Research

The Australian Institute of Sport Physiology Department conducts scientific research on enhancing both individual and team sporting performance.

Research focus:

  • Establishing the physiological and performance demands of competition.
  • Monitoring training-induced changes in fitness and performance.
  • Assessing the acute and chronic effects of exercise and training on haematological, biochemical and immune systems.
  • Developing new methods and technologies for monitoring athletes in the laboratory and field
  • Evaluating the effects of training, dietary and recovery interventions.
  • Studying the effects of various environmental stresses including heat and altitude on performance.

Current or proposed areas of investigation:

  • Physiological characteristics of elite athletes involved in individual (e.g. cycling, swimming, rowing, track and field) and team sports (e.g. cricket, rugby union, soccer, basketball, water polo).
  • Effects of acute and chronic exercise on the function of the human immune system and the effects of illness on competitive performance .
  • Various mechanisms of cooling and performance enhancement when exercising in the heat.
  • Recovery strategies for training and competition to limiting fatigue and maintain competitive performance.
  • Strategies to optimise performance through tapering and minimising the detraining effect during periods of reduced training.
  • Using simulated or terrestrial altitude to improve sea level performance.
  • Establishing references values for interpreting routine fitness tests for team and individual sports.
  • Strategies to optimise strength and power development in athletes.
  • Validating various methods of monitoring changes in body composition of elite athletes.
  • Training interventions to improve physiological capacities and performance of highly trained middle-distance runners.
  • Development of miniature movement sensors to quantify patterns of activity in the field.
  • Strategies for managing body mass changes in athletes in weight-restricted sports.

Further information:

More information on research undertaken in the sports physiology area, research publications co-authored by Department of Physiology staff, or by other AIS staff can be found by following the related link located at the bottom of the page to the National Sports Information Centre.

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