I have to write a research paper for a Physiological Kinesology class. The paper has to be fitness related obv. The options for topic are very broad so i was hoping you guy could give me some good ideas.

so topics i've been thinking about:
vibration training
full body workouts vs. isolation training
the effects of sleep on general fitness

so there are some starting points i appreciate all ideas and thanks in advance.

effects of certain programs/exercises/intensity levels (% 1RM) on vertical jump, speed whatever else.
perhaps research something that doesn't deal with novices, like intermediate or advanced weightlifters/athletes.

The sleep one would be interesting.

no more ideas? come on guys i know y'all can do better then that

keys, i was thinking about doing something about advanced athletes however, something about the general population would be good to. maybe something about the correlation between fitness and health costs in a country with socialized medicine. or something about PE in public schools.

anymore ideas would be much appreciated.

average length of linear progress in novices and strength gains in that period.
how about something related to overtraining, like type of exercise, volume, intensity levels and their effect.

post workout nutrition...since everything thinks it's essential when it most likely isn't...

Tilt.

Lol...well it IS overrated.

I think Post-Workout nutrition might extend the scope of this paper....plus it would be pretty difficult to write properly.

Vibration training has had some pretty interesting science behind it...I like that idea.

And why wouldn't you think that PWO nutrition is important? what's your reasoning for this, or is it just an assumption...


Talk about HIIT (good) cardio vs long drawn out slow (crappy) cardio.

Or another good one is the effects that cortisol has with losing/gaining weight and losing/gaining muscle through exercise...

Here's a few simple topics:

1. How drinking water is essential in preventing illness and disease.

2. Why bouncing is a detrimental form of stretching muscles.

3. Why high carb eating before certain types of sports competitions is beneficial for achieving maximum energy bursts.

4. Why proper ergonomics is important in the prevention of muscle strain.

5. Why tai chi is a form of movement meditation that aids in stress reduction.

6. When to seek help from a sports trainer.

thanks guy you have given me a lot to think about.

n4rf, i like the idea of good cardio vs. bad cardio. could you explain what HIT is i've heard it around this forum but have never actually looked up what it is.

PWO nutrition seems a little boring to me but could be interesting. i think that eating right after a good work should be done regardless if it creates an optimal situation for gains. i really don't think it would be detrimental. of course it depends on what you are actually eating at the time which is where the controversy probably lies if any.

Splendour, those are some interesting topics. I like the Tia Chi idea it made be think of a broader topic of the correlation between mental health and physical health and fitness.

Also, bouncing while stretching is not necessarily always bad. i would never have a novice or my 80 year old grandmother do it, but i can think of a few sports where it could actually be helpful. for example short distance hurdling the bouncing of the stretch would help their legs get used to rapid contraction in the ends of their ROM like when they are coming over the hurdle. so maybe i could do something with that topic like myths and rules of thumb when it comes to working out when they apply and when they don't.

thanks for the ideas everybody keep'um coming i have to have a topic by the 12th so lets keep this going.

HIIT is High Intensity Interval Training; for example, when applied to cardio you might jog for 30 seconds, run for 30 seconds, jog for 30 seconds, run for 30 seconds, etc. It's a very tough cardio workout if done properly and the time taken does not need to be any longer than 15 minutes.

I've felt like I had to throw up after this many times, it KILLS you. But it really is one of the BEST and most effective ways of doing cardio. Also if you hate doing long boring ass cardio such as myself, this is perfect.

Here's some more on it: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bbinfo.php?page=HIIT

ok i see now. i used to do this on a stationary bike and i think i threw up on more then one occasion i just didn't know the name, we called it 5 mins of hell.

what about something to do with electromyography (emg)?

Postpradial effect of diet sodas on insulin, leptin, blood sugar, lipogenesis, etc

Ive just read that GH doesn't peak til about an hour / hour and half after heavy lifting, so why would you want to slam down a ton of sugar and protein post work out effectively spiking insulin and squashing any remaining GH surge... and from personal experience as well as other testimonials, it seems like protein shakes and mixes are only good for getting the companies rich, and keeping you fat....

So it'd be fun to design a research study with 100 people, all with before pics, put them on a heavy lifting routine eating the exact same thing, lifting the same program, sleeping the same amount, and in one group you added PWO shakes....I don't think the gains would be any different, and I think the non-PWO group would look better than the other group...

It makes me despair every time I get sick when I think that you're going to be a doctor and you think this is "research".

what would you prefer

I think AZK's experiment seems fine but I disagree with his hypothesis a lot. Based on my own experience, going from nothing to whey PWO was a big jump, as was going from whey to Surge. Also look around your gym. Everyone is doing the wrong exercises and the wrong reps, sure, but you can also guess who is and isn't eating "correctly" PWO.

I'd have to think everyone on T-nation is downing Surge or some type of sugar/protein immediately PWO if not pre, peri, and post, and while everyone on T-nation is not an adonis, there are some great bodies on there that live and die by solid PWO nutrition. Obviously something like Surge is a little more expensive than homemade, so it's not like Biotest is completely for the consumer, but the difference between chocolate milk (which lots of people have) and Surge isn't that great.

If you're fat and your gains are stagnant, it certainly isn't because of something like Surge (IMO).

You honestly think that in untrained individuals there is any chance of pulling out a statistically significant difference using optimal peri-workout nutrition?

I wouldn't blink if they put people on 300mg of Winny a week for 8 weeks with untrained individuals and it showed up as inconclusive by scientific standards.

I think a much better study would involve stagnated advanced lifters who would add peri-workout nutrition (which would also force better overall nutrition), though finding a significant sample would be mind bogglingly tough.

Ha, I wish pwo was unneccesary. And azk isn't the first to question its efficacy or its cash-churning nature.

Anyway, one more vote for the effect of diet sodas on insulin, leptin, blood sugar, lipogenesis. Pubmed has nothing substantial on human subjects.

OK fair enough, I suppose I should clarify - non-advanced lifters (read: 99% of the population, you and me included) do not need PWO, there are plenty of good enough programs that if they eat enough and right, and they sleep and rest, and reduce stress, and keep their intensity at a maximum and really train hard, the shake is meaningless.

I still think if you are trying to reach that 10% or lower BF level, it's never going to happen if you keep slamming the shakes. Everyone's body is different and responds differently to liquid food, mine doesn't respond well. I gain weight and get fat, people that have body types like me have found similar results, people that can't put on weight for the life of them, the benefit of the shake is extra calories that they can slam down more so than nutrient timing....imho...

I also think that if you looked at the % of people that consume whey shakes and what not, a large majority fall into the category of not needing it...i.e. their primary goal while they might not admit it, is to lose body fat %...

AZK,

Yeah, and I think you're borderline tardo for believing that. But I'm sure you're okay with that. I think you're kinda off your rocker wrt nutrition though.

I know, buy my goals with nutrition are not big muscles...it's reduced wear and tear on my body so that I can hopefully live longer and suffer from less chronic conditions that plague us today...big muscles is a distant 2nd...