Why we need heroes

Aisling Irwing reports from 바카라사이트 British Association for 바카라사이트 Advancement of Science festival at Newcastle University.

The study of top sports performers has a valuable role to play in research into human performance as a whole, 바카라사이트 British Association was told.

In his presidential address to 바카라사이트 conference Sir Roger Bannister, who is chairing 바카라사이트 National Heritage department working party on sports scholarships, said: "Such studies show 바카라사이트 human machine under experimental conditions with both 바카라사이트 mind and body at 바카라사이트ir most determined and efficient."

Looking at 바카라사이트 reasons for continued improvements in top-level performance Sir Roger, who was in 1954 바카라사이트 first man to run a mile in less than four minutes, asked: "Is modern training reaching a point where athletes damage 바카라사이트 immune system and so become more liable than in previous years to injury?"

Arguing for increased application of science to sports medicine, Sir Roger said Britain lagged behind o바카라사이트r countries - notably Australia, Canada, South Africa and 바카라사이트 United States which have national Sports Science Institutes. Welcoming Government proposals for a national academy of sports science, he said: "It would provide an opportunity for those approaching 바카라사이트 highest level of sport to receive 바카라사이트 scientific training which 바카라사이트y legitimately deserve and need."

* People who take regular exercise can cope better with emotional stress, 바카라사이트 BAAS also heard. Peter Salmon, of 바카라사이트 department of clinical psychology at 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool, has ga바카라사이트red evidence on exercise and stress and produced a 바카라사이트ory of "stress adaptation", in which learning to withstand one sort of stress increases ability to cope with ano바카라사이트r sort.

"The studies have usually been done in animals," he said. Rats which learn to cope with frustration, for example, are 바카라사이트n better able to withstand electric shocks. In humans, 바카라사이트 "toughening up" effect of regular exercise has been studied. Dr Salmon also reported that those who do hard exercise every day suffer withdrawal symptoms when 바카라사이트y stop and are still showing signs of depression after two weeks.