Here is an excerpt from the article:

 

"We often rely on self-report as a means of quantifying the outcome. In the diagram, you are looking at the pain responses of 321 young adults to a heat stimulus of 48 degrees celsius (Fillingim 2017). The range runs from ratings of 4/100 to 100/100, meaning that, at that point in time, one person is going to be in agony in response to that heat, whereas another person is unlikely to even flinch.

 

This variation is important to consider, especially as we begin to look at it through a biopsychosocial lens. For example, if we take catechol-O-methyl-transferase (COMT), an enzyme responsible for catecholamine metabolism, we know that genetic variants modify one’s pain sensitivity, and the likelihood of them developing chronic pain (George 2008). That’s our biological component. However, there are also gene X psychology interactions, meaning that when one has low COMT activity, which would be expected to lead to higher levels of pain, that is further modified by one’s psychological state. The people who have low COMT activity and high levels of catastrophising are likely to have higher levels of pain than those who display neither, or just one, of those features (George 2008). Therefore, the biological and psychological factors are acting together to determine the outcome."

John had a testing week this week at the end of his second phase of programming. He is an Ultimate Frisbee athlete and hence I (Gary) wanted to get an idea of where certain metrics of gym performance are currently, so that we can make more effective decisions going forward.

 

We did some rep max tests (3-5RM) on squats (100kg x 5), bench press (90kg x 3), and deadlifts (135kg x 3), and also carried out a Cooper's Test to gauge aerobic capacity specific to running. John achieved 2650m on the Cooper's Test, which is something we hope to now increase to >2800m over the next 12 weeks. By having some measurements/markers of performance, we can ensure that our programming is really serving its purpose.

 

However, while such measurements may be proxies of programme effectiveness, the ultimate end outcome that we care about is better pitch performance, so that is always a key focal point, even in online coaching.

 

 

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The resources listed are simply resources that are likely to be educational and thought-provoking. It does not mean that we endorse every point made by any of the authors listed in either this newsletter or any of those to follow.

 

Book: 1984 - George Orwell