Sound Medicine -- March 16, 2002

Barbara Lewis and Dr. Mike Koch talk to physicians and researchers about:

Sports training with biometrics & plyometrics

Blood doping in athletics

The dangers of nighttime heartburn

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Sports training with biometrics & plyometrics

American athletes competing in the 2002 Winter Olympics brought home a record number of medals, proving that hard work pays off. But for many of these athletes the training regimen is unconventional. Figure skaters spend hours tossing around 10-pound medicine balls, skiers jump up and down 3-foot platforms, and bobsledders sprint while shuffling their feet on the ground. This sport-specific training is based on biomechanics, or movement pattern training, and the exercises are "plyometrics."

Paul Knipscheer is head strength and conditioning coach for IUPUI athletics and fitness and instructor at the National Institute for Fitness and Sport (NIFS). He explains these new techniques that have athletes focus on specific tasks their bodies perform to build stamina, strength, and speed.

Resources

The Athletic Advisor provides detailed description of plyomterics with exercise suggestions.

Learn more about athlete training at the National Institute for Fitness and Sport (NIFS) Web site.

Paul Knipscheer recommends these books:
Jumping into Plyometrics by Dr. Donald Chu,
High-Powered Plyometrics by James C. Radcliffe and Robert C. Farentinos,
Essentials for Strength Training and Conditioning edited by Thomas R. Baechle and Roger W. Earle, published by the National Strength and Conditioning Association

Blood doping in athletics

Often, along with the agony of defeat and the thrill of victory in sports goes the humiliation of getting caught cheating. The world witnessed this shame during the winter Olympics last month when several athletes were disqualified and even forced to surrender gold medals when they tested positive for performance enhancing drugs.

Dr. Larry Bowers is senior managing director of the United States Anti-Doping Agency in Colorado Springs and was selected by the International Olympic Committee to head the drug testing effort for the 2002 winter games. Dr. Bowers explains blood doping, including the use of recombinant erythropoietin or EPO. He discusses other performance enhancing compounds in a variety of sports and methods used in blood & urine testing.

Bowers formerly headed the Indiana University School of Medicine Athletic Drug Testing and Toxicology Lab.

Resources

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) Web site lists athletes and their drug test results, the long list of banned substances, and information about the anti-doping organization and the Olympics.

What do you know about the substances that can stop an Olympian from winning a medal? Take the Doping 101 quiz.

The dangers of nighttime heart burn

Over a quarter million people in the Indianapolis area spend nights battling the pain and discomfort of nighttime heartburn, according to a recent survey conducted by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA). While heartburn, also called acid reflux, affects nearly 350,000 area residents, the 65% who suffer during the wee hours of the night are especially at risk for serious medical problems, ranging from sleep deprivation to esophageal cancer.

We talk about the study with Dr. Glen Lehman, professor of medicine and radiology at the IU School of Medicine.

Resources

Visit the Mayo Clinic Web for a thorough summary of consumer information on heartburn. Also, learn when you need to seek medical attention for heartburn.

Upcoming topics:
Helping children with type I diabetes.

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a. A new radiology technique that produces extra sharp images,
b. A blood test that quickly identifies certain proteins,
c. Having children draw pictures, or
d. A new checklist of symptoms that better fits children.

What's the answer?

Find out!

• persistent sore throat
• hoarseness
• chronic cough
• asthma
• heart-like chest pain
• a feeling of a lump in the throat

Lifestyle modification tips for controlling heartburn include --

• Do not lie down for three hours after eating.
• Avoid foods and beverages such as fried or fatty foods, chocolate, coffee, carbonated beverages, citrus fruits, tomato products and alcoholic beverages .
• Decrease the size of meal portions.
• Avoid tight-fitting clothing.
• If overweight, lose weight.
• Stop or decrease smoking.

Source: The American Gastroenterological Association