144- and intensity for strength. J. Strength Cond.
149, 1991a. Res. 16:250-255, 2002.
10. Hoffman J.R., C.M. Maresh, L.E. Armstrong, and 21. Stone M.H., H. OBryant, and J. Garhammer. A
W.J. Kraemer. Effects of off-season and in-sea- theoretical model for strength training. J. Spor-
son resistance training programs on a collegiate ts. Med. 21:342-351, 1982.
male basketball team. J. Hum Muscle Perform. 22. Stone M.H., J.A. Potteiger, K.C. Pierce, C.M.
1:48-55, 1991b. Proulx, H.S. OBryant, R.L. Johnson, and M.E.
11. Hoffman JR and Kang J. Strength changes Stone. Comparison of the effects of three
during an inseason resistance training program different weight-training programs on the one
for football. J Strength Cond. Res. 17:109-114, repetition maximum squat. J. Strength Cond.
2003. Res. 14: J. Strength Cond. Res. 332-337, 2000.
12. Hoffman J.R., M. Wendell, J. Cooper, and J. 23. Willoughby D.S. The effects of mesocycle-length
Kang. Comparison between linear and nonli- weight training programs involving periodiza-
near inseason training programs in freshman tion and partially equated volumes on upper
football players. J Strength Cond. Res. 17:561- and lower body strength. J. Strength Cond. Res.
565, 2003. 7:2-8, 1993.
13. Hoffman JR, Cooper J, Wendell M, and Kang J. 24. Wilson, G.J., R.U. Newton, A.J. Murphy, and B.J.
Comparison of Olympic versus traditional power Humphries. The optimal training load for the
lifting training programs in football players. J development of dynamic athletic performance.
Strength Cond. Res. 18:129-135, 2004. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 25:1279-1286, 1993
Courtesy of EWF
DR. JAY HOFFMAN

holds the rank of full professor in the Sport and Exercise Science program at the University of Central
Florida. He is presently the Department Chair of Education and Human Sciences and Director of the
Institute of Exercise Physiology and Wellness.
Dr. Hoffman is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Strength and
Conditioning Association (NSCA).
He served as President of the National Strength and Conditioning Association Board of Directors
from 2009-2012. Dr. Hoffman also served on the Board of Directors of the USA Bobsled and Skeleton
Federation. Dr. Hoffman holds a unique perspective in his sport science background. Prior to his academic
career he signed free agent contracts with the NY Jets and Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL and the Tampa
Bay Bandits of the USFL. A dual national of the USA and Israel, Dr. Hoffman commanded the Physiological
Unit of the Israel Air Force and served as a Research Officer in the Combat Fitness Unit of the IDF during
his military service. Dr. Hoffman has been honored or awarded the 2007 Outstanding Sport Scientist of the
Year from the NSCA, 2005 Outstanding Kinesiology Professional Award from the Neag School of Education
Alumni Society of the University of Connecticut, 2003 Educator of the Year NSCA, and 2003 Neag School of
Education Outstanding Alumni Research Award (University of Connecticut).
Dr. Hoffmans primary area of study focuses on physiological adaptations resulting from nutritional and
exercise intervention. Dr. Hoffman has published more than 200 articles and chapters in peer-reviewed
journals. His books Physiological Aspects of Sport Training and Performance, Norms for Fitness,
Performance, and Health, and Program Design were published by Human Kinetics. A Practical Guide to
Designing Resistance Training Programs and Total Fitness for Baseball were published by Coaches Choice.
Further sharing his research and findings, Dr. Hoffman has lectured at more than 380 national and
international conferences and meetings.
12
RECENT
ADVANCES
IN THE IMAGING
OF BIOMETRIC
POSTURAL
SCREENING
The SpinalMeter is a patented and certified medi-
cal device which detects any postural imbalance
of the spine, in particular structural paramorphi-
sms and dysmorphisms.
BY STEFANO SABATINI
13
Courtesy of EWF
14 ADVANCES IN THE IMAGING OF BIOMETRIC POSTURAL SCREENING
Every male or female athletes One that he/she will most likely meet an epic transition from subjective
of the aspects that is rapidly and with injuries that will lead to the in- measurement to objective biome-
inexorably changing the traditional terruption of the competitive acti- tric postural screening.
models of Sports Medicines appro- vity for long or short periods. Thanks to this innovative digital
ach to the preparation of athletes Having said this, we must ask our- technology, we now have a new dia-
and the training of their trainers, is selves: postural screening, is or is it gnostic and multi-disciplinary ap-
the awareness that in order to bring not a simple act? proach to postural screening.
an athlete to a professional level so It most certainly is not simple. In
as to compete on an international actual fact, it is very complex also SPINALMETER
level, a range of professional fi- for the specialists involved and for The SpinalMeter is a patented and
gures must be capable of working the equally numerous schools of certified medical device which de-
together as a team and creating thought in the scientific world and tects any postural imbalance of the
customised training programmes. beyond. What are the most com- spine, in particular structural para-
A sophisticated medical staff must mon measurement devices? morphisms and dysmorphisms.
be on hand, coordinated by a spe- Total body x-ray, the scoliometer, A high-definition system for scre-
cialist in Sports Medicine, and inclu- the gibbometer, the plumb line, the ening and diagnostic purposes.
ding an orthopaedist, a physiothe- podoscope and the most important Hypoallergenic markers are ap-
rapist, a dietician, a psychologist of all: the objective visit. plied on the anatomical landmarks
and a posturologist. Recent advances in imaging in bio- and a sequence of photographs is
Admittedly, the latter figure is not metric postural screening, carried acquired which is then elaborated
yet well defined on the internatio- out by the medical division of Mae- by sophisticated software using a
nal sports scene. Various specialists strale Information Technology, have mathematical formula. The result
have traditionally been involved in marked a clear boundary between is a three dimensional image of the
postural screening: Orthopaedists, the past and the present and have entire spine and the production
Paediatricians, Orthodontists, Den- opened new, previously inconcei- of angular measurements (auto-
tists, Gnathologists, Psychologists, vable frontiers for the future. The matic calculation of Cobb angles)
Orthoptists, in addition to the va- introduction of digital technology, and their deviations, imbalances
ried category of Physiotherapists, with the creation of two new medi- and postural changes. The exam
Chiropractors, massage therapists, cal measuring apparatus namely, is completely radiation-free and
Physical Education graduates, etc. the SpinalMeter and the Cervical- does not require any particular
Presumably, the data provided by Meter, allow specialists to acquire protection and/or screening for ei-
international organisations on the mathematical data and represent ther the patients of the operators.
high percentage of the worlds po-
pulation who suffer or have suffe-
red from problems relating to po-
Figure n0. 1-2
sture (estimated at over 60%) have CERVICALMETER AND SPINALMETER
led to an increase in specialists in
postural screening.
If good posture is important for an
individual who practices sport on
an amateur level, correct posture
for a professional athlete is essen-
tial; in fact, if an individual presen-
ting significant paramorphisms or
dysmorphisms undertakes a series
of intense training sessions and
competitions, we should be aware
ADVANCES IN THE IMAGING OF BIOMETRIC POSTURAL SCREENING 15
Positioning of markers Capturing images Processing and Print out of medical
or selection of or frames analysing the data diagnosis or copied to CD
landmarks with mouse
This important feature allows for required by positioning markers on ments of the entire osteoarticular
peated testing, thus monitoring pa- easily identifiable body landmarks apparatus: scapular plane, clavicle
thological situations and ensuring (such as the 7th cervical vertebra, plane, pelvic plane, dysmetria, pa-
the effectiveness of therapeutic the clavicular acromion joint, the ramorphisms, body triangles, varus
and rehabilitation protocols. extremity of the scapula, the olecra- and valgus deformities.
nons, posterior superior iliac spine,
Positioning of markers or selection the heels and Various features:
of landmarks with mouse. other points (21 in total). On the left and right sagittal pane,
Capturing images or frames. The sophisticated software proces- SpinalMeter traces a virtual tan-
Processing and analysing the data sing the data and provides the spe- gent on the patient (replacing the
Print out of medical diagnosis or cialists with 3 different Cobb angles plumb line), automatically outlines
copied to CD. Digital images are ac- and the major biometric measure- the contours of the patients back,
and calculates the contours of the

cervical and lumbar arrows.
In the forward bending position,

we can screen the dorsal and lum-
bar hump by measuring the distan-
ce of the hump and the calculation
of the distance of the difference in
height of the spinal apophysis.
This objective exam replaces the

use of the gibbometer, which often
provides measurements that vary
from specialist to specialist.
of the patients back (back, front, the flexion and extension degrees.
On the frontal plane (this is a re- left and right); For each of these movements,
cent modification to the system), 3D reprocessing of the measure- the software produces a graph
it is possible to acquire many other ment up to 3 different Cobb angles; which highlights the main cur-
important information, such as the dorsal and lumbar hump. ve and the secondary curves of
bi-pupillary, bilabial, biacromial movements that are not percep-
planes, the anterior superior iliac CERVICALMETER tible neither to the naked eye,
spine plane, radial styloid apophy- The second apparatus, also a Class nor with the use of other devices.
sis, first and fifth metatarsal angles I/M certified medical instrument, is For example, when we screen the left
and triangles. called the CervicalMeter and is de- and right rotation angles, the graph
signed for the specific screening of not only indicates the main curve,
In brief, this specific exam provides: the cervical spine. It accurately me- it also shows the secondary curves
biometric images and measure- asures the left and right rotation an- of the micro-movements in tilting,
ments carried out on the four sides gles,theleftandrighttiltdegreesand flexion-extension and rotation.
Deflexion Angle
ADVANCES IN THE IMAGING OF BIOMETRIC POSTURAL SCREENING 17
Tilt and Rotation Angle
The countless information that we obtain from these exams, provides the specialist with a substantial number of
small elements that gradually make up the complex and well-structured mosaic that will lead to the diagnostic
profile of the postural problems of the patient, athlete, etc.
A fundamental aspect of the system is the possibility, during the exam, to have initial (and therefore essentially
objective) numerical data available, in order to make comparisons with future data.
The system is particularly useful for the analysis of problems relative to the recovery of the bilateral symmetry
of the mouth and assisting in the objective screening of corrections of the unilateral asymmetric function that
characterises many athletes.
BAROPODOMETRIC PLATFORM
An additional device, considered essential for the correct diagnostic research of plantar support, is the Baropodo-
metric platform. These data are obviously other extremely important elements for our imaginary diagnostic mosaic.
RADIATION FREE projects CONCLUSIONS

The multiple applications of these instruments are also The numerous biometric postural measurements
indicated for the world of sport and also for school. Po- obtained with these three instruments, converge in
stural screening could be useful for an entire team and a single software which allows the posture specialist
from there, each individual could have a personalised to carry out a comprehensive and objective scree-
programme. It is essentially a sound investment for the ning. In other words, the three devices make up the
community and for athletes, whose performances will pillars of an innovative clinic for postural diagnostics.
greatly benefit and who will run less risk of injury. Po- Now, it is up to medical and scientific research to pro-
stural screening carried out directly in schools would vide further information. Intense research is expected
be help prevent the development of spinal disorders in in the near future as regards the clinical screening of
growing children, when it is still possible to intervene correlations between:
in an effective and non-invasive way.
EVOLUTIONS Biometric measurement of the osteoarticular apparatus;
The system is equipped with a new 3D feature that re- Screening of the cervical spine;
constructs the position in space of the patients pel- Analysis of foot placement.
vis. It is a vital function in order to obtain confirmation
of the diagnosis. By the end of 2015, a new electronic The aim, as one can imagine, is not only to optimise
product will be available, capable of detecting posture and enhance the sports performance of professional
during athletic movements (analysis of the movement) athletes, it is also - and not of less importance - in or-
and the pressure applied on equipment (a golf club for der to ensure their maximum personal health care and
example) or while running. respect.
Stefano Sabatini
Dr. Sabatini is a physician and specialist in sports medicine. He has collaborated
with various national sports federations and clubs (football and basketball) and
is an active therapist in physiokinetic and functional rehabilitation centres.
19
20
A different
approach?
Thinking
out of the
box
As a dear colleague of mine said once: If you
want different results you must use a different
system. I agree but I would not only like to have
different results, but if possible better results. By
better results I especially mean better results the
natural way.
Is there such a system? If so, what would such a

system look like?
BY Remco Eenink
21
Courtesy of EWF
22 A DIFFERENT APPROACH? THINKING OUT OF THE BOX
Some research, such as that of Si- RF (rectus femoris) with different PLEASE NOTE:
gnorile et al ., published in Stren- electrical responses. More recent- For the +105 kg category I
gth and conditioning Research ly, Farahmand (1998) and Boyden used the average in this ca-
(1995), shows how the various (2000), were able to determine the tegory from the Olympics in
muscle groups of the quadriceps percentage of the quads contri- London 2012. Of course all
would selectively change their acti- bution to the extension of the leg, the averages could be argued
vity depending on the intrarotation thus establishing a percentage of and by changing them a litt-
and extrarotation of the foot. This activation of the fibres, during the le we would receive slight-
was not observed by those who squat, compared to their maximum ly different results, but the
analyzed the squat in a parallel capacity of contraction divided as basis formula of predicting
feet position, with internal and ex- follows: 35% RF (Rectus femoris), the possible total in a higher
ternal rotation. The study observed 35 % VI (vastus intermedius), 40 % bodyweight category would
the activation of the VM (vastus VL (vastus lateralis), 25 % VM (va- still be valid.
medialis), VL (vastus lateralis) and stus medialis) .
Men Height WC-10 WC-11 Os-12 WC-13 WC-14 Av.diff Av.diff Talent
Av.total
bw cat. in m. Nr.1 Nr.1 Nr.1 Nr.1 Nr.1 in kg p kg bw formula
56 1.52 292 292 292 289 296 292 7.9

62 1.58 320 321 327 321 325 323 31 5.1 8.2
69 1.63 335 341 344 358 359 347 25 3.5 8.2
77 1.67 373 375 379 380 367 375 27 3.4 8.1
85 1.71 383 382 385 387 391 386 11 1.4 7.8
94 1.75 403 407 418 402 408 408 22 2.4 7.6
105 1.80 415 430 412 425 432 423 15 1.4 7.2
139 1.86 435 464 455 464 462 460 37 1.1 6.2
AD STATISTICS: As we see in the examples above Example 1

We see what the average differen- the talent score for all categories So let us take an example of a lifter
ce in kg is what can be achieved by is between 7.6 and 8.2 except for who lifted a total of 342 kg in inter-
participating in a higher bodywei- the -105 it is 7.2 and the +105 it is national competition in the -85 kg
ght category, but in our statistics only 6.2. category. His height was 1,70 m.
the lifter is on average also taller. His talent score was 6,84.
What if we can build up enough What if we could use this to make a
muscle the natural way and cho- more informed prediction of what Prediction 94 kg category
ose a higher bodyweight cate- a lifter would be able to accompli- To predict what he would be able
gory but the lifter is still the same sh in a higher bodyweight cate- to lift in the -94 we proceed as fol-
height? The result in total lifted gory at the same height, or what lows:
should be higher. To make a more if we could use this to make a bet- Total = (6,84 x 94) : 1,70 = 378 For
accurate prediction of what could ter prediction of the bodyweight an 8th place at WC he would need
be achieved in higher weight cate- category in which he would have an average of 387 kg.
gories we use the talent formula. the best chances? For us in The
Netherlands it would be the 8th Prediction -105 kg category
THE TALENT FORMULA: place in a World Championship to Total = (6,84 x 105) : 1,70 = 422. For
Talent score = (total x height): get financial support. So this is a an 8th place at WC he would need
bodyweight, or TS = (T x H) : BW very important goal for us. an average of 389 kg.
A DIFFERENT APPROACH? THINKING OUT OF THE BOX 23
Our lifter would have the best as, which in most cases is leg stren- After 5 6 weeks the arms and legs
chances in the -105 kg category if gth. Of course this period can also have increased 2,5 3,5 cm and bo-
he is able to gradually build up the be used by the lifter to strengthen dyweight is up 6 7 kilos.
necessary muscle. The range in the other weak areas.
-105 kg category was 2010 - 2014 Important:
between 382 395. Muscle building and conditioning To avoid weak areas we should de-
phase velop all muscles involved in Olym-
I believe it is not possible to com- Training: every day; pic Weightlifting. Because we train
pete successfully with other lifters Total time: 6 weeks; the muscles very locally the body
the natural way if your height is Frequency: 2 x per day; can recuperate very fast and can
the same as your competitors in Sets: 8 15 reps per set; actually super compensate the
the same bodyweight category. So Intensity: low next training day.
we must look for a fair advantage
and in my opinion this can only be Exercises for building muscle and conditioning are:bw cat. Height in m.
found in more muscle at the same
height than your competitors. 1 Seated dumbbell tricep extension (one arm);
Below I will show you how our sy-
2 Lying supine on bench dumbbell front deltoid raise (two arms);
stem works and how the training is
planned. 3 Lying supine on bench dumbbell tricep extension (one arm);
4 Seated dumbbell front deltoid raise to vertical position (one arm);

PLEASE NOTE:
We use a system in which stren- 5 Bent over dumbbell tricep extension (one arm);
gth and technique is trained sepa-
6 Lying on bench face down dumbbell deltoid side raise (two arms);
rately, but this does not mean it is
the only way. 7 Seated dumbbell curl (one arm) optional;
8 Dumbbell shoulder shrug (two arms);

Our macro cycle of 18 weeks is di-
vided in to the following phases: 9 Bent over dumbbell rowing (one arm);
Special training phase;
10 Stiff legged barbell deadlift;
Muscle building conditioning
phase; 11 Weighted sit ups: upper abdominals;
Coordination I phase;
Coordination II phase; 12 Weighted hyper extensions with barbell;
Pre-competition phase. 13 Weighted sit ups lower abdominals;
Special training phase 14 Legs adductor on machine;

Training: 5 6 days per week;
15 Legs abductor on machine;
Total time: 21 days (3 weeks);
Exercises for instance: front 16 Gluteus on machine;
and back squats;
Frequency: 1 2 x per day; 17 Leg raises on machine (one leg);
Sets: 8 10 reps per set; 18 Leg extensions on leg extension machine;
Intensity: low.
19 Leg curls on leg curl machine;
Actually the special training phase
20 Standing toe raise on calf machine;
is meant to strengthen weak are-
24 A DIFFERENT APPROACH? THINKING OUT OF THE BOX
Coordination I phase
Training: every second day; K 1A and K 1B are alternated for a total of 12 training days.
Training every second day. Each training day is followed by 1 day
Total time: 24 days; for recuperation for a total of 24
Frequency: 2 x per day;
Sets: 8 4 reps per set;
K 1A morning
Intensity: weights are gra- 1 Overhead squats: sets of 8 4 reps
dually increased. 2 Muscle snatches: sets of 8 4 reps
K IA afternoon
Ad Coordination I phase: 3 High pulls - clean grip: sets of 8 4 reps
sets of 8 4 reps
The muscle must learn to work to- 4 Jerks from boxes:
gether again so we start light and
increase weights each training K 1B - morning
1 Front squats: sets of 8 4 reps
session. First session all reps are sets of 8 4 reps
2 Muscle cleans:
performed slowly and gradually
more reps are performed fast until K IB - afternoon
3 High pulls - snatch grip: sets of 8 4 reps
the last couple of sessions all reps sets of 8 4 reps
4 Military press:
are performed fast. Strength will
increase very, very fast.
Although it is also possible not to

split up the training and do 4 exer-
cises in one training session we
prefer to do only 2 exercises in 1
session because recuperation is
much faster that way.
Coordination II phase
Training: every second day;
Total time: 24 days;
Frequency: 2 x per day;
Sets: 5 3 reps; K II A and K II B are alternated for a total of 12 training days.
Intensity: weights are gra- Training every second day. Each training day is followed by 1 day
dually increased. for recuperation for a total of 24 days.
Ad Coordination II phase: K II A morning

1 Front squats: sets of 5 3 reps
First few sessions all reps are per- 2 Power cleans: sets of 5 3 reps
formed relatively slowly later more
and more reps are performed fast. K II A afternoon
sets of 5 3 reps
Here it is also possible to do 1 ses- 3 Snatch from knee:
sets of 5 3 reps
4 Push presses:
sion of 3 - 4 exercises, but we pre-
fer 2 sessions per training day be-
cause recuperation is much faster K II B morning
sets of 5 3 reps
this way. 1 Power snatches:
K II B afternoon
sets of 5 3 reps
2 Clean from knee:
sets of 5 3 reps
3 Jerk from boxes:
A DIFFERENT APPROACH? THINKING OUT OF THE BOX 25
Pre competition phase
Training: every 3rd day; Pre competition phase together 5 training days.
Training every 3rd day. Each training day is followed by 2 days
Total time: 15 days; of recuperation for a total of 5 x 3 = 15 days.
Frequency: 1 - 2 sessions a day;
Sets: 1 rep;
Intensity: Here maximum intensity is re- PCP morning 15 20 sets of 1 rep
ached. 1 Snatch
Ad pre competition phase: CP afternoon 15 20 sets of 1 rep

Here too we can choose to do the training in 2 Clean & Jerk:
1 session instead of 2. Two sessions per trai-
ning day makes faster recuperation possible.
Three days after the last training day the com-

petition is planned.
After the main competition at the end of the
macro cycle the lifter takes a brief vacation and
starts training again using light to medium
weights and concentrates on technique. Here
is also room for some athletics, running, jum-
ping, swimming, bicycling. After this we will
start all over again. When the lifter eventually
reaches his goal and does not want to compete
in a higher bodyweight category he can still use
the same system but he has to restrict his calo-
rie intake. He can still use this training system
to improve his total.
Does this system work?

My former German trainer was famous in Ger-
many for his outstanding results that were
achieved by using this system by many athle-
tes. They came to him from all over Germany.
His best example was perhaps Rudolf Mang
who won the silver medal in the Munich Olym-
pics in 1972. I also made astonishing and fast
results but I was forced to cut down on my trai-
ning considerably early 1972 because of com-
bining a full time job with my study German
language and literature at the university.
This article is a tribute to my former German trai- Remco Eenink

Member Technical and Scientific
ner Josef Schnell, who passed away 26th of Sep-
Committee for Coaching & Science EWF
tember 2010. He has had a great influence on my Executive Member European Union
life as a lifter and as a coach. I thank him for sha- Weightlifting Confederation - EUWC
ring his vast knowledge with me.
26
Beyond
training.
This article continues from the previous issue:
N.2 August/December 2015 (pag. 17)
BY ALBERTO ANDORLINI
27
28 BEYOND TRAINING
Body. Movement. cal, technical, tactical); indica- same; the shadow cast by a body in
tions relative to the capacity target motion is not ordinary or extraor-

And Body in Mo- (strength training, resistance dinary, it is not naked or dressed,
vement. In other training, speed training); regio- it is not motionless or moving; it
words: Instru- nal specifications (leg workouts, is simply and consistently, volun-
abs workouts, arms workout), tarily or unconsciously, searching
ment. Means. And the meaning that the term itself for a Position, a Movement or an
Purpose. implies, does not change. But abo- Action; it is or rather it should be
ve all, the methodological princi- constantly listening, always re-
INTRODUCTION. ples do not change, as do neither ady and responsive.
We have seen side by side, how assessment regulations nor ways Beyond training lies within this
the analysis of two terms - Form of distributing the load. assumption, 1. conditioned be-
and Function - related to different cause it is connected to the vision
fields of study - Exercise and Equi- In the following article, we discuss of an increasingly extraordinary
pment, Body and Movement - can motor ideograms and pictograms; performance and 2. conditional
generate interesting mutual cor- the phylogeny and ontogeny of - as it should be - because it is con-
respondence. It can, most impor- Movement; Transitive and Intran- nected to the choice of priorities
tantly, can lead to the (functional) sitive Movement; the four stages and to the methods that we define
exploration of misunderstood, of the motor restructuring pro- as training; it gives the title to our
unrecognised or unexplored ter- cess; an instrumental hierarchy discussion and it extends the time
ritories (techniques, methods, consisting of three consecutive of a training session, going from
disciplines) and foster the brea- levels. one hour, to two, three, 24 hours
king down (formal) of unnecessary a day. The goal is not to change a
barriers between opposing and SHADOW PLAY. bodys habit, or to establish lines
contrasting operational scenarios ALWAYS LISTENING. of separation that subdivide and
(training, pre-habilitation, reha- The term gymnastics derives decompose Movement, but rather
bilitation). In previous articles, I from the Greek verb , to invest it with a formal and fun-
suggested a reinterpretation of which means to practice in the ctional implication to extend and
known terms, along the line of a nude. Athletes in Greek gymna- guide its meaning.
purely theoretical discussion. The siums practiced naked with their In the previous article, we fitted
terms in question are not outda- bodies covered with oil. Now, one Body and Movement with Form and
ted, worn survivors of a defunct might say that the actual move- Function. Combining in a purely
grammar; in their simplicity - so ments - daily movements, those theoretical way, the volumes that
obvious that it seems trivial - they that engage us either statically or make up the body, with a complex
imply meanings and values that go dynamically, 24 hours a day - differ relational function, we hypothesi-
beyond their conventional appe- from a gymnastic movement (from sed to make the body Forms fun-
arance. By broadening meaning the solemn action of the Discus ction in a finalistically oriented
and enhancing understanding, Thrower, the Spear Bearer, the direction, through Movement. We
they can contribute to the deve- Apoxyomenos), for the sole reason considered the body as an instru-
lopment of a language, which if of not being performed naked. Mo- ment of a process, in which Move-
not new, is at least differently ving in a regular way qualifies moment becomes a means; and the
oriented or otherwise attentive. vements as ordinary; moving not Body in Movement, the purpose.
naked, but with shorts, shirt and Movement can move the Body (in-
Training in itself does not have its sneakers, qualifies movements transitive movement) or, in mo-
own adjectives. When the term as extraordinary. But, if we take ving the body, it can establish a re-
training is associated with more a closer look, the hieroglyphic lationship with people and things
or less generic attributes (physi- representing movement is the (transitive movement). The formal
BEYOND TRAINING 29
expressions of moving and to made up of motor ideograms, expresses an idea) will become a
move are eight essential ingre- able to express the more tech- pictogram (the code that expres-
dients (the eight basic movemen- nical meaning of the movement ses a meaning) when we attribute
ts: rolling, squatting, stretching, (associating a squat with a lunge to the Form of Movement a fun-
taking a step, pushing, pulling, & reach, bending with a twisting ction, aimed at training, rehabili-
turning, bending, moving). The ei- motion, pushing & pulling, etc). tating, pre-habilitating, or, more
ght basic movements - when chan- By changing how we read a code, simply, at enabling the Function
ging from one Position to the next, we change the idea and meaning of the Body by the sequential and
and in the combination of several of the movement. In other words, consequential alignment of the
movements in Actions (we will take once stripped of the idea, of the Forms that compose it.
a closer look at their taxonomic image that qualifies them as or-
relationship in our next article) - dinary; once fitted with Form and THE DICE. IN THE TRAINING GAME.
constitute the practice (the actual Function; and associated with the In the concept of a training ses-
doing) through which the fourfold Form and Function of the Body; all sion that enables Forms and Fun-
function of Movement takes place daily movements become extra- ctions, the ability to do (praxia),
(ensuring Balance, allowing the ordinary, aimed at the achieve- knowing how to do it (gnosia) and
Relationship, leading to the Finali- ment of a goal, that is, the optimi- knowing how to do it well (skill)
sation, encouraging the Expansion sation of Performance. are the three unique sides of an
of the comfort zone). That performance (ordinary and ordinary dice; a dice that, if cast,
If we were to strip our daily mo- extraordinary) that cannot be limi- may generate unpredictable and
vements (I get up, I bend over, I lie ted to a single instant, to a single unexpected combinations. Espe-
down, I grasp an object, I carry a session, to a single moment, to a cially when the remaining three
weight, I move obstacles, I climb single execution, but which must faces are, by contrast, entirely
a step, I close a door, etc.) of what be extended (forgive the pun) to usual terms, such as Positions,
identifies them as usual and ordi- all movements and ... to all the Movements and Actions.
nary, replacing them with neutral elements, common to every move- Remembering the basic movemen-
silhouettes, we would have a code ment. The ideogram (the sign that ts and defining the performance
30 BEYOND TRAINING
matrix, allowing an economical ting, it must comply with training situation, 8 simple movements.
and efficient transmission of force standards, when addressing the The 8 basic movements (Rolling,
through the segments and links of reduction of inhibiting and con- squatting, lunging, bending, twi-
the kinetic chain with the minimum ditioning brakes and limiting sting, pushing, pulling, gait) re-
objective of avoiding de-habilita- performance; it is a question of present that motor legacy which
tion, is the principle that identifies Pre-habilitation (habilitate befo- today has been impoverished by
the proposal and qualifies the ele- re), or Re-habilitation (habilitate habit or disuse. It is interesting to
ments - that constitute the skele- again), depending on whether the see how those movements, simple
ton, both methodological (princi- targets are the prevention of the and basic enough to be neglected,
ples), and practical (exercises) - like risk of injury (Pre-Hab), or the re- represent the result of the motor
transversal agents of the three turn to normal function, and the re- evolution of our species.
systems: 1. Training 2. Pre-habili- duction of risk of re-injury (Re-Hab). Every movement has developed
tation and 3. Rehabilitation. The first conceptual acquisition, along a phylogenetic line, adap-
Precisely because of their tran- therefore, is that the main Perfor- ting to the momentary demands
sversal nature, the principles (the- mance identifies with everything and needs dictated by evolution.
ory) and exercises (practice) will that follows from and results in Each movement, as we know it, is
be applicable in a non-exclusive the vital relationship with the out- the result of a process of crystal-
but synergistic manner to the con- side world (handling unforeseen lisation which lasted millions of
tents of training, pre-habilitation and/or unpredictable situations, years. As for the Body, Form has
and rehabilitation. optimising our responses to often followed Function, so we can loo-
conflicting stimuli, neutralising sely say that, for Movement, on-
HABILITATING, NOT TRAINING. gravitational interference and di- togeny recapitulates phylogeny
Dictionaries tell us that to get the sturbances) and that an efficient (Haeckels theory). Ontogeny is
best from a system, you must habi- Body that Moves effectively repre- the set of processes by which the
litate the system itself. sents the final station of the trai- biological evolution of the indivi-
HABILITATE, is certainly not a ning process. dual human being is accomplished
coined word, it has been adapted Following this assumption, trai- from conception to birth.
and adopted into our common use, ning means habilitating systems Phylogeny is the evolution of the
a new and useful word for our to life, or rather, to relational sur- species to which each individual
working scenario, as it implies the vival that contrasts the distorting belongs.
need to habilitate Body and Mo- and dysfunctional effects of an
vement to cope with disturbances, activity which by now is dynami- The first consequence is that the
interferences and the correction cally static. individual embodies the establi-
of dyskinesias and arrhythmia, When our ancestors climbed up a shed history of the entire species
improving the alignment of form tree or a lifted an object, they did to which they belong. This story
and function, the stability and the not do so with the intent to build naturally is made up of the win-
adaptability of the subsystems. muscle mass or reduce body fat, ning variants that have shaped the
Operational innovation leads to but in order to perform a function species over time.
new criteria for the selection of that was part of their daily routine. In the case of MOVEMENT, we will
habilitating stimuli, favouring Our ancestors repeated on a daily stretch things a little conceptually
means and content that present basis, a series of motor movemen- to talk about an ontogenetic line
features, characteristics and pro- ts that helped them survive and going from birth to the completion
perties which are at the same time which we have erased from our of the first year of life (see Infant
preventive, conducive to training memory. Their function - survival development stages); a period du-
and rehabilitative. - was built on the ability to assem- ring which the infant learns, expe-
In expanding the concept, in or- ble, in relation to the requiremen- riences and consolidates those
der for training to be habilita- ts dictated by the environmental movements, which are always the
BEYOND TRAINING 31
same, and inherited phylogeneti- of skills traces the structuring position without rotation, to mo-
cally (Fig.3). The recovery (re-habi- neonatal motor stages. From ho- vement with rotation. From move-
litation), improvement (pre-habili- rizontality to verticality by gra- ment in a single position to move-
tation), training (pro-habilitation) dual removal of supports. From a ment in motion.
Figure no. 3
MOTOR LEARNING
In both scientific and popular lite- of the first movements [PRIMITI- cess of motor learning exhausts
rature, which refers to and establi- VE PATTERNS (G. Cook, L. Burton)] the powerful phylogenetic drive,
shes the Theory of Functional Trai- that the child explores, experien- concentrating the determining
ning, the terms overlap in several ces and refines until he develops features in the first year of life and
associations, with particular refe- and establishes them as the 8 ba- honing gestural characteristics over
rence, which do not always coinci- sic movements of adulthood [FUN- a period of time that varies, depen-
de. Here I shall attempt a transla- DAMENTAL MOVEMENT PATTERNS ding on the environmental stimuli,
tion that simplifies the concepts (P. Check)]; the eight basic move- the preeminent anthropological
expressed by far more authorita- ments produce ordinary actions model and the dominant socio-cul-
tive sources, tracing a sequential (REAL LIFE MOVEMENT), which in tural stimuli. From a certain point
line that runs from the human turn can be turned into extraor- onwards, too complex to identify
movements of our ancestors, to the dinary motor sequences [SPORTS and impossible to define in absolu-
superhuman movements of elite SKILLS (V. Gambetta, C. Santana)]1 te chronological order, the natural
athletes. The primal movements (see Figure 4). It is curious to que- habilitating input are lost, making
[PRIMAL PATTERNS (Paul Check)]) stion the quality of the outcome way for dehabilitating interferen-
are the phylogenetic precursors of such a progression. The proces and habits.
Figure no.4
From Primitive Movements to Sport Skills
32 BEYOND TRAINING
A THIRD STEP. NOTHING NEW. NO IN- produced by link action, subtracted assume a constantly verticality po-
VENTION, NO DISCOVERY. from gravity, lab-like, mechani- stural imbalance, and oriented to a
Body and movement are the only cal, misleading, one-dimensional life of relationships, which is rela-
unalterable references. Nothing (Gray G). tional survival.
new. No invention, no discovery. 4. If, as always, Body and Movement
Only distinctive elements. Or dif- are the only unalterable elements, At the risk of being pedantic, lets
ferent attention to the principles there can not be anything new, return to a theme already mentio-
that shape the system. but only different, temporary views ned in previous articles. The actual
and interpretations that obey a lo- Fundamental Movements are: Pu-
1. The restructuring path of Mo- gical and rational continuity. They shing, Pulling, Squatting, Bending,
vement is distinguished by four are - as always - the terms of refe- Lunging, Twisting, Rolling and Gait.
basic stages: dysfunctionality, the rence that change and continue to Each of them constitutes, from a
isolation of a component of the change. The understanding of the purely metaphorical point of view,
kinetic chain resulting in the frag- vital functions changes, the aim, be a letter. The seven/eight letters
mentation of the chain; non-fun- it collective or individual, changes, represent the essential motor kit.
ctionality, the selective sensitisa- the order, the number and size of A kit that, though numerically nar-
tion of a component in the chain; the components of the performan- rowed down, allows an almost in-
pre-functionality, the interaction of ce change, the social fabric chan- finite variety of associations. The
multiple components of the kinetic ges, the place changes, the langua- primary associations, lets say the
chain; functionality, the integration ge changes. first words, in their formal elemen-
of multiple kinetic chains in a real tary typing, make up an additional
action. THE ABC kit, that of the main Actions: Main-
2. There is a typical instrumental taining a posture, Maintaining ba-
hierarchy. The return to the body OF MOVEMENT. lance, Standing up, Sitting, Lying
being used as a tool, as an impera- Down, Rolling, Walking, Running,
tive inherited from the Gymnastics INTRODUCTION. Escaping, Accelerating, Stopping,
of ancient times (first instrumen- The ideas suggested by the fun- Changing direction, Getting up up,
tal level ); the rediscovery the en- ctional debate encourage a dee- Getting down, Climbing, Jumping,
vironment (floor and ground), as per analysis of the topics related Bouncing, Landing, Taking, Placing,
elements of gravitational support to Movement. Movement, which Carrying, Picking Up, Hitting, Par-
(second instrumental level); the we learn every day and then for- rying, Dodging, Throwing, Catching,
rediscovery of the form and mate- get to exercise, that we practice Handling. Each verb, each skill,
rial of objects (third instrumental out of necessity and we abandon corresponds to the synchronous
level) with which to move, all make out of convenience, that we train and simultaneous association of
up the distinctive features that and at the same time wear out; multiple Fundamental Movements.
make Movement Training recogni- Movement that originates from an The resulting motor wave (Kinetic
sable. essential alphabet. There are 7/8 Chain) has, in the pre-activation of
3. Everything that is oriented to movements that make up the es- the central element of stabilisation
the functionality of Movement is sential paradigm of Movement. The (Core), in opposition to the drive
integrated, flexible, unlimited, seven-eight primordial letters of gravity, in the dynamic posture
physiological, real, a product of a mixed in finalistically organised adjustment, the referential kine-
chain reaction, subject to gravity, motor sequences, make up Words matic prerequisites.
life-like, biomechanical, proprio- with a complete sense of meaning: Each skill, corresponding to a verb,
ceptive, multidimensional. All that primitive skills. Skills are the wea- in order to express a sense and be
- for years - was geared towards pon, the only weapon, that we use placed properly inside a motor pe-
the functioning of the body is isola- against the interferences dictated riodisation, must be adapted to
ted, rigid, limited, artificial, unreal, by our being bipedal, obliged to the person (difficulty), time (inten-
BEYOND TRAINING 33
sity/volume), way (pre-habilitation, POSITIONS, MOVEMENTS, ACTIONS. quences of the activation between
rehabilitation, pro-qualification Learning how to Stand, Move and volumes and segments) and rela-
or actual training) and diathesis Act. We have seen how Functional tional FUNCTIONS (body efficiency
(transitive or reflexive movement: I Training, when read in its origina- and gestural effectiveness), 3. the
move or I move something). ting and original form, can tran- increase in capacity and quality
Movement therefore can be assi- slate into a more comprehensive (performance). All this implies an
gned a broader spectrum - work, range of training, the ideal bridge adherence, always careful and cri-
sports, real life - as well as the between fields of motor interven- tical, to unconventional methodo-
words make up the simple expres- tion up until now considered se- logical concepts and structures of
sion of a sentence, or the complex parate. The triangulation between thought: the body is a set of forms
plot of a story or a poem. the terms Position, Movement and that can be isolated, but kinetically
Training using letters means Actions constitute the operational cohesive, with divisible, yet finali-
composing words, that are more skeleton of a training approach stically integrated functions.
and more complex, composing and which is neither new nor innovative,
decomposing sentences, reaching but rather oriented towards 1. the Educating on position (preparing
understandable and realistic se- improvement of the bipedal condi- an action), movement (building
quences that prepare the chosen tion (existing, living and surviving an action), action (connecting and
linguistic form (sports movement, as humans), 2. the optimisation of directing positions and movemen-
art movement), or relational the relationship between bodily ts), ability (qualifying the action)
expression (work , health, play). FORMS (competition and conse- - using the body as an instrument,
34 BEYOND TRAINING
exercise as a means, movement as combined). Pose is determined by other movements of a different na-
the end and the body in movement the position of the centre of gravi- ture, two or more different parts of
as a result - is to open a strategic ty of the gymnast in relation to the the body, can be classified respecti-
, as well as methodological win- means of support (action: simple vely as
dow, on a training framework that - derived - combined; supported
crosses three operational fields - erect - sitting - kneeling; supine - - simple movement: performed by
up until now considered very far prone - lateral; suspended; in flight). only one segment of the body with
apart: Training, commonly inter- In functional lexicon, however, Po- a single action;
preted and understood ; the often sition includes and encompasses - compound movement: performed
misunderstood, Pre-Habilitation; different terms relatable to each by only one segment of the body
and Re-Habilitation, as it is gene- other and interacting with each with dual action (e.g.: elevation and
rally widespread and shared. Let us other: Dynamic Posture, Inner & flexion of the arm);
dwell briefly on three, frequently Outer Zone, Balance, Stance, Hol- - combined movement: performed
used terms - Position, Movement ding Postures, Poses. simultaneously by two or more seg-
and Action, illuding ourselves that As no doubt, in an attempt to refer ments of the body.
we fully know the theoretical and to a more adaptable and inclusi-
operational implications, and lets ve terminology, the term Position Lets return to functional vocabu-
try to place the term Skill - in pu- identifies the statically active unit, lary. Movement is considered the
rely hypothetical manner, as the on which Movement is based, and expression of a kinetic wave di-
final summary of the theoretical is qualified by obvious spatial obliga- recting gestural finalisation from
framework and the common goal tions (horizontal/vertical; tri-, bi- or the centre (core) to the periphery
as several motor pathways. I would monopodalic contexts; short/long, (distal segments). Movement is a
like to underline how the two ter- low/high; rotated/straight; etc.). unique and unrepeatable event
ms - Position and Movement - imply that involves multiple joints (mul-
vast areas of interpretation and MOVEMENT ti-joint) on several levels (multipla-
lead to different models from a pu- Once more drawing on gymnasti- nar), which aims to neutralise the
rely executive point of view. cs glossary, Movement, is defined gravity-dependent core, generated
as the displacement of a persons by the transmission of a load on a
POSITION entire body, or part of it, between myofascial line, according to a re-
The first - Position - is bound to the two positions. If Movement invol- lationship of alternation between
memory of the term gymnastics. ves moving the centre of gravity, mobility and stability, acceleration
The traditional nomenclature iden- and becomes synonymous with Lo- and deceleration, absorption and
tifies the location in the figures comotion, Translocation, Transfer, production of forces. There are ei-
that the persons body, or part of it, on the other hand, the Gymnastics ght isolable movements: Rolling,
assumes, in relation to the outside Actions that normalise movement Pushing, Pulling, Squatting, Lun-
world, and/or in the figures that are based on spatial and anato- ging, Bending, Twisting, Gait. In
the various parts of the body assu- mical references. The use of axes brief, a Movement is nothing other
me considered in relation to each and planes lead to motor verbali- than the dynamic module, on which
other (Initial position - departure sations typical of an almost forgot- the finalised motion, or rather, the
- arrival - final - intermediate - sym- ten language: raise, lower, splay, Action, is assembled.
metric - asymmetric). The Position join, cross over, leap, flex, bend,
is clarified by further adjectives: stretch, stand on tiptoe, push, tilt, ACTION
Posture and Pose. Posture is the twist, flip, swing, rotate, abduct, Formally, the Action results from
figure that assumes the persons adduct, pronate, supinate. Gymna- a motor concurrency - a series of
body or part of it, regardless of stic Movements then, depending associated basic movements - and
the environment that surrounds it on whether they involve only one by joint segmental participation -
(action: long, short, wrong, simple part of the body, one body part with adjacent segments on the same ki-
BEYOND TRAINING 35
netic line activated synchronously manual, artistic, intellectual, com- over time and space have been
and simultaneously. municative, motor direction com- described and redescribed many
In this way, the sum of Squatting, petence and expertise. In other times until they have become auto-
Bending, Pulling, Twisting, Gait and words, in the original concept of matic and harmonious.
Pushing will result in a chain re- Skill, the availability and the com- Every act, every action, when con-
action. The final equivalent of the petence of several resources are current with the improvement of
chain will then be an Action - as it aligned and added up: from know- life in relation to the outside world,
usually is, yet it is by no means banal how, to knowing how to think, to is an Skill.
- i.e.: I lift a weight from the ground, relate, to be able to move, from Maintaining a balance between
I bring it to my chest, I turn around, I concrete to abstract, from instin- actions (extrinsic) and reactions
walk around with it, I lift it above my ctive to rational.2 3 The etymologi- (intrinsic), will generate an eco-
shoulders and I put it on a shelf. All cal origin of the term dates back to nomic projection and effective
done by automatically pre-activating the Latin HABILITAS 4 that dictio- projection; and the body - the agent
protective circuits (anticipatory po- naries translate as aptitude, fit- - can establish an aesthetic and ef-
stural adjustments). ness and ability. (Note: we know ficient relationship between the
that the latter term in the motor single parts. Only then the elemen-
SKILL sphere actually has a very different tary motor modules (movements),
The concept of Skill, by the com- meaning from that attributed to prepared on the basis of a static
prehensive nature of the very term, Skill). In the physical, neuromuscu- unit (position), and assembled
includes extensive meanings. In lar, motor or psychomotor sphere, in Actions aimed at the achieve-
it, we condense complex content, the term Skill implies the execu- ment of a goal, will produce a Skill.
obtaining an extended mental re- tion of feats, actions, movements, In the field of ORDINARY SKILLS (I
presentation. Skill usually includes gestures, behaviour or other, that sit down and stay sitting correctly;
36 BEYOND TRAINING
I get up from the ground correctly; I Limiting ourselves to one motor in the static form of movement and
bend down to tie my shoe, correctly; field, we will have Open Skills and can be compared to the ROOTS of
I balance on one leg, correctly, while Closed Skills. Open Skills are typical a tree. Fundamental Movements
putting on a sock, etc.), there are as of the tasks performed in an un- arise from Key Positions and de-
many EXTRAORDINARY SKILLS (tho- predictable and changing environ- velop along lines or trajectories
se we know and appreciate as spor- ment. For example, all moves in a consistent with the requested
ting/ competitive endeavours and sports situation, where continuous spatial allocation. Fundamental
artistic/expressive creations). adjustment to events is necessary. Movements can be compared to
Closed skills correspond to the mo- the main BRANCHES. A series of
There is, however, a terminological tor requests, whose performance mutually connected Fundamental
dichotomy between the terms Skill is not affected by the environment Movements generates complex
and Ability, especially when related which, remaining passive, allows patterns which we call Combined
to the motor field. Being able to movements to be planned ahead, Actions. Combined Actions can be
does not mean being adept at; e.g. gymnastic exercises, or run- compared to secondary branches.
it does not mean to master a skill. ning on an athletics track. Skills (knowing how to squat,
The so-called conditional physi- Whatever the point of observation, knowing how to bend, knowing
cal Abilities, are not synonyms for discrimination, filtering and classi- how to lift, knowing how to carry,
Transferable Skills. The former can fication, being skilled involves the knowing how to run, knowing how
be considered accumulators of production of a skill (e.g. running) to balance) are Actions performed
energy, the second Transformers and implies being sure of ones abi- in order to determine the improve-
of energy into purposive motility. lities (e.g. How long or how fast you ment of vital and relational rappor-
can run). The control, the mastery ts with the outside world (objects,
For a better understanding, we of a skill is reflected in an increase people, situations). Skills are gene-
refer to Schmidt and Wrisberg5 in the effectiveness of the gesture rated by a sequence of Movements,
who justify this diversity of con- (e.g. maximising pressure on the connected, albeit by infinitesimal
tent using, by analogy, the terms ground while running), in improved fractions of time, by Positions. Skil-
hardware, to represent the abili- efficiency of the system (avoiding ls can be compared to the FRUITS
ty and software for the skills. In obstacles while running), in grea- of a tree6. The Tree Rehabilitates,
other words, the abilities are the inter resistance to mechanical stres- Pre-Habilitates and Trains. Or more
dicators of the power and memory sors (e.g. dissipating aggressive simply: it habilitates. Each body to
of the computer; whereas skills forces while running), in the decre- Habilitate may have the same ro-
represent upgraded programmes, ase in energy expenditure (running ots, the same branches, but, more
and allow the user to develop the cost-effectively), and sometimes often than not, different foliage
plasticity and adaptability of the in the reduction of the movement produces different fruits.
system. Even the strongest, tou- time (optimising internal actions
ghest, fastest computer in the and reactions while running). THE PYRAMID AND THE STAIRS
world is of no use in the absence OF A THOUSAND STEPS.
of software programmes that can THE TREE THAT MOVES. The Tree unites, it does not frag-
maximise and optimise its perfor- We have made a distinction betwe- ment. Three basic elements
mance. en Key Positions, Fundamental (Positions, Movements, Actions),
Limiting our exploration only to co- Movements, Combined Actions qualify training as a firmly plan-
gnitive and motor areas, we will see and Primary Skills. A key position ted pyramid structure. The three
that a cognitive skill is one which is always distinguished by at least motor elements are found at the
focuses on knowing what to do, one dominant spatial feature (e.g. corners of the base with Skills are
while in a motor skill emphasis pri- support or suspension; horizon- at the apex. Opening the door of
marily focuses on performing cor- tality or verticality, short or long, the pyramid and climbing to the top
rectly. high or low). It is the smallest unit requires constant work. The many
BEYOND TRAINING 37
staircases represent the positions, the many alternati-
ve paths, the actions, the many steps, the actions. Many
possibilities. Many variations. Many variables. Many
results. But only one apex. And just one consideration:
Rehabilitation, Pre-Habilitation and Training rest on the
same formal base and they have as the single functional
purpose, the same apex of the pyramid.
A FOURTH STEP AHEAD. TRAINING IS REHAB AND REHAB

IS TRAINING.
Throwing the dice and clearly interpreting the result;
climbing a tree that moves, following a plan that is not
rigid and unchanging, but can be individually adaptable;
opening the door of the pyramid and climbing the stairs
to its apex ... these are only images. It is obvious. But ima-
gines that we can detach, if only for a moment, from the
rigid determination of volume and intensity, kilograms
and kilometres, minutes and seconds, power and laten-
cies; and bring us back to a consideration as obvious and
straightforward, as, alas, it is hostile and misleading.
Charlie Weingroff7 coined the phrase Training is Rehab
and Rehab is Training. Such a saying coincides with the
concept that sees Movement as a central pivot in the
processes of Prevention (prehab Training), Correction
(Corrective Training or Remedial Training), Rehabili-
tation (Rehab Training), and Performance (Peak Per-
formance Training, Training Complex, Sports Training,
Functional Training, etc.). Concepts and operational
areas cannot be separated, they are actually so closely
related and connected that they become almost indi-
stinguishable. The reason for such a Syncretic model
(merging multiple non-heterogeneous, but Synergistic
operational areas because they are engaged in a com-
bined and contemporary action, and Synoptic, because
they can offer - to those who work and those who use the
work - a complete, overall, and synthetic view), from an
essentially motor standpoint, is as we said, due to the
following principles:
1. accidents are caused by the way we move (motor
control);
2. if we move well (motor control) we can prevent inju-
ries;
3. if we move well (motor control) we can improve per-
formance (economy, output);
4. if we move incorrectly, uneconomically, without a
purpose, the outcome of the performance is poor,
limited, inadequate and, above all, dangerous.8
38 BEYOND TRAINING
CONCLUDING AND our journey together, that started connection between the lower and
10,000 words ago. the upper half of the system).

SUMMING UP. OR These six sets develop their ability
RETRACING OUR Movement is not an isolated event to move around 6 pairs of joints.
STEPS. that happens in a plane of move-
ment; but rather a complex event
The large joints are those of the
scapulohumeral (2), and the coxal
It is impossible to conclude and,
involving synergistic muscles, sta- femoral (2). The small joints are
as for summing up, well I can try,
bilisers, neutralisers and antago- the elbow (2), knees (2), ankles (2),
but I cannot promise a result wor-
nists; all protagonists, associated wrists (2). These hinges or join-
thy of the name. Summing up in
and involved in the production of a ts, are authentic functional and
actual fact means to keep talking.
tri-planar motion (V. Gambetta)9. structural junctions, a sorting and
To keep searching. In my case, in
All movement patterns involve regulation hub of efforts between
my very personal and very limited
momentary stages of decelera- the central axis and limbs. Their
case, it means continuing to explo-
tion, stabilisation and acceleration; sum (12) - that is, the sum of their
re implied and hidden underlying
and this alternation, synchronous mutual interaction - generates
connections,; or, simple and trivial
and simultaneous, affects all links a dodecahedron, whose vertices
references that encourage you to
in the kinetic chain10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17. produce trajectories of macro mo-
search until confusion sets in. And
A kinetic chain aimed at producing vement. Each vertex is the point of
doubts arise. Until new questions
movement, guiding it in the three connection between one link in the
emerge.
planes of space18. Every production chain and the one that follows and
of movement is the result of the it is moved by the functional inte-
We have taken four small steps.
functional interaction established raction established between three
Too few to be able to say that we have
between three basic elements such basic prerequisites: Strength, Sta-
completed a path, much less a trip.
as: Strength, Stability and Mobility. bility and Mobility.
All that remains for me is to con-
tinue to think; and thinking that it
THE DODECAHEDRON. These hubs are supported by a ser-
is possible to move training, shi-
The Movement produced, or vo-mechanism, called the Core, or
fting the boundaries imposed not
expressed if you prefer, then beco- Centre. As we have said regarding
by the body, but by thought. I know
mes pure and simple three-dimen- the Form of Movement, the core is
well that this work is, and has alrea-
sional geometry. a synthesis of Mobility and Stability,
dy been carried out by far wiser and
The human mobile system is consti- it directs myofascial traffic and mo-
learned authors. My small attempt
tuted by a frame which is structu- nitors the actions aimed at achie-
is very modest. The only certainty -
rally based on six unique functio- ving a target, a goal, a finalisation,
you will agree with me - is the awa-
nal sets, which correspond to six involving units in a comprehensive
reness of exciting new possibilities.
shapes or volumes: 1) the head and overall programme. In addition
Many of which have already been
(designed to control and direct to the Core, and not far beyond the
expressed, already tested; many
the movement; 2) the upper limb postural dodecahedron, we can see
others already consumed and eva-
(designed for prehension), 2) the the three-axle and four-wheel drive
porated; others are still frozen wai-
lower limb (designed for station functional machine, which we desi-
ting for patient understanding.
and locomotion), 4) the rocker gned in the second article [S & C,
of the scapulohumeral joint (de- Year III, No. 7, January-March 2014,
Therefore, I do not conclude, but
signed to stabilise the movement pp. 33-37].
expand the theme and broaden the
of the upper limbs, 5) the wedge To understand the location and
issues. I do not cross the finish line,
of the pelvis (designed to stabilise spatial projection of the dode-
I return to the starting line. I return
motion of the lower limbs, 6) the cahedron, I can use three different
- I more willingly than you perhaps
barrel of the torso, the seat of the visions: 1) analytical, to isolate the
- to From the very beginning,
Core (designed to act as a pivot and function of each structural part (an
the title of the first paragraph of
BEYOND TRAINING 39
aspect that we have not covered), 2) the third leads to fluid, inde-
holistic, to define how the parts rela- pendent movements in which each
te amongst themselves (something person (sedentary or athletic) uses
that we have tried to approach); and body language to express a complex
3) realistic, to understand how it all vocabulary which is not conditioned
relates to the surrounding reality by others.
(the latter aspect that we will try to
introduce, perhaps in future articles). Each of the three possibilities becomes
an act in respect of those four Fun-
Now, we can divide the quantity of ctions, defined in the second article.
repeated movements for every sin- Moving from and within the Dode-
gle part of the body; define the incli- cahedron, the 3-axle and 4-wheel
nation with respect to the verticality drive Machine must 1) balance the
or the horizontality; classify them volumes that make up the body sy-
as stationary or locomotory; codify stem in opposition to gravity, 2) allow
them as linear or rotary; read the relationships with the external forms
points of contact and support to the (objects, people) 3) provide for ge-
floor and the walls, to the ground and stural finalisation (take, push, pull,
the things that surround us; divide move something, and move oneself)
the macro movement into countless and 4) expand the comfort zone.
micro movements. Every part of the
body can undertake independent
paths, on different tracks, with dif-
ferent destinations. All these move-
ments will, however, participate in
the possibilities offered and deman-
ded by life, with endless differences,
dispersions and projections.
In the infinite expansion of motor

vocabulary motor, every single move-
ment, then engages in the synchroni-
city and the symmetry of the move-
ment of the others, following three
possible ways of execution:
the first leads people to perform

movements more or less identical
with respect to each other (basic in-
dividual movements, dance steps,
routine movements);
the second induces the execution of
complementary movements (where
one moves away, the other appro-
aches, etc.) (team basics, combat
sports, martial arts, dance educa-
tion activity, routine relations and
communication);
Courtesy of EWF
40 BEYOND TRAINING
AN IDEA AS OLD AS TIME.

These sets (6 shapes, 6 pairs of joints, 1 centre, 3 performance possibilities, 4 functions), in combination, thus
allow an almost infinite proliferation of movements. Movements, despite being rigidly bound to the degree of
freedom allowed by joints (points of discontinuity) and creating problems to the apparent continuity of mo-
tion, can still be harmonised with one another.
What do we mean by harmonised? Figuratively proportionate to the space covered, rhythmically consistent with
the time taken to cover it, economically and aesthetically suitable for the purpose that leads to the coverage of
space in a given time.
Why does movement need to be harmonised? To produce uninterrupted Sequences, Bonds, Flows to guide
the renovation of primordial motor elements, attributable to an unchanged ontogenetic development, until
the redevelopment of current motor elements, the result of gradual phylogenetic evolution (or devolution).
Strange, incomplete, and unconventional. But definitely beyond training.
References
1. Check P, Movement That matters, Publisher: C.H.E.K. Institute, May 15, 2001
2. Cook G, Burton L, The Importance of Primitive Movement Patterns, November 12, 2008
3. Chek P, Primal PatternMovements: A Neurodevelopmental Approach to Conditioning, (Cor-
respondence Course). C.H.E.K Institute, Vista, CA. 2003 - 2007.
4. Chek P, How to Eat, Move and Be Healthy! C.H.E.K Institute, Vista, CA. 2004.
5. Chek P, Movement That Matters: A Practical Approach to Developing Optimal Functional
Movement Skills. C.H.E.K Institute, Vista, CA. 1999.
6. Gambetta VA, The Gambetta Method A Common Sense Guide to Functional Training for
Athletic Performance. Sarasota, FL: Gambetta Sports Training.2002
7. Gambetta VA, Athletic Development The Art & Science of Functional Sports Conditioning.
Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishing Company, 2007
8. Biancalana V, Lintervento adattativo, Editrice NonSoloFitness, Bologna 2008.
9. L Cottini, Bambini, adulti, anziani e ritardo mentale, Ed. Vannini, 2003.
10. L Cottini, Psicomotricit, valutazione e metodi nellintervento, Ed. Carocci, 2003.
11. L. Cottini, Didattica speciale e integrazione scolastica, Ed. Carocci, 2004.
12. Modificato da: Bechter B. et al., Ginnastica agli attrezzi e artistica/Trampolino Nozioni di base,
UFSPO Macolin, 2009.
13. Charlie Weingroff: PT,Physical Therapist AT, Athletic Trainer, Strength & Conditioning Coach.
14. Thomas Lam Dr. on October 26, 2012 about dialogue with Craig Liebenson;
http://www.fitstoronto.com/2012/10/coaching is-rehab-craig-liebenson/.
15. Przytula J.B.S., Clearing the Kinetic Chain in the Throwing Shoulder E.A.T.A. Annual Meeting,
Boston Mass. Sunday, January 9, 2005; http://www.gambetta.com/pdf/shoulderclearing.pdf
BEYOND TRAINING 41
ALBERTO ANDORLINI
After extensive experience as a Physical Education Teacher, today he is a Sports Trainer and
Rehabilitator. His activity has long been connected to his interest in the evolution of movement
and the development of performance. He has worked for Fiorentina F.C., Siena F.C., Al Arabi Sports
Club, Chelsea F.C., he was the Physical Therapist and Sports Trainer for the Italian Womens
Football Team. He is currently the Rehabilitator at Palermo Sports Club. He collaborates with the
Florence Training Lab and lectures in Sports Science and Techniques and Preventative and Adaptive
Motor Sciences at the University of Florence.
16. Myers J, Lephart S, Tsai YS, Sell T, Smoliga J, Jolly J. The role of upper torso and pelvis
rotation in driving performance during the golf swing. Journal of Sports Sciences
26[2], 181-188. 2008.
17. Tsai YS, Sell TC, Smoliga JM, Myers JB, Learman KE, Lephart SM. A comparison of
physical characteristics and swing mechanincs between golfers with and without a
history of low back pain. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy 40[7],
430-438. 2010
18. Zheng N, Barrentine SW, Fleisig GS, Andrews JR. Kinematic analysis of swing in pro
and amateur golfers. International Journal of Sports Medicine 29, 487-493. 2008.
19. Kenny IC, McCloy AJ, Wallace ES, Otto SR. Segmental sequencing of kinetic energy
in a computer-simulated golf swing. Sports Engineering 11, 37-45. 2008
20. Nesbit SM, McGinnis R. Kinematic analyses of the golf swing hub path and its role in
golfer/club kinetic transfers. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine 8, 235-246. 2009.
21. Horan SA, Evans K, Morris NR, Kavanaugh JJ. Thorax and pelvis kinematics during
the downswing of male and female skilled golfers. Journal of Biomechanics 43, 1456-
1462. 2010.
22. Teu KK, Kim W, Fuss FK, Tan J. The analysis of golf swing as a kinematic chain using
dual Euler angle algorithm. Journal of Biomechanics 39, 1227-1238. 2006.
23. Coleman SGS, Rankin AJ. A three-dimensional examination of the planar nature of
the golf swing. Journal of Sports Sciences 23[3], 227-234. 2005.
24. PES online manual, Optimum performance training for the performance enhance-
ment specialist, National Academy of Sports Medicine, 2001
42
OSGOOD-
SCHLATTER
DISEASE
IN WEIGHTLI-
FTING
The authors illustrate the characteristics of a
pathologic inflammatory condition that affects
the insertion of the patellar tendon on the tibia
and that affects individuals at a young age,
practicing sports that involve the extension of the
quadriceps muscle under load.
They discuss the causes of the disease, its
pathogenesis and related symptoms, as well as
the possible treatment and the prognosis which
is almost always benign.
BY Nicola Voglino,
Antonio Urso
43
Courtesy of EWF
Osgood-Schlatter disease is an athletes engaged in running or

inflammatory medical condition jumping. However, observation of

that affects the tibial insertion the presence of Osgood-Schlatter
of the patellar tendon. It affects disease in athletes practicing wa-
young people practicing sports ter polo, weightlifting, wrestling
that involve jumping, running, or even in sedentary individuals,
leaping which, in general, involve gave new impetus to the study of
the extension under load of the the disease.
quadriceps femoris muscle. Still today, the causes and treat-
ment of Osgood-Schlatter disease
are the subject of scientific discus-
CAUSES sion.
Osgood-Schlatter disease is one
of the most common causes of
pain and swelling of the knee in PATHOGENESIS
adolescents who practice sports. It is currently agreed that the fre-
It is classified as a disorder or a quent use, during exercise, of the
condition occurring in individuals quadriceps femoris muscle is the
undergoing bone growth, cha- most common cause. Figure n0. 1
racterised by a tendinitis of the Anatomically, the quadriceps TENDINITIS AND OSTEOCHONDROSIS
distal patellar tendon associated femoris (the anterior thigh mu-
with osteochondrosis (suffering scle) is a four-headed muscle: the
cartilage) of the tibial apophysis. rectus femoris, the vastus late-
(Figure 1 tendinitis and osteo- ralis, the vastus medialis and the
chondrosis) vastus intermedius. The four mu-
This pathological condition was scle heads are inserted into diffe-
described in 1903 by Robert Osgo- rent bone segments in the pelvis,
od, an American physician, and whereas below they converge into
Carl Schlatter, a Swiss surgeon. a single tendon called the Quadri-
It is a disease with a definite pe- ceps Tendon, which incorporates
riod of onset ranging from 10 to 15 the patella and continues up to
years of age; usually affecting the the tibial tuberosity, forming the
dominant knee, and more common Patellar Tendon.
in males with a male to female ra- The Patellar Tendon therefore,
tio of 3:1. functions both as a ligament con-
Osgood-Schlatter is the result of necting two bone segments, the
a continuous and repetitive effect Tibia and Patella, and an insertio-
of traction of the patellar tendon nal tendon of the knees extensor
on the growth plate of the tibial tu- muscle group.
berosity and should be properly di- The difference between the ten-
stinguished from patellar tendini- don and ligament is very impor-
tis that occurs mainly in adulthood. tant and undoubtedly plays a
It had always been thought that significant role in the onset of Figure n0. 2
the predisposing cause of Osgo- the Osgood-Schlatter disease.
OSGOOD-SCHLATTER DISEASE
od-Schlatter disease was the Without going into histological
prolonged use of flexion-exten- details, we can say that the main WITH THICKENING OF
sion under load of the quadriceps characteristic of tendon structu- THE PATELLAR TENDON
femoris muscle, in athletes who re, combining the muscular com- The continuous and repeated use
train and compete on hard sur- ponent with a bone segment, is of the quadriceps femoris muscle
faces such as parquet (volleyball, its elasticity, along with increased causes repeated microtrauma
basketball, fencing), cement or vascularisation, while a ligament of the patellar tendon at its in-
mateco (tennis), synthetic or poz- connecting two bone heads, must sertion on the growing tibia. The
zolana (football). The concept of have great tensile strength with tibia, although still growing, is
consistency of the competition a smaller component of blood strong enough to withstand the
surface was associated with the vessels, thus less blood supply. A tension of the patellar tendon.
concept of the activity of move- more vascularised tissue (tendon) The distractive force exerted by
ment and jumping. That is, until has the ability to heal, to cicatrize the patellar tendon on the perio-
a few years ago, it was thought more than tissue which is not as steum and bone causes redness
that the disease may arise only in vascularised (ligament). (hyperemia), followed by the cha-
OSGOOD-SCHLATTER DISEASE IN WEIGHTLIFTING 45
racteristic swelling of the tibialis which does not extend to lower disease and especially the persi-
anterior, below the knee, precisely areas, may develop at the tibial stence of symptoms over years, it
at the point of insertion of the pa- insertion of the patellar tendon. may be a good idea to combine a
tellar ligament. As already seen, The swelling is permanent, it tends radiographic study with an ultra-
the distal insertion of the patellar not to regress in terms of volume sound and MRI.
tendon has more ligament than and texture.
tendon characteristics resulting Over months it becomes asymp-
in less blood supply, causing mi- tomatic, and the pain regresses.
nor healing ability and therefore Swelling in Osgood-Schlatter di-
inflammatory process becomes sease is extra-articular, therefore
more chronic. (Figure 2 Osgo- the articulation of the knee is not
od-Schlatter Disease with thicke- compromised, and does not alter
ning of the patellar tendon) the length and therefore the resi-
stance of the patellar tendon.
SYMPTOMS The diagnosis of Osgood-Schlat-
The main symptom and the first to
appear, is pain in the anterior tibial ter is clinical, meaning the set of
apophysis, below the knee, in the anamnesis (young active, athletic
anatomical region of the distal in- patient), signs (swelling, redness)
sertion of the patellar tendon. The and symptoms (pain) are suffi-
symptoms appear very gradually ciently clear to the medical specia-
and the athlete complains of pain list in order to make a diagnosis.
around the tibial tuberosity, after It is frequently associated with a
exercise. The severity of pain is radiography of the knee that can
variable; it worsens during and im- highlight a small osteochondral
mediately after exercise and tends fragment (a small flake) detached
to regress during functional rest. from the tibia by traction exerted
Normally the pain lasts a couple on the patellar tendon. (Figure 3
Small Flake in the context of the Figure n0. 3
of months, but often persists until
growth has been completed (1-2 ye- patellar tendon). SMALL FLAKE IN THE CONTEXT
ars). A painful, hyperemic swelling, Depending on the severity of the OF THE PATELLAR TENDON
TREATMENT
The aim of treatment is to reduce pain and return

the knee function to the young athlete, in order to
resume the sport of choice.
Treatment of Osgood-Schlatter disease includes:
Reducing sports activity. It is almost never ne-

cessary to completely suspend the sport that
caused the symptoms. Indeed, often, a total
suspension of the activity, with a consequent ANTONIO URSO
decrease in tone and mass of the quadriceps President of the Italian
muscles, may cause a worsening of symptoms. Weightlifting Federation and
During periods of acute pain, specialists advi- of the European Weightlifting
se to reduce activity, alternating with rest of Federation. Board member of
the functional joint. the International Weightlifting
Cryotherapy. Therapy with ice, for 20 minutes, Federation. Dr. Urso also has
several times a day and after training ses-
sions, is recommended. a degree in Sports Science, a
Anti-inflammatory therapy. Therapy with Masters degree in Preventive
NSAIDs, particularly ibuprofen and acetami- and Adaptive Sports Science; 1st
nophen, is recommended although it is not yet level Masters degree in Sport
clear what the actual local action of the drug. Rehabilitation; Weightlifting
The greatest effect is most likely anti-inflam- expert. He has coached the
matory and partially anti-edema, with pain re- national male and female
duction due to the decrease of the infarction weightlifting teams and was an
of the inflammatory liquid. Italian weightlifting champion on
Infiltrative therapy. Local infiltration with ste-
roids (cortisone) or with local anaesthetic is several occasions.
absolutely not indicated.
Orthopedic supports. The use of a knee brace
can be taken into consideration to rest fun-
ctional articulation for short periods of time,
when the pain symptomatology is particularly
acute. It is not indicated, for lack of scientific
evidence, the use of a strap for the patellar
tendon.
Orthotic Insoles. Baropodometric, static and
dynamic and gait analysis tests should be car-
ried out prior to using bilateral orthotic inso-
les. NICOLA VOGLINO
Stretching. Extensor stretching exercises may Graduated in Medicine and
be recommended when the symptoms are in Surgery, Dr. Voglino is a
the withdrawal stage. specialist in Orthopaedics and
Physiotherapy. Ultrasound low intensity the-
rapy combined with TECAR has a specific indi- Traumatology.
cation in the treatment of Osgood-Schlatter He treats Arthroscopy of
disease. large and small joints and
Traumatology. He is the Medical
It is important to note that Osgood-Schlatter is a Director at Alto Tevere Hospital
self-limiting disease and that, generally, comple- in Citt del Castello (Perugia)
te resolution of the clinical picture is obtained in and has a medical practice at
about a year. The risk of tendon rupture is almost Quisisana and Villa Stuart clinics
nil. in Rome. He is a member of the
Very rarely in this disease, must the patient resort
to surgery. In very few cases, carefully selected and EUWC Medical Committee and has
resistant to any therapy, it is indicated to surgical- been the orthopaedic consultant
ly remove the fragment or the tibial cortical bone for the FIPE since 2006
fragments in the lesion due to the traction of the
patellar tendon
OSGOOD-SCHLATTER DISEASE IN WEIGHTLIFTING 47
References
1. Pommering TL, Luchurosky L.

Overuse injuries in adolescen-
ts. Adolesc Med State Art Rev.
May 2007; 18(1): 95-120.
2. Krause BL, Williams JP, Catterall

A. Natural history of Osgo-
od-Schlatter disease. J Pediatr
Orthop. Jan-Feb 1990; 10(1):
65-8.
3. Weiss JM, Jordan SS, Andersen

JS, Lee BM, Kocher M. Sur-
gical treatment of unresolved
Osgood-Schlatter disease:
ossicle resection with tibial tu-
bercleplasty. J Pediatr Orthop.
Oct-Nov 2007; 27(7): 844-7.
4. Demirag B, Ozturk C, Yazici Z,

Sarisozen B. The pathophy-
siology of Osgood-Schlatter
disease: a magnetic resonance
investigation. J Pediatr Orthop.
Nov 2004; 13(6): 379-82.
48
size
BY menotti calvani
When
really
matters
49
A certificate of good health is re- be the measurements of a healthy

quired when applying for a job in man? One of the first attempts at a
the civil service. It is also required description of harmony was made by
when joining a gym to practice Leonardo da Vinci with his Vitruvian
non-competitive activities to prove Man, a drawing in which the chest is
a good physical constitution. The one-fourth of his height, the head
word constitution is seemingly intu- is one-eighth and the face one-ten-
itive and yet it has only recently been th. Now the navel is naturally the
introduced into the medical field. exact centre of the human body;
Constitution implies finding a rela- for if a man be placed on his back,
tionship between the physical fit- with his hands and feet extended,
ness and performance of an indivi- and a pair of compasses centred
dual, a concept that gives us an idea at his navel, the fingers and toes of
of what sport can be played best by his two hands and feet will touch the
Figure n0. 2
individuals based on their height, circumference of a circle described
Leonardo da Vincis Vitruvian Man
muscle mass, size of limbs, chest therefrom (Vitruvius, De Architetura);
and abdominal circumference, etc. similarly, his height is equal to ght and circumference of an indivi-
his arm span (Leonardo da Vinci). duals chest is about 1.87. A value
Physical structure was important lower defines short-limbed, while a
for recruitment in the ancient Among the first to deal in recent higher value indicates long-limbed.
Egyptians army; The Romans de- times with the relationship betwe-
manded that the knights and sol- en physical structure, the proba- In 1940, an American, William Her-
diers on the frontline be at least bility of disease and motor skills, bert Sheldon published a book en-
172 cm tall, while those on the se- was the Italian, Achille De Giovanni titled The Varieties of Human Phy-
cond lines had to be at least 164 cm (1838-1916), who was convinced sique, and in 1954, Atlas of Men: A
tall. But what mattered more than that form and function are intima- guide for somatotyping the adult
height was undoubtedly strength tely related as strength is related man at all ages, in which he de-
(Vegezio Publio Renato, IV-V century to matter. To him we owe the first scribes three main constitutional
De re militari). steps towards the definition of nor- types. His classification is inspired
Height, strength, but what should mal build: in which the ratio of hei- by the three germ layers from whi-
Figure n0. 1
Athletes, a world of physiques and performances
WHEN SIZE REALLY MATTERS 51
Smith), who had agreed to pose na- weightlifting. Mesomorphs would
ked for posture studies. seem to have evident abilities for
physical activity in general and
Sheldon subdivides his basic achieve excellence in power sports
biotypes into three groups: such as weightlifting, bodybuilding
Endomorph: individual with a and endurance events. Ectomor-
high proportion of fat tissue, phs are suitable for all sports in
wide waist and big bones; which jumping is an essential part
Mesomorph: individual with (basketball, volleyball, soccer) or in
medium bone structure, wide sprinting.
shoulders, narrow waist, low
body fat levels; In 1995, the New York Times repor-
Ectomorph: long limbs, low ted that thousands of photos of
Figure n0. 3 body fat levels, thin. naked students of the IVY League
Sheldons biotypes in a photo from his Sheldon also attributes to his Universities had been found in the
book Atlas biotypes the psychological cha- archives without any protection for
racteristics that do not always at- privacy. Among the students were
ch the future organism is genera- tract positive criticism. A more en- the names of important people:
ted: the ectoderm which generates during aspect of his study, on the George Bush, Hillary Clinton, Meryl
the skin and the nervous system, other hand, was the consideration Streep ...; the scandal was quiete-
the mesoderm that gives rise to the that the biotypes received from ned by the Smithsonian Institutions
musculoskeletal apparatus and he- strength coaches who have used decision to destroy all the pictures!
art, the endoderm, which genera- them to customise training pro-
tes the digestive tract. Sheldon dif- grams, adopt individual nutritional Like father, like son. It is common
ferentiates his subjects based on patterns, often with good results. belief that physical characteristics
the contribution of the three layers Sheldons biotypes were attributed are linked to the genetic transmis-
to the final structure, and does so with playing a role in certain incli- sion between parents and children.
by using photos of freshmen, boys nations for specific sports. Endo- In some sports, such as horse ri-
and girls, from the group of Ivy Le- morphs are more suitable for con- ding, there is a profound conviction
ague universities (Yale, Princeton, tact sports such as rugby, but also that performance skills are inheri-
Figure n0. 4
Identical sport and same biotype?
Figure n0. 5
Privacy at risk
for Sheldons
subjects
Figure n0. 6
Ribot
at the Arc
de Triomphe
ted and that champions cannot be other than the chil- growth. Infants with a low birth weight have a re-
dren of champions: thoroughbreds. duction in the number of muscle fibres and a reduced
number of nephrons, the underlying structures of the
In human beings, genetic extraction is quite different kidneys functioning. Once they become adults, these
and while champions do sometimes run in the family, it children have an increased risk of becoming obese and
is not always the case. hypertensive. Very often, overweight individuals are
Biodiversity in humans is important, indispensable, subjected to high-protein diets for weight loss without
but how important is genetics in determining the investigating their birth weight, with the risk that the
structure of an individual? Undoubtedly very impor- reduced number of nephrons exposes them to increa-
tant, but recent data shows that the embryo and sub- sed risks of kidney damage. Before starting a high pro-
sequently the fetus, have certain degrees of freedom tein diet, knowledge of birth weight is essential also
in the construction of its final structure. The size of the for non-obese individuals and for those who wish to
newborn generally relates to the size of its mother, but increase their muscle mass.
nutritional deficiencies in the mothers diet, especially
in the last quarter, determine a decrease in the childs During pregnancy, the growth rules of the baby, dicta-
WHEN SIZE REALLY MATTERS 53
ted by the genes of the babys parents, are regula-
ted by the womb that trains the future newborn
to function in the best way under the conditions of
nutrition and stress present in the external envi-
ronment, with the mother acts as the sensor. New
information is added to the software present in the
genes, that will impact (Programming) on the
structure of the individual as it matures. The events
that both mother and child experience (deficien-
cies, abundance of food, chemical, physical, envi-
ronmental agents, etc. ) can modulate performance
(Conditioning) of the building program planned
in the DNA.
The first trainer in our lives is our mother, but today
we are discovering other periods of programming,
such as the first year of life, however, scientific evi-
dence shows windows of programming of our bo-
dies throughout our whole lives.
Obesity characterised by an excessive accumula-
tion of adipose tissue and a reduced amount of mu-
scle fibres at birth, are two of the possible conse-
quences of particular conditioning during fetal life.
Both are critical to health and to life expectancy. To-
day, they can be monitored with instruments tools
to quantify the body composition and thus reshape
the structure and functioning of our body to extend
and improve the quality of our lives.
Figure n0. 7
The Maldini family and Abbagnale brothers
MENOTTI CALVANI
Prof. Calvani is a specialist in neurology,
clinical pharmacology and medical
toxicology. He also has a degree in the
Human Nutritional Sciences. He has
published over 200 scientific articles
in international journals primarily on
issues of metabolism, mitochondria and
degenerative diseases.
Figure n0. 8
Our mother is our first trainer
54
Doping
and Gene
Doping:
The ethical
approach
Every male or female athletes goal is to stretch,
time after time, their physical boundaries and
to outperform themselves, as well as their com-
petitors. Our culture is replete with notions and
mottoes that tend to influence athletes, encoura-
ging them to achieve higher goals and to exceed
expectations.
BY SOFIA A. MATSAGKOU
55
56 DOPING AND GENE DOPING
INTRODUCTION cater to the moral values of their cal doping could not possibly be
Every male or female athletes goal contemporary civilization. numbered among the qualitatively
is to stretch, time after time, their higher pleasures, since it doesnt
physical boundaries and to outper- THE NEED FOR ETHICS IN SPORTS satisfy neither the intellect nor the
form themselves, as well as their The concerns, on which we will moral sentiments). In conclusion,
competitors. Our culture is replete expound, arise from issues such as the use of doping is non-permissi-
with notions and mottoes that tend interference with athletes health, ble from an ethical point of view; it
to influence athletes, encouraging limitations on autonomy and free- is also illegitimate on the grounds
them to achieve higher goals and dom, lack of justice, as well as the that it poses risks against an athle-
to exceed expectations. How and fact that doping runs counter to tes health, since none of the three
at what point should the issue of the purpose of doing sports, to the criteria of these particular ethical
ethics be raised along these lines? athletic ideals, and to the Olympic concerns is fulfilled. The athletes
Why should this standard affect our principles. Concerning the issue of autonomy in the use of doping may
decisions, or how are the latter an interference with athletes heal- be examined through the definition
outcome of ethical evaluation? Why th and safety, we should note that of ethical boundaries concerning
should pharmaceutical doping and doping is not the only way to cause the limitation of freedom. This will
gene doping concern us from an damage to athletes health; howe- lead us to consider the do no harm
ethical point of view? ver, it is the only one that is banned. principle, the offence principle, and
Nevertheless, it is a widely held opi- the legal moralism principle simi-
THE CONCEPT OF ETHICS nion that the risks entailed by ath- larly, the collective goods principle,
Since the very first Olympic Ga- letes, in their pursuit of awards and the need principle, and the fairness
mes, the core reason for inflicting victory, may be deemed permissi- principle. The do no harm principle
penalties was, essentially, the mo- ble to the degree that they are in- is being violated, because the ath-
tivation to commit fraud not the deed tolerable. We may therefore letes act and, by extension, the
detection of banned substances, build three evaluation criteria mo- athlete himself harms spectators,
as is the case today. The ancient dels in order to best approach our organizers, and competing athle-
Olympic Games were governed by evaluation: the utilitarianist model tes. The offence principle is equally
the notions of fair play, sportsman- (which includes two types of con- violated, because the athlete who
ship, the Olympic truce, camarade- sequentialism, namely the egoti- uses doping affects, through this
rie, justice, and athletic ideals. In stical type and the altruistic type; act, both his competitors and the
fact, the penalties applying during the case of pharmaceutical doping spectators. He also causes finan-
that era were quite different from falls into the first type, as it yields cial damages to himself, if he is co-
those that are in effect in our days. no benefit for the largest possible vering the expenses of his illegal
However, the competent authori- number of people), the model of regime; in the moral plane, he of-
ties have always acted with a view criteria for the benefit of others, fends himself by violating athletic
to promoting athletic ideals and and the hedonic model (in which, rules, as well as legal rules in ge-
principles in a manner that would according to Mill, pharmaceuti- neral, as established by his country
DOPING AND GENE DOPING 57
sic value2. Sports possess an intrinsic value, since they
do not only serve benefits; they also serve desires3, as
is the case with arts and music. Neither does the third
instance raise an issue of justice, because natural he-
redity does not raise issues of rights and benefits and,
therefore, it does not justify state intervention. Finally,
sports ethics depends on the rules of each sport, as
well as on the values that the use of doping may alter
or destroy. This position is supported by the spirit of the
Olympic Games a free spirit, devoid of national, poli-
and by WADA. Finally, in regard to legal moralism, a fe- tical, financial, and other commitments. Summarizing,
eling of repulsion is experienced by the people in the we could say that sports are a social and cultural good
doped athletes environment who are espousing the with a strong pedagogical character, referred to as the
prevailing, conventional moral standards. However, overall purpose of participation in athletic contests,
even if this act causes no harm to anybody, the com- and incompatible with the use of doping4.
mon feeling holds it as immoral and as diverging from
mainstream behavior. We should thus accept that the GENE DOPING FROM AN ETHICAL POINT OF VIEW
act of doping limits another athletes autonomy in par- The issue of gene doping will also concern us, since IOC5
ticipating in athletic contests; consequently, the free- and WADA6 first got interested in it back in 2001; a cou-
dom of an athlete getting doped should be restricted. ple years later, in 2003, WADA included the term gene
Therefore, a limitation of freedom may be legalized for doping in its list of banned substances and methods.
the aforementioned reasons. Concerning the fairness In general, mans actions should be driven by a certain
or unfairness of the use of doping on the grounds of mental content that tends towards beauty, general in-
justice, we should examine three different instances. terest, and nature; he should also aspire to the natural,
First, the advantage enjoyed by certain athletes, who unmedicated development of his innate inclinations.
can afford the financial burden of using substances This can be achieved in a manner that does not utilize
or methods designed to improve their performance, other human beings as objects, but as rational creatu-
over other athletes who do not possess the necessary res who are able to universalize their critical thought
funds. Second, the issue of justice against those ath- and to promote their will, thus resulting in what can be
letes who do not resort to doping and who compete, fully defined as the human species in general. There-
unknowingly to them, within an unfair environment, fore, genetic modification with the aim of gene doping
compared to the ones using doping. Third, the fact that equals with the utilization of man as a means to achieve
some athletes are, by nature, more muscular or fitter a purpose that is not beneficial for humanity. In this way,
for certain sports, compared to their competitors. In the athlete makes a tool of himself, thus undermining
conclusion, the first instance does not raise an issue his own dignity by not respecting his singularity within
of justice, albeit it does raise one of inequalities. The nature. In this case, where man is not interested in his
second instance raises issues of benefits and rights, in own inner culture and his ethics, the principle of justi-
which case the state has the responsibility to interve- ce should apply with the goal of penalizing unjust acts
ne therefore, the principle of justice is violated. The perpetrated by athletes against their fellow citizens,
above claim is further supported via the description of the athletes they compete with, and the spectators.
intrinsic and derivative values. To better understand how an end-in-itself can be
According to Dworkin, detached values1 do not stem justified, we should refer to Kant, according to whom,
from the interests of certain persons; they are intrin- since man has the ability and the authority of a co-le-
sic values. On the other hand, derivative values refer gislator within the kingdom of ends, he also has the
to issues regarding the fulfilment of ones rights and ability to impose moral laws on himself7; furthermore,
benefits. A number of philosophers have questioned ethics itself views a potential kingdom of ends as a sta-
whether there exists something possessing an intrin- te of nature precisely due to the fact that a kingdom of
58 DOPING AND GENE DOPING
ends involves ends-in-themselves and, consequent- one will be responsible for pronouncing their penalties.
ly, rational creatures8. A state of nature would have its Finally, the executive power will be concerned with the
own laws, rules, and sets of criteria that would serve to supervision of how the rules are observed by all citi-
promote the rights and benefits of its citizens, to allow zens. After structuring our new society in such a simple
them to express their opinions and beliefs, to respect way, we should set a starting point. This starting point
and value their efforts and interests. Such a state of may be that the regulations of this society are accepted
nature might look like a smaller-scale contemporary by all citizens on the grounds of complete agreement
democratic system. Thus, an athletes purpose in using or of tacit consent (Locke). Our new Republic is legi-
gene doping can be characterized as a part of his will timized to govern its citizens on the basis of the oaths
that does not think or act in a honest and virtuous way given by the participants (athletes oath, judges oath,
for the benefit of competing athletes, spectators, or oath of sports medicine physicians, legal obligations of
even his compatriots. The ability of participating in coaches, etc.), since, through their oaths and through
athletic competitions especially when these involve fi- their abidance in it, they have ceded these powers to
nancial motives for the personal fulfilment of the athle- their Republic. Consequently, we may strengthen our
te in question should also, according to Kant, depend position by claiming that the citizens are wittingly resi-
upon public acknowledgement by the spectators, the ding in this Republic, as every elite athlete would have
competing athletes, or society in general, if it is to be signed a document displaying his physical residence,
viewed as promoting their benefits9. the number of days and time period, etc., as requested
According to John Rawls, for whom justice can be de- by the competent authority10; this signed document
scribed as the rules upon which society is structured would then be sent to the National Anti-Doping Council
(a society in which there is a real possibility for har- in effect (and, by extension, to the World Anti-Doping
monious co-existence, co-operation, even a certain Agency). In this way, enhanced genetic differences are
amount of competitiveness, despite any differences no worse, from the perspective of justice, than natural11
concerning the values and purposes of life) if we create differences and, even though a genetically enhanced
a society similar to the one described here, but whose athlete might have an illegitimate advantage over his
content is athletic, well also come to the aforementio- non-enhanced competitors (something that is morally
ned conclusion. More specifically, such a society would reprehensible), this is not due to reasons of justice12.
be structured as follows: let us suppose the existence As for the Republic of Athletic Ideals, we could say that
of a state called the Republic of Athletic Ideals; its citi- this is the international democratic community in whi-
zens are the persons occupied in the sports sector, e.g. ch those directly involved in sports and in sports ethics
athletes, coaches, sports medicine physicians, etc. Said are participating. One more problem that could emer-
Republic would be comprised of three separate powers ge due to genetic improvement is the undermining of
namely, the legislative, judicial, and executive powers. human species itself via its permanent modification.
The legislative power is comprised of the committees Mans ability to achieve his goals based on his natural
whose work consists in establishing the penalties and powers (that is, the powers he is able to cultivate up to
the bans of athletes found with a positive sample and in a certain point) can be devalued and, ultimately, lost.
compiling the regulations and lists of banned medica- This may drive man to consider himself worthy of distin-
tions and substances. Then, comes the judicial power, ctions that are utopic and to undermine his responsibi-
under which the violators of rules would be judged; this lities regarding his own identity and his actions13.
DOPING AND GENE DOPING 59
CONCLUSIONS nent modification of human species is bound to annul.
These ethical concern should understandably be of in- Notwithstanding, athletic spirit is defined by the ath-
terest; the use of pharmaceutical doping and of gene letes spirit itself, and it is governed by values such
doping is not considered ethical, since there is a num- as fair play and honesty, excellence of performance,
ber of principles such as the principle of effectiveness character and education, devotion and commitment,
(competition between athletes during games), the respect to rules and laws, self-respect and respect
principle of collegiality, the principle of duty to oneself, towards our fellow athletes, courage, and collegiali-
the principle of the right to health as well as a number ty14. These should constitute a set of fundamental va-
of intrinsic values such as nature, self-worth, and di- lues for athletes and for those practicing a sport. The
gnity that are violated or annulled. All the above aim above principles should attach real meaning to the
at leading us to a kind of investment in human life itself, essence of sports and of top-class sports; they should
both between those living concurrently and between also constitute a part of the educational process offe-
generations to come an investment that the perma- red to teams and to individual athletes.
References
1. Dworkin, R 2000, Sovereign Virtue: The Theory 7. ant, I 1984, T
and Practice of Equality, Cambridge, Massachu- , Dodoni Publications, Athens, (transla-
setts: Harvard University Press, p.:428. tion.: Tzavara ).
2. Dworkin, R 1994, Lifes Dominion: An argument 8. Grundlegung zur Metaphysik der Sittenm in
about abortion and euthanasia, London: Harper Kants gesammelte Schriften, Berlin: Kniglich
Collins, .: 69. Preuischen Akademie der Wissenschaften,
3. Dworkin, R 1994, Lifes Dominion: An argument 1902, (4), p.:438.
about abortion and euthanasia, London: Harper 9. Wood, AW 1999, Kants Ethical Thought, Cam-
Collins, .:70. bridge University Press, Cambridge, p.: 169.
4. Kious, BM 2008, Philosophy on steroids: Why 10. The official document where the athletes are
the anti-doping position could use a little enhan- displaying details about themselves according to
cement, Theor Med Bioeth, vol.29, no.4, p.:227. doping controls.
5. IOC 2001, International Olympic Commit- 11. Sandel, MJ 2009, The case against perfection:
tee, IOC gene therapy working group- con- Ethics in the age of genetic engineering, Cambrid-
clusions, viewed 21/04/2014, http://www. ge Mass: Belknap Press of Harvard U.P., p.:42-43.
olympic.org/content/news/media-resources/ 12. Sandel, MJ 2009, The case against perfection:
manual-news/1999-2009/2001/06/06/ioc-gene- Ethics in the age of genetic engineering, Cambri-
therapy-working-group---conclusions/ dge Mass: Belknap Press of Harvard U.P., p.:43.
6. WADA. Health, Medical and Research Commit- 13. Sandel, MJ 2007, Bionic Athletes. The Case
tee Meeting. Minutes. Lausanne, 2001, (http:// Against Perfection, Massachusetts: Harvard Uni-
www.wada-ama.org/Documents/About_WADA/ versity Press, p.:25-44.
HealthMedicalResearchCommittee_Minutes/ 14. Savulescu J, Fobby B & Clayton M 2004, Why we
WADA_HealthMedicalResearchCommit- should allow performance enhancing drugs in
tee_200102.pdf) sport Br J Sports Med, vol.38, no.6, p.:666.
Sofia A. Matsagkou
Ms. Matsagkou is a MSc graduate student of Bio-Medical Ethics and Bioethics. Her research
interests are mainly emphasized on the biological and ethical approach of doping and gene
doping (masters thesis), while also being keen on other scientific fields such as sports
medicine, ergophysiology and physiology of the muscles. Recently, she was a trainee at
the National Bioethics Commission of Greece where she still writes blog articles for the
commissions monthly newsletter and website. Her undergraduate studies were on Physical
Education and Sports receiving a first- class degree while a number of distinctions cover her
record either as a road cyclist at a national level in Greece or as an awarded lifeguard rescue.
Furthermore, she worked as a coach on private schools and sport clubs.
60
CoM-
plexity
and
Sport
BY Fabio Bagarello,
Francesco Gargano,
Francesco Oliveri,
Salvatore Spagnolo
61
62 COMPLEXITY AND SPORT
The Complexity plex system the whole is greater ceived in the most complicated way
than the sum of its parts. In com- possible, but its purpose, by defi-
theory and its mon practice, it very often happens nition, is to provide the time, and
foundations that we meet a complex system. For the manufacturer has always full
Recent decades have seen an ever example, under certain conditions, knowledge of how this is achieved.
increasing popularity, both in empi- we can observe demonstrations of Regarding a complex system, the
rical sciences and in social sciences, complex dynamics in city traffic, in question is very different. In fact,
in techniques and mathematical in- a crowd of people in an urban de- the behaviour or the dynamics of a
struments for the investigation of velopment, in weather systems, in complex system are a result of the
so-called complex systems [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, a flock of birds or a termite mound, sum of the behaviour or the dyna-
6, 22, 23
]. on the stock exchange, in the ner- mics of the individual parts, becau-
Attempting to define the complexi- vous system or the immune system. se a complex system typically ma-
ty of the phenomenon in a clear Today we know a huge number of nifests emergent, not controlled
and all-embracing way remains complex systems and over time we (much less predictable) characteri-
a difficult task as the subject is have learned to recognise and inve- stics in the individual components
too young from an epistemolo- stigate them and to describe them of the system itself. Probably one
gical point of view, and due to its qualitatively and quantitatively in a of the most interesting examples
cross-application to a variety of very often deep and refined way. of emergent properties in complex
areas that has led to the emergen- It should be specified that in scien- systems is given by the transition
ce of different schools of thought. ce, the term complex is clearly from quantum to classical mecha-
Nevertheless, in order to establish distinguished from the term com- nics when describing a set of atomic
ideas, we can attempt to highlight, plicated. In etymological terms, particles that make up a macrosco-
without being exhaustive, some the term complex (from the Latin pic body. Since the early decades
peculiar common aspects. Complex complexus, past participle of the of the twentieth century, we know
systems have widespread relations verb complecti) means to weave that the behaviour of particles of
between heterogeneous compo- several times and can also be used micro (10-6 m) and nanoscale (10-9
nents that interact locally; they are figuratively to refer to an object or m), for example electrons, protons
free from any general controller a system composed of several in- or atoms, is described by a branch
that rules or uses the interactions terconnected and interdependent of physics that is called quantum
between the parties to drive the parts. The term complicated (from mechanics, a discipline founded on
evolution of the system towards the Latin complicatus, past partici- certain principles developed from
some form of pre-established ple of the verb complicate) means stringent experimental evidence.
objective; they possess a more ho- instead to fold together, to fold Among these laws, the best known
rizontal than hierarchical organisa- over. In this sense, the term can be is undoubtedly Heisenbergs un-
tion, with many types of inter- and used to refer to objects or intricate certainty principle [1]. According to
retro-action; they are subject to systems that can be explained and this principle, in the micro and na-
a continuous adaptation through understood, however, this featu- no-scale world it is not possible to
processes of evolution of the in- re is not guaranteed for complex measure simultaneously and with
dividual parts; they manifest dy- systems. Difficult as it may be, the high accuracy, the position and ve-
namics that are often in states far behaviour or the dynamics of a com- locity of a particle, even being able
from equilibrium, or that may pro- plicated system can be explained to ideally neglect experimental
vide many states of equilibrium or starting from the behaviour and errors. Nevertheless, the objects
even none at all; they are subjected interactions of the individual parts which we normally encounter in
to new external stimuli, reacting that compose it. In a sense, one can everyday life, made up of a huge
by creating new dynamics, which say that a complicated system does number of atoms (a normal glass
are completely unpredictable and not hold great surprises for those of water contains about 1025
beyond control. In short, in a com- who observe it: a watch may be con- atoms!), quite clearly show the pro-
COMPLEXITY AND SPORT 63
perty of having position and veloci- involved, produce complex objects to overlook aspects that seem of
ty simultaneously determined. In a that simulate the growth of living little importance or about which
certain sense, by putting together organisms and allow the creation there is insufficient information.
a large number of particles whose of extremely realistic artificial land- Given a certain phenomenon, the
position and speed are not simul- scapes. In general, we can say that models that we can build depend
taneously determinable, we obtain a system is as complex as the num- on the aspects that we desire or
an emergent property (precisely ber of parameters that are neces- that we can describe with accuracy,
the simultaneous determination sary for its description and as the and on the information that comes
of position and speed) of the com- number of (non-linear) relations from the analysis of the phenome-
pound object that exhibits a beha- between the parameters involved: non itself. As mentioned, today we
viour not directly related to that of it thus depends both on the model know a very large number of com-
its components. Another example used in the description and on the plex systems for which some ma-
of an emergent property is obtai- variables taken into account. The thematical description is available
ned from the social behaviour of
a flock of starlings [6]. During the
period of migration of these birds,
we can often witness an authentic
dance in the sky: a huge number
of starlings, in response to some
external stress, can perform com-
plex choreography without a lea-
ding coordinator. Studies carried
out using the tools provided by the
complexity theory, show that this
complex dynamic emerges from a
very small number of simple rules
followed by each single starling:
1) mimic the behaviour of the ne-
arest birds, 2) maintain their di-
rection at the same speed, 3) try
not to hit against their neighbours.
The social behaviour of ants, termi-
tes and bees, for example, is often
based on the same type of mecha-
nism: very simple rules respected
by every member of that group main goal of the complexity theory in literature: social relations, stock
have resulted in the emergence of is to understand the behaviour of markets, the dynamics of species
a complex behaviour of the whole. complex systems, characterised by and migration, ecological systems,
Other fascinating examples rela- so many elements which are diffe- games theories, political alliances
ted to this property are evident rent to each other, as by numerous, [8,9,10,11,12]. Specifically, those who
in the manifestation of the arrow non-linear connections, in other deal with complexities investigate
of time in physics systems [1], the words, with interactions not sim- to see if common elements can be
Game of Life by J. Conway [6], or by ply directly proportional to the pa- interpreted in mathematical terms
Lindenmayer systems [7] in which rameter or parameters chosen to so as to roughly describe the evo-
simple grammatical rules (very describe the system. In this sense, lution of a complex system. In fact,
often recursive) and appropriate many systems are complex, and we even if from a merely epistemologi-
graphic semantics of the symbols can only understand by choosing cal point of view, for leading living
philosopher of complexity, Edgar ved in sport: biomechanical aspects,

Morin [13], Science can detect local metabolic aspects, environmen-

changes, but it cannot predict a fu- tal conditions, judges evaluation,
ture state of the system considered rankings that determine certain
in its entirety. [. . . ] in complex sy- encounters, draws; the climate or
stems, unpredictability and paradox weather conditions where the per-
are always present and some things formance takes place, the physical,
remain unknown, from the scienti- psychological and emotional state
fic point of view we are not deprived of the athlete and his companions.
of the opportunity to mathemati- This does not preclude however to
cally capture important aspects of a address the problem on a quanti-
complex phenomenon and to quan- tative basis in order to increase the
titatively describe some evolutions. understanding of the phenomenon
The study of this type of systems and possibly make verifiable predi-
(those that appear to be more pre- ctions. In a first phase of study, it is
sent in the world around us) has essential to have accurate quantita-
led to a profound revision of the re- tive data on the performing prota-
ductionist attitude (i.e. the study the gonists to extract the relevant infor-
behaviour of a system conceived as mation and eliminate redundancies
the sum of its parts) inherent in some by capturing possible significant
way in post-Galilean science [3,4]. correlations (this, for example, is
the task of statistics; the analysis
MATHEMATICAL of variance, the method of the main
components, cluster analysis, linear
MODELS APPLIED and non-linear regression). Given
TO SPORT these elements, it will be possible
When it comes to sports, there is no to choose the most important va-
doubt that we have to engage with riables, to develop a model for the
the theory of complex systems. In fundamental principles of mature
this context, the obvious question sciences (mechanics, fluid dynami-
concerns the possibility of con- cs, physiology, psychology, sociolo-
structing a mathematical model gy), then estimate the parameters
for the description and understan- and test the experimental model in
ding of sports performance and order to improve and/or refine it;
the chance to make some sort of in the final phase of the work, we
prediction of a sport performance. can obtain verifiable quantitative
We believe that the answer to these predictions, possibly with a proba-
last two questions is positive. To de- bilistic estimate of the margin of
fine the problem in broad terms, we error. In literature, there are several
must first reflect on the factors that mathematical models to predict the
influence the sports performance of performance of an athlete or the de-
an athlete or a team. In this context, tection of one or more physiological
the complexity in the modelling of parameters considered to be fun-
sports appears at different levels: damental in the preparation of an
in individuals who practice sports, in athlete for an event. The fitness-fa-
teams, in competitions and tourna- tigue model [14] is well known - a
ments; in the various aspects invol- dynamic model of development
65
COMPLEXITY AND SPORT
which is based on the idea that the mathematician) and the expert mathematical procedures that
response variable (performance or (the sports trainer, the athlete, suitably adjust the weights, as in
physiological parameter) depends the coach) is fundamental in order the case of the fitness and fatigue
on antagonistic variables respon- to translate the mathematical lan- model, and reduce errors of predi-
ding positively and negatively to guage appropriately in all possible ction regarding the value of the fi-
the athletes training load (fitness real dynamics that are to be inclu- nal output on already existing time
and fatigue, respectively). From an ded in the model. In the world of series. An equally important result
initial pin value and by modelling sports, it is important to work on of the network is to estimate, from
the fitness and fatigue parame- other aspects besides the determi- an analysis of weights, the impor-
ters with appropriate differential nation of the temporal evolution of tance of the various input signals,
equations in time, the model predi- an athletes performance variable; determining which of them have
cts that at time t (measure of time in this case, mathematical model- greater significance. Applications
after which you want to estimate ling can help in identifying talent, of ANN in sports are documented
the effects of training) the variable in studying the variability of speci- in literature: in [17] the author has
response p (t) varies according to fic movements, in predicting (and estimated what physical characte-
the deterministic law minimising) injuries, and in deci- ristics in female swimmers are
sion-making during the sporting strongly linked with performance
p(t)= pin + k1 fitness + k2 fatigue event. These aspects are generally (in this case, height, chest width,
predictable on the basis of existing foot length). Studies on the like-
The parameters k1, k2 determine time series to work with mathema- lihood of accidents are published
the influence of the fitness and fa- tical constructs such as ANN - Ar- in [18] with relevant results that link
tigue variables on the value of the tificial Neural Networks [15]) and the likelihood of injury for an athle-
response variable, and are to be GAM - Generalised Additive Models te to the intensity of the workload
estimated with error minimisation [16]). The ANN work by mimicking the and the duration of the training
procedures, training the model to real behaviour of neurons: an input phase. The GAM models work in a
well approximate existing time se- signal reaches the cell body (the similar way to the network, in the
ries. We wish to underline the fun- soma) from other neurons throu- sense that based on n input signals
damental concept that a predictive gh the dendrites, and if the input we obtain an expected value of the
model must be able to replicate al- is above a certain threshold, it re- output by means of a functional
ready known data and time series: turns an output which reaches the relationship of links that involves
in cases (always check carefully) other neurons through the output other functions to be determined,
that the acquisition of new data is line neuron (axon). Mathematical- so as to minimise predictive errors
conducted under conditions rea- ly, this process is represented by a of a known time series. GAM models
sonably similar to those relating to weighted sum of the input signals, are more flexible than Generalized
the acquisition data of the time se- and, should this sum exceed a limit Linear Models (GLM, [16]) and allow
ries, the model can then be used to value (provided that is the activa- a more precise adjustment to the
provide its prediction on new data. tion of a neuron by an electrical data. They are often used to predict
It is clear that, from the mathema- pulse), then it returns an output the performance of athletes during
tical point of view, such a model that, depending on the complexity medium or long term tournaments.
can be extended to include other of the ANN built, can serve as the For example, in [20] GAM were used
variables, increasing the overall input signal to other neurons, or to analyse the average number of
complexity of the system, and at may return the value of the output points per game and rate of victory
the same time, improving its quali- variable required by the model. for the NCAA American University
ty predictive in perspective. In this The training phase of the network Basketball League: using as input
phase, the communication betwe- is essential in the use of such mo- variables the interaction between
en who creates the model (the dels, in other words, the series of players, their age and the change
in their performance statistics du- possible only if the training of the start with a thorough analysis of
ring the tournament, the authors model is based on a large database historical data to highlight statisti-
concluded that it is possible to eva- and includes many cases. cal correlations useful for the con-
luate possible changes in the per- struction of the model.
formances of the athletes during CONCLUSIONS
the games. A similar approach was It is evident that different sports di- In conclusion, we can say that the
used in [21] where the authors used sciplines require, in general, diffe- study of complex systems provides
GAM methods for predicting skills rent mathematical models. Howe- a framework for the consideration
in scoring for the English Premier ver, it is our clear belief that in many of a highly articulate and transver-
League players on the number of cases such modelling is possible, sal reality. Thanks to the complexity
goal kicks, and the players average and can be of some help in impro- theory, we now know much more
number of goals per game in the ving the performance of athletes. about many systems which are very
previous season. To understand a complex pheno- different and seemingly far from a
All the above mentioned models menon in depth requires multidi- mathematical description and that
have in common the need for a da- sciplinary skills, as building a model until not long ago were considered
tabase of data on which to adjust, capable of providing reliable quan- out of the scope of survey of exact
or more properly train, the para- titative predictions means putting sciences. We believe that the com-
meters or functions of the model together different skills and many plexity theory can allow a non-stri-
so as to minimise the error on the mathematical techniques (model- ctly phenomenological approach of
known data. It is clear that future ling, numerical analysis, statistics, scientific inquiry to rather general
predictions will be as reliable as etc.). At the same time, you must matters in sport.
Bibliography and webliography

1. Il quark e il giaguaro, M. Gell-Mann, Bollati Boringhieri (2000)
2. Complessit e modelli, C. S. Bertuglia, F. Vaio, Bollati Boringhieri (2011)
3. Non linearit, caos e complessit, C. S. Bertuglia, F. Vaio, Bollati Boringhieri (2007)
4. La complessit in medicina, P. Bellavite, Tecniche Nuove (2009)
5. Caso, probabilit e complessit, A. Vulpiani, Ediesse (2014)
6. Proceedings SERIF 2009, L. Rondoni
7. The Algorithmic Beauty of Plants, P. Prusinkiewicz, A. Lindenmayer, Springer-Verlag, (1990)
8. A phenomenological operator description of dynamics of crowds: Escape strategies, F. Bagarello, F. Garga-

no, F. Oliveri, Appl. Math. Model. 39, 2276 (2015)
9. An operator-like description of love affairs. F. Bagarello, F. Oliveri, SIAM Jour. Appl. Math. 70, 3235 (2010)
10. Dynamics of closed ecosystems described by operators. F. Bagarello, F. Oliveri. Ecological Modeling, 275,
89 (2014)
11. An Operator View on Alliances in Politics, F. Bagarello, SIAM Jour. on Appl. Math. 75, 564 (2015)
12. A Quantum-Like View to a Generalized Two Players Game. F. Bagarello, Int. J. Th. Phys, doi: 10.1007/
s10773-015-2599-x2015 (2015)
13. Introduzione al pensiero complesso. Gli strumenti per affrontare la sfida della comples-sit. E. Morin,
Sperling & Kupfer (1993)
14. A system model of training for athletic performance. E.W. Banister, I.W. Calvert, M.V. Savage, I.M. Bach.
Australian J. Sports. Med., 7, 57 (1975)
15. Fondamenti di reti neurali, T. Khanna, Pearson (1991)
16. Dai modelli lineari ai modelli lineari generalizzati ai modelli additivi generalizzati. Con esempi mediante
lapplicativo R, C. G. Giancaterino, Aracne (2015)
17. The use of neural network technology to model swimming performance, A.J. Silva, A.M. Costa, P.M. Oli-
veira, V.M. Reis, J. Saavedra, J. Perl, A. Rouboa, D. Almeida Marinho, J Sports Sci Med. 6, 117 (2007)
18. Risk factors for injury in subelite rugby league players, T.J. Gabbett, N. Domrow, Am. J. Sports Med. 33, 428 (2005)
19. The development and application of an injury prediction model for non-contact, soft tissue injuries in
elite collision sport athletes, Gabbett T.J., J. Strength Cond. Res. 24, 2593 (2010)
20. Modelling player performance in basketball through mixed models, M. Casals, A. Mar-tinez, Int. J. of
Perf. Anal. in Sport 13, 64 (2013)
21. A mixed effects model for identifying goal scoring ability of footballers. I.G. McHale, L. Szczepaski, J. of
the Royal Stat. Society 177, 397 (2014)
22. http://www.andreacontin.com/wp-content/uploads/dispensa.pdf
23. http://www.tulliotinti.net/psicofilosofia/corso_complex.html
Fabio Bagarello
Full professor of Mathematical Physics, Department
of Energy, Computer Engineering and Mathematical
Models, University of PalermoScience and Techniques Francesco Gargano
and Preventative and Adaptive Motor Sciences at the Research Fellow at the National
University of Florence. Research Council, Institute for
Coastal Marine Environment
Salvatore Spagnolo
Lecturer at the Department of
Francesco Oliveri Energy, Computer Engineering
3 Full professor of Mathematical and Mathematical Models,
Physics, Department of University of Palermo.
Mathematical and Information
Technology, University of Messina
70
DESTINATION
RIO.
ACCLIMA-
TISATION:
GENERAL
ASPECTS
From 5 to 21 August 2016, all eyes of the sporting
world will be on Rio de Janeiro, which will host the
XXXI Olympic Summer Games the first time for the
South American continent. Rio was chosen as the
host city on 2 October, 2009 during the 121st me-
eting of the IOC in Copenhagen, beating Madrid,
Tokyo and Chicago after three rounds of voting.
BY Antonio Gianfelici
71
72 DESTINATION RIO
Organising a number of impor- one location to another. The various

tant sporting events in cities and websites providing information

countries that are in time zones about the climate and meteorolo-
different to ones own, has in the gical aspects show small differen-
past been the focus of attention ces. In order to predict the approxi-
of many experts regarding the is- mate climate in Rio in August 2016,
sues that this condition could pose. we have used www.wunderground.
Starting from the problems that com, analysing the climate over the
arose around the Olympic Games in last eight years, on days 5 to 21 Au-
1968 in Mexico City, or the work un- gust. A data analysis has provided
dertaken for the Olympic Games in us with general indications that
Atlanta, Sydney and even more re- pay particular attention to the pos-
cently for those of Beijing 2008. In sible and varied situations. There
this regard, the Institute of Sports are days when the daily maximum
Sciences and Medicine of the Ita- temperature varies between 19
wear, exercise intensity required,
lian National Olympic Committee, and 35C, with an average of 26.4C,
there is a simple and useful appli-
produced a document that addres- while at night the temperature can
cation called RayMan, available for
sed the problems of acclimatisa- drop to 12C. One factor to be consi-
free on the Internet.
tion, climatic conditions, health dered will be the possibility of high
risks, even the problems of air pol- levels of humidity, which we know THE TIME ZONE
lution that the delegation of Italian increase the perception of heat, The time differences between
athletes might have faced during as it makes evaporation of water Rio and Europe In August will vary
their Olympics experience. With Rio contained in sweat more difficult. between -8 to -4: we must also take
having been appointed to host the In comparison with the maximum into account the Summer Time. Al-
next Olympic Games, the Europe- temperatures and humidity re- though apparently the time diffe-
an National Olympic Committees corded in the previous editions of rence may seem excessive for some
once again face a challenge regar- the Olympic Games, we therefore European countries, the competi-
ding any issues related to the trip. expect an acceptable tempera- tion timetables will be taken into
The overall focus includes many ture (when we think of 32-33C in consideration, such as that already
aspects, ranging from logistics to Atlanta!), but with a considerably approved by the IAAF for athletics,
the minor aspects such as currency higher humidity rate. Since this is which shows the insertion of many
exchange, car rental and similar is- also the Southern Hemisphere, we finals into the morning sessions, in
sues, but also engaging in and per- must also take into account that it order to boost visibility of the sport
forming all their sports activities in will still be the winter season and in all the different time zones of
the safest way possible. This short there is a chance of rain. The same the world, but also the possibility
vademecum does not expect to sol- analysis shows that four of the six- to play games in the evening in Rio
ve all possible problems, nor to give teen days of the competition could when it is night-time in Europe.
information on all aspects of the be marked by rain.
trip, it is simply a memorandum of For those wishing to make an more JET LAG
the physiological aspects related in-depth study into the perception The time difference is one of the
to acclimatisation. of heat as opposed to the different conditions that brings about what
weather conditions and climates is commonly known as jet lag or
WEATHER CONDITIONS that they will encounter (tempe- circadian dysrhythmia. Internatio-
The 10,500 athletes expected at rature, humidity, solar radiation, nal scientific literature indicates
the Games in Rio will compete in wind speed), but also considering that sleep is a fundamental condi-
a vast area around the bay of Rio the anatomical structure of the tion for anybody, with a semeiolo-
where the weather may differ from athlete, the type of clothing to gical makeup and symptoms that
DESTINATION RIO 73
patients describe as a condition of non-physical well- man. However, our inability to analyse performance
being from lack of sleep due to an alteration of the from an holistic viewpoint, if not very briefly, which is
so-called biological clock, synchronised with the Earths the performance itself !, leads us to make a series of
solar day under physiological conditions; which implies assessments that do not exclude one another, but ra-
a shift in the sleep-wake cycle (the ascending reticular ther offer the possibility to integrate as much data as
formation of the central nervous system and other cir- possible for a better diagnosis of acclimatisation.
cadian rhythms are involved, such as the production of
hormones, neurotransmitters and neuromodulators,
primarily serotonin, dopamine and gamma-amino-
butyric acid) in addition to enkephalins and endor-
phins. From the sports point of view, this may coincide
with a loss of capacity performance: a survey carried
out by the CONI Department of Psychology of the Insti-
tute of Sports Science and Medicine in 1997, involving
high-level Italian athletes from various sports federa-
tions, showed that approximately 80% of the athletes
suffered jetlag in the days following transoceanic fli-
ghts. Most (65%) of them believed that their perfor-
mance would not have been affected had the trip been
made at an earlier date. However, 31% believed that Figure n0. 1
their performance could have been adversely affected. THIS Figure shows some of the assessments that can be
Therefore, the task of the staff that will accompany the taken into account when examining acclimatisation.
Olympic athletes in their adventure, will be to provide
the best acclimatisation conditions, checking in advan- Acclimatisation control
ce the individual responses to the transoceanic expe- COGNITIVE ASPECTS
rience. PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS
HORMONAL ASPECTS
ACCLIMATISATION CONTROL IMMUNOLOGICAL ASPECTS
The ensemble of physiological changes that characte- NEUROVEGATIVE ASPECTS
rise acclimatisation is obviously aimed at improving BODY TEMPERATURE
living conditions and the ability to perform; the entity FOOD DISORDERS
of the process depends on numerous endogenous and HYDRATION
exogenous factors. A good acclimatisation to interme- BODY WEIGHT
diate situations is just a step towards acclimatisation QUALITY OF SLEEP
to the final condition, which may be liable in some ca- CLINICAL DISORDERS
ses, but not exactly to the case of Rio. Some of the bo-
dys responses to the above-mentioned environmen- hormonal rhythm
tal changes are immediate or short-term, others come Testosterone (T), DHEA-S (D) and cortisol (C) are consi-
about in days, if not weeks or months; in any case, the dered good markers of training stress and of the ba-
response rate also depends on individual characte- lance between anabolic (Testosterone and DHEA) and
ristics, in fact, the acclimatisation process should be catabolic (cortisol) processes, even when we know the
customised. There is a huge variability in individual re- circadian rhythm that characterises them. It is precisely
sponse and the acclimatisation process can be more or for this reason that some authors have also proposed
less rapid or complete in different individuals. the use of the measurement of the daily production
The acclimatisation process should be studied in its expressed as Area Under the Curve (AUC). In a study by
complexity and in its entirety, with respect to the in- Bernardi, carried out on saliva samples of Paralympics
volvement of the complex biological organism that is athletes before the Vancouver Olympics, they checked
74 DESTINATION RIO
the circadian rhythm of the hormo- of a sequence of beats using an exercise, the analysis of R-R varia-
nes in athletes with physical disa- electrocardiographic (ECG) device, bility has provided a non-invasive
bilities and highlighted the daily with normal surface electrodes tool for investigating the effects of
hormonal response to different that are applied at the level of the training on the autonomic control
stimuli (training, race, physiologi- heart: Nowadays some heart rate of heart rate in athletes under rest.
cal tests) compared to a day of rest: monitors are also capable of re- The spectral analysis in the short
the study highlighted the normal cording the HR beat for beat; the term appears more correct from
daily fluctuation of C T but not of D, second phase is the analysis of the the methodological point of view,
which also shows higher concen- collected data using various types as well as easier to implement, as
trations compared to normal range of software. One type of data analy- it evaluates the oscillations of the
values present in literature, in all sis provides the Power Spectrum heart rhythm in stationary condi-
of the conditions studied. Of all the that contains information essential tions of the signal, even if literature
parameters measured (C, T and D at to estimate the balance between reports work carried out on 24 hour
different times and days) and their Sympathetic and Parasympathetic recordings.The possible use of the
subsequent processing (ratio of T/C systems. Studies and research over seriate analysis of the R-R variabi-
and D/C concentration and AUC and the last 15 years have allowed us to lity as a diagnostic tool in respect
AUC ratio), only morning C has dif- distinguish three sub-frequency of the so-called syndrome of over-
ferences between the various days, bands of the spectrum analysis: training and in all those conditions
and can therefore be considered a in which there is a need for an eva-
sign of stress. 1) VLF (Very Low Frequency) fre- luation of the neurophysiological
heart rate variability quency range between 0.01 to 0.04 adaptations, conditions in which
Heart rate can be defined as the Hz. The VLF band is partially due one of the main pathophysiological
average number of heart beats per to the activity of the Sympathetic elements is precisely a persistent
minute; this number, for example, Nervous System and to changes alteration of the sympathovagal
70 bpm, it is only an average value, in temperature regulation. In a balance. In our own experience be-
because in reality, the time that psychological context it is also in- fore the Olympic Games in Beijing,
elapses between one heartbeat fluenced by worry and rumination; characterised by European athle-
and another, is not constant, but 2) LF (Low Frequency) frequencies tes as a challenging time zone,
continuously changes. Heart Rate between 12:04 and 00:15 Hz. The we used this tool, among others,
Variability is a method of statistical bandwidth of the LF is considered highlighting and analysing chan-
analysis of how and what are the mainly due to the activity of the ges in the sympathovagal system
changes in the time between one Sympathetic Nervous System, and responses. This provided us with
beat and the next. Statistical analy- the regulatory activity of the baro- information about the adaptation
sis of the data allows to obtain receptors; timing of each individual athlete
information on the condition of 3) HF (high frequency) frequencies rather than generalising it for the
the autonomic sympathetic and between 0.15 to 0.4 Hz. The HF band group.
parasympathetic nervous system. is considered an expression of the control state of hydration
The ability of the organism to chan- Parasympathetic Nervous System Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis
ge its balance toward one or the and the Vagal nerve. (BIA) is a non-invasive method that
other system is very important and allows to analyse body composition
is a fundamental mechanism that The relationship between the Sym- in seconds thanks to the detection
tends towards the dynamic equi- pathetic and Parasympathetic is, of the impedance, namely the re-
librium of the organism both from on the other hand, measured by the sistance opposed by the body op-
the physiological and psychological ratio of LF/HF. posite to the passage of an alterna-
point of view. The HRV is measured In addition to understanding the ting low frequency electric current.
in two phases: the first is the col- changes that occur in the autono- The current is conveyed by gel
lection of the data or the recording mic nervous system in the course of electrodes placed on the hand and
DESTINATION RIO 75
foot. A sinusoidal electric current, of the topological configuration of adaptations.
applied to living organisms, highli- the subject under consideration. In psychometric tests
ghts two biological structures of practice, BIA allows you to analyse There are several psychometric
different physical behaviour: changes in body hydration that are instruments for the evaluation
- Intra/extra-cellular fluids (ICW- immediately perceived through the of adaptive responses to stress
ECW) that act as resistive conduc- drastic reduction or the high incre- for assessing the state of mood.
tors; ase of the impedance. Therefore, POMS (profile of mood state) is
- Cell membranes that behave as as with the other methods descri- a method to identify and quan-
reactive conductors. bed above, measuring the state tify specific affective states.
of hydration is helpful in controls The analysis of 58 questions - there
The lean tissues are highly con- at short time intervals, in order to is an alternative version with fewer
ductive due to their high content monitor if weight loss is attribu- questions- leads to the definition
of water and electrolytes and op- table to the depletion of water or of six factors: Tension, Depression,
pose limited resistance to alter- fat mass. Anger, Vigour, Fatigue, Confusion.
nating electric current. The cell Clinical monitoring of sleep The trend of several factors, analy-
membrane, characterised by a Humans have a sort of built-in bio- sed through a numerical value of
non-conductive phospholipid bi- logical clock that affects some phy- synthesis (Total Mood Disturban-
layer, placed between two layers siological processes and that con- ce), allows to precisely frame the
of conductive protein molecules, ditions waking and sleeping hours. those mood adaptations in indivi-
makes the cells reactive elements The operation of this clock corre- duals to different stimuli.
that behave as capacitors when an sponds to the circadian cycle (from
electric current is applied to them. the Latin diem = circa one day), that A DECALOGUE FOR
Testing on humans has shown the through the action of chemical and OPTIMUM ACCLIMATISATION
insignificance of parameter re- neural messengers, regulates the Science must help people to live
actance and especially its uncer- organic processes that occur every better and sports science must
tain biological and clinical signifi- day in our body; digestion, urina- help athletes to train better but
cance (Consensus Conference on tion, evacuation, growth and cell also to live better. Therefore, all
BIA, NIH 1994). Impedance and pha- turnover are but a few examples. the considerations that have been
se angle are the only parameters A regular sleep-wake cycle is the made so far must be translated
that define the behaviour of the most restful, however, it appears into a message that can be ap-
human body to the passage of the that personal psychological cha- plied. To conclude this brief review,
current, and this takes place with racteristics somehow determine here is a Decalogue of rules and
excellent reproducibility in various the need for sleep. suggestions dictated by scientific
pathophysiological conditions. Monitoring the quality and quantity considerations on acclimatisation,
Impedance and phase angle thus of sleep with a simple self-compi- in part to be interpreted with com-
represent universal parameters led questionnaire can be a simple mon sense, in part to be carefully
applicable to humans regardless and effective method to monitor monitored.
Courtesy of EWF
76 DESTINATION RIO
ESSENTIAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. AA.VV., Salute: dizionario me- 5. Dollins AB1, Zhdanova IV, olympic pre-event. I World Confe-
dico, in collaborazione con Fon- Wurtman RJ, Lynch HJ, Deng rence of Science in Triathlon 24-26
dazione Umberto Veronesi, RCS MH. Effect of inducing nocturnal march 2011 Alicante, Spain. Poster
Quotidiani, 2005, pp. 29-30 serum melatonin concentrations
in daytime on sleep, mood, body 8. Gold, John Robert; Gold, Marga-
2. Arthur C. Guyton: Trattato di temperature, and performance. ret M. Olympic cities : city agendas,
Fisiologia; 1987 Piccin Editore; Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1994 planning and the worlds games,
ISBN 88-299-0341-8 Mar 1;91(5):1824-8. 1896-2012 / edited by John R. Gold
and Margaret M. Gold. London ;
3. Clin J Sport Med. 2012 Jan; 6. Faina M, Dalla Vedova D, Maldi- New York : Routledge, 2007
22(1):26-30. Physical fitness fassi S, Gianfelici A. The contribu-
evaluation of paralympic winter tion of the Italian Sport Sciences 9. KJ Ellis, SJ Bell, GM Chertow, WC
sports sitting athletes. Bernardi M, Institute in the preparation to Chumlea, TA Knox Bioelectrical
Carucci S, Faiola F, Egidi F, Marini the Vancouver Olympic Games. impedance methods in clinical
C, Castellano V, Faina M. Mountain, Sport & Health III research: a follow-up to the NIH
International Congress - 12-14th Technology Assessment Conferen-
4. Curran SL, Andrykowski MA, November 2009, Rovereto (TN) ce. Nutrition, 1994 Elsevier
Studts JL Short Form of th e Pro- Italy. Book of abstract. pg 63
file o f Moo d States (POMS-SF) : 10. Piccoli A Bioelectric impedan-
Psychometric Information Psycho- 7. Gianfelici A, Tamburri R, Cirami I, ce measurement for fluid status
logical Assessment 1995, Vol.7. No. Faina M. Cardiac autonomic modu- assessment. Contrib Nephrol.
1,80-83 lation in olympic triathletes before 2010;164:143-52.
DESTINATION RIO 77
11. Pollock, Vicki; Cho, Dong
W.; Reker, Dean; Volavka,
JAN (1979). Profile of Mood
States: the Factors and Their
Physiological Correlates. The
Journal of Nervous and Men- Dr. Antonio Gianfelici
tal Disease 167 (10): 6124 A. Venerando Institute of
Sports Sciences and Medicine
12. Zeppilli P. Cardiologia dello CONI (Italian National Olympic
Sport CESI, Roma, 2015
Committee), Rome, Italy
13. Zeppilli P., Picani C., Cor- Italian Weightlifting Federation,
setti R., Angelucci A., Gianfe- Rome, Italy
lici A., Pagliaricci C., Vanni- Dr Antonio Gianfelici
celli R., Palmieri V., Santini A. Venerando Institute of
C., Mainardi L. e Cerutti S. Sports Sciences and Medicine
Sympathovagal modulation CONI (Italian National Olympic
in athletes assessed by power Committee), Rome, Italy
spectrum analysis of heart rate Italian Weightlifting Federation,
variability. Giornale Italiano di Rome, Italy
Cardiologia 1998; 28 (suppl.
1): 529-532
78
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results, conclusions and practical applications In this section, information may be included of Units (SI). Exceptions allowed: heart rate:
arising from the work presented. regarding identification of funding sources, beats per minute; blood pressure: mm Hg;
4. Text updated contact information of the Author gas pressure: mm Hg. The Authors may refer
and acknowledgements to others involved in to the British Medical Journal (1: 1334-1336,
The text must be composed, as a rule, of the the execution of the experiment, if it was an ex- 1978) and the Annals of Internal Medicine
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A. Introduction. This section is a careful de- of interest. In particular, the Authors should: measurement, please place the multiplication
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quired in the Methods sections in the following ton (N); distance: metres (m), kilometre (km);
order: Experimental approach to the problem, 7. Figures
temperature: degree Celsius ( C); energy, heat,
where the Author or Authors of the study show The legends of the figures should be submit- work: joule (J) or kilojoules (kJ); power: watt
that the approach can prove the hypotheses de- ted on separate pages, and each figure should (W); time: Newton per meter (N m); Fre-
veloped in the introduction, and can offer some appear on a separate page. Each work should quency: hertz (Hz); pressure: Pascal (Pa); time:
basic principles for the choices made regarding be accompanied by a set of figures. Electronic second (s), minutes (min), hours (h); volume:
the independent and dependent variables used photographs copied and pasted in Word and litre (l), millilitre (ml); and the quantity of a
in the study; Subjects, where the Authors in- PowerPoint will not be accepted. The images particular substance: moles (mol), millimoles
sert the approval of their project by the control must be scanned at a minimum of 300 pixels (mmol).
bodies, if any, and the appropriate informed per inch (ppi). The Line art should be scanned
consent obtained. All the characteristics of the at 1200 ppi. Please specify the file format of the Conversion factors selected:
subjects that are not dependent variables of graphs. TIFF or EPS formats will be accepted 1 N = 0.102 kg (force);
the study are to be included in this section and for both Macintosh and PC platforms. We also
not in the Results; Procedures includes the accept image files in the following native appli- 1J = 1 N m = 0.000239 kcal = 0.102 kg m;
methods used, bearing in mind the concept of cation file formats:
the possibility of a replication of the study; 1 kj = 1000 N m = 0.239 kcal = 102 kg m;
Statistical Analysis, is the section that clearly Adobe Photoshop (.psd) 1 W = 1 J s-1 = 6.118 kg m min.
states the statistical approach to the analysis of Illustrator (.ai)
the series or of the data series. It is important When using the nomenclature for the types of
to include the level of significance (e.g., P PowerPoint (.ppt) muscle fibres, please use the following terms.
0.05). Authors are requested to include in the The types of muscle fibres can be identified us-
paper the statistical power for the size and re- QuarkXPress (.qxd) ing the methods of histochemical classification
liability of the measures used with intra-class If a digital camera is used to take pictures for or by gel electrophoresis. The histochemical
correlation coefficient (ICC). Additional subti- printing, maximum resolution with less com- staining of the ATPase is used to separate the
tles may be used, but their number must be as pression must be set. As digital camera man- fibres in the forms of type I (slow-twitch), type
limited as possible. ufacturers use terms and different file formats IIa (fast-twitch) and type IIb (fast-twitch). The
for capturing high-resolution images, please work of Smerdu et al. (AJP 267: C1723, 1994)
C. Results. The results of the study are present- indicates that the fibres contain the type IIb
ed in this section. The most important findings refer to the manual of the actual camera used
for more information. myosin heavy chain type IIx (typing fibres by
must be presented in the form of tables and fig- gel electrophoresis). To meet the need for con-
ures and the less important should be included Layout. Ensure that all figures and tables have tinuity and to reduce confusion on this point,
in the text itself. Do not insert data that are not been mentioned in the text. Indications must it is recommended that the Authors use IIx to
part of the experimental project or have been be given as to their position between para- indicate what were called IIb fibres (Smerdu V,
already published. graphs, for example: Figure 1 is to be inserted Karsch-Mizrachi I, Champion M, Leinwand L,
D. Discussion. In this section, the results of the at this point, or the Table 1 in the latter; etc. and S. Schiaffino , Type IIx myosin heavy chain
study are elaborated. They must be related to transcripts are expressed in type IIb fibers of
the literature that currently exists; all hypothe- human skeletal muscle. Am J Physiol 267 (6 Pt
ses therefore must be covered. 1): C1723-1728, 1994).
80
ABSTRACTS
S
panish resumenes
MS ALL DEL ENTRENAMIENTO AUMENTAR AL MXIMO EL RENDI- biodiversidad humana en el mbito del deporte.
COMPLEJIDAD Y DEPORTE MIENTO DEPORTIVO: OBSERVACIONES Resulta muy significativa y original la referen-
Fabio Bagarello, Francesco Gargano, Francesco SOBRE LA PERIODIZACIN Y SOBRE LA cia a la madre como la primera entrenadora de
Oliveri, Salvatore Spagnolo VARIACIN DE LA CARGA nuestra vida. Los conceptos de composicin
SM (ing.), n. 3, ao II, enero-abril de 2016, pgs. Jay R. Hoffman corporal y sarcopenia tambin se presentan
Se trata de una interesante presentacin del SM (ing.), n. 3, ao II, enero-abril de 2016, pgs. como trastornos que han de afrontarse en las
mundo de la complejidad y de su teora, aplica- fases ms avanzadas de la vida.
da al sistema del deporte. Los autores describen, Si bien se acepta que las estrategias de periodi-
a grandes rasgos, la teora de la complejidad zacin son cruciales para aumentar al mximo
en cuestin y sus fundamentos, y reflexionan el rendimiento deportivo, el debate sobre qu LOS RECIENTES AVANCES REALIZADOS
sobre la posibilidad y el significado de aplicar modelo de periodizacin es el ms idneo sigue CON RESPECTO A LOS MTODOS DE
modelos matemticos al deporte. Los autores abierto. Ello se ver influido sin duda por las DIAGNSTICO POR LA IMAGEN DE LA
se detienen en algunas conclusiones interesan- necesidades de entrenamiento del deportista, EVALUACIN BIOMTRICA POSTURAL:
tes sobre la posibilidad de comprender mucho el grado de experiencia del mismo, la duracin SPINALMETER, CERVICALMETER Y LA
mejor al deportista que en el pasado, mediante del programa de entrenamiento y la frecuencia PLATAFORMA BAROPODOMTRICA
la complejidad. de entrenamiento utilizada. Parece que la incor- Stefano Sabatini
poracin del entrenamiento olmpico y balstico SM (ing.), n 3, ao II, enero-abril de 2016, pgs.
para los deportistas de fuerza y potencia expe- El autor presenta tres dispositivos mdicos, ges-
UN ENFOQUE DISTINTO? PENSAR DE rimentados y entrenados para aumentar su re- tionados por un nico programa informtico,
MANERA NO CONVENCIONAL sistencia influye de forma significativa en estas para la evaluacin biomtrica postural, es decir,
Remco Eenink dos competencias. La inclusin de estos ejerci- para la evaluacin de los desequilibrios muscu-
SM (ing.), n. 3, ao II, enero-abril de 2016, pgs. cios durante ciclos especficos de entrenamiento lares de la columna vertebral (paramorfismos y
Al autor se centra en la necesidad de com- puede aumentar de forma notable la adaptacin dimorfismos estructurales), para la evaluacin
prender completamente las modalidades del al entrenamiento. especfica del raquis cervical y para el estudio
crecimiento concreto del rendimiento en las del apoyo plantar.
especialidades del levantamiento de pesas y
hace consideraciones interesantes sobre el de- MS ALL DEL ENTRENAMIENTO (SE-
sarrollo de la tcnica y sobre el entrenamiento GUNDA PARTE). CUERPO. MOVIMIEN- DOPAJE Y DOPAJE GENTICO: UN PLAN-
para aumentar la fuerza muscular que ha de ca- TO. Y CUERPO EN MOVIMIENTO. O SEA. TEAMIENTO TICO
racterizar el crecimiento del deportista. Es espe- INSTRUMENTO. MEDIO. Y FIN. Sofia A. Matsagkou
cialmente original la reflexin sobre la frmula Alberto Andorlini SM (ing.), n 3, ao II, enero-abril de 2016, pgs.
del talento. SM (ing.), n. 3, ao II, enero-abril de 2016, pgs. En qu momento sera oportuno plantear la
cuestin tica? Por qu motivo debera influir
Cuerpo. Movimiento. Y cuerpo en movi- este criterio en nuestras decisiones y de qu for-
DESTINO RO. ACLIMATACIN: miento. O sea. Instrumento. Medio. Y Fin es ma pueden considerarse estas el resultado de una
ASPECTOS GENERALEs la segunda aportacin multidisciplinaria de la reflexin tica? Las preocupaciones que se expo-
Antonio Gianfelici serie. Un primer paso, para definir una nueva nen a continuacin surgen de las cuestiones re-
SM (ing.), n. 3, ao II, enero-abril de 2016, pgs. metodologa de intervencin en el mbito del lacionadas con la interferencia de tales prcticas
El autor, con vistas a analizar atentamente los entrenamiento del movimiento. Nuestra diser- con la salud de los deportistas y con la limitacin
Juegos de Ro de 2016, ha compilado numero- tacin comenz en el nmero anterior de la re- de su autonoma y libertad, la falta de equidad,
sas noticias y reflexiones interesantes sobre las vista cientfica EWF. En el presente nmero, se as como el hecho que el dopaje farmacolgico se
condiciones meteorolgicas de las sedes de los aborda un eje de referencia (del cuerpo al movi- aleja del objetivo de la prctica deportiva, de los
Juegos; la diferencia de huso horario; el jet lag; miento hasta el cuerpo en movimiento) que re- ideales del deporte y de los principios olmpicos.
y el seguimiento de la aclimatacin a travs del presenta el comps con el que orientar las con- Adems, la cuestin del dopaje gentico nos con-
ritmo hormonal, la variabilidad de la frecuencia sideraciones y estimular anlisis ms detallados cierne porque llama la atencin sobre problemas
cardiaca, el control del estado de hidratacin, el (captulo 3); se aborda un gramtica elemental de gran envergadura, como la alteracin perma-
seguimiento clnico del sueo y las pruebas psi- encaminada a proporcionar los instrumentos nente de la especie humana, por ejemplo. Gracias
comtricas. Resulta de gran utilidad el declogo necesarios para descodificar cualquier compo- a nuestro breve recorrido en el mbito de la ti-
final para conseguir la mejor aclimatacin. sicin motora (captulo 4); y por ltimo, se de- ca, hemos creado una Repblica de los ideales
fine un modelo metodolgico y operativo que deportivos con la que se trata de demostrar la
posibilite el rendimiento (captulo 5). El ren- importancia de adoptar un comportamiento co-
LA ENFERMEDAD DE OSGGOD- dimiento (ordinario y extraordinario) que no rrecto y los resultados que con ello se obtienen.
SCHLATTER EN LA PRCTICA DE LA puede limitarse a un nico instante, una nica Es comprensible que estas cuestiones ticas sus-
HALTEROFILIA sesin de entrenamiento, un nico momento o citen inters; la utilizacin del dopaje farmacol-
Antonio Urso, Nicola Voglino una nica ejecucin, sino que ha de extenderse gico y gentico no se considera tica porque con
SM (ing.), n. 3, ao II, enero-abril de 2016, pgs. a todos los movimientos y... a todos los elemen- ello se violan o se anulan numerosos principios
Los autores exponen las caractersticas de un tos que estos tienen en comn. (la eficacia, la colectividad, el deber moral hacia
trastorno inflamatorio que interesa la insercin s mismo y el derecho a la salud) y valores in-
del tendn rotuliano en la tibia y que aqueja a trnsecos (la naturaleza y el valor y la dignidad
los jvenes que practican especialidades depor- A MEDIDA DE HOMBRE de las personas). Todos estos principios y valo-
tivas que conllevan la extensin bajo tensin del Menotti Calvani res deberan aportar un significado concreto a la
cudriceps. Se debaten las causas de la enferme- SM (ing.), n. 3, ao II, enero-abril de 2016, pgs. propia esencia del deporte y del deporte de lite;
dad, su patogenia y la sintomatologa asociada, El autor introduce el concepto de constitucin asimismo, deberan formar parte integrante del
as como el posible tratamiento y el pronstico, y, con una digresin histrica, trata de vincular proceso formativo que se ofrece a los equipos y
que casi siempre es benigno. el concepto a la necesidad de definir tambin la a los deportistas individuales.
ABSTRACTS
ussian

Fabio Bagarello, Francesco Gargano, Francesco .
Oliveri, Salvatore Spagnolo Jay R. Hoffman
.

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? Stefano Sabatini
per-
Remco Eenink formance ( )
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. . : ,
: Sofia A. Matsagkou
Alberto Andorlini
Antonio Gianfelici . . . ?
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2016 ,
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, Jet .
Lag (
), EWF Scien- ,
, tific Magazine. ,

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Antonio Urso, Nicola Voglino

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Menotti Calvani ;

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Ewfsm n3

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The official journal of the European Weightlifting Federation - N 3 / January-April 2016

4 STRENGTH & CONDITIONING FOR A SCIENCE OF HUMAN

12 RECENT ADVANCES IN THE IMAGING OF BIOMETRIC

20 A DIFFERENT APPROACH THINKING OUT OF THE BOX

48 WHEN SIZE REALLY MATTERS

ZIn the past half-century a number Nonlinear Periodization

of studies have examined how ma-

maximize strength gains (Berger,

lume are altered within a training

1997; Kraemer et al., 2003; Marx et

to as the traditional model of pe-

References 14. Hoffman JR, Ratamess NA, Cooper JJ, Kang J,

DR. JAY HOFFMAN

and calculates the contours of the

In the forward bending position,

This objective exam replaces the

RADIATION FREE projects CONCLUSIONS

Is there such a system? If so, what would such a

56 1.52 292 292 292 289 296 292 7.9

AD STATISTICS: As we see in the examples above Example 1

4 Seated dumbbell front deltoid raise to vertical position (one arm);

8 Dumbbell shoulder shrug (two arms);

Special training phase 14 Legs adductor on machine;

Although it is also possible not to

Ad Coordination II phase: K II A morning

Ad pre competition phase: CP afternoon 15 20 sets of 1 rep

Three days after the last training day the com-

Does this system work?

This article is a tribute to my former German trai- Remco Eenink

tions relative to the capacity target motion is not ordinary or extraor-

staircases represent the positions, the many alternati-

A FOURTH STEP AHEAD. TRAINING IS REHAB AND REHAB

10,000 words ago. the upper half of the system).

In the infinite expansion of motor

the first leads people to perform

AN IDEA AS OLD AS TIME.

Osgood-Schlatter disease is an athletes engaged in running or

inflammatory medical condition jumping. However, observation of

The aim of treatment is to reduce pain and return

Treatment of Osgood-Schlatter disease includes:

Reducing sports activity. It is almost never ne-

1. Pommering TL, Luchurosky L.

2. Krause BL, Williams JP, Catterall

3. Weiss JM, Jordan SS, Andersen

4. Demirag B, Ozturk C, Yazici Z,

A certificate of good health is re- be the measurements of a healthy

sic value2. Sports possess an intrinsic value, since they

philosopher of complexity, Edgar ved in sport: biomechanical aspects,

Morin [13], Science can detect local metabolic aspects, environmen-

Bibliography and webliography

2. Complessit e modelli, C. S. Bertuglia, F. Vaio, Bollati Boringhieri (2011)

3. Non linearit, caos e complessit, C. S. Bertuglia, F. Vaio, Bollati Boringhieri (2007)

4. La complessit in medicina, P. Bellavite, Tecniche Nuove (2009)

5. Caso, probabilit e complessit, A. Vulpiani, Ediesse (2014)

6. Proceedings SERIF 2009, L. Rondoni

7. The Algorithmic Beauty of Plants, P. Prusinkiewicz, A. Lindenmayer, Springer-Verlag, (1990)

8. A phenomenological operator description of dynamics of crowds: Escape strategies, F. Bagarello, F. Garga-

15. Fondamenti di reti neurali, T. Khanna, Pearson (1991)

Organising a number of impor- one location to another. The various

tant sporting events in cities and websites providing information

foot. A sinusoidal electric current, of the topological configuration of adaptations.

PREPARATION OF MANUSCRIPTS It is recommended that statements such as 8. Tables

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