Training & Performance
ArchiveThe sports hernia — a nasty tear in the muscles of the lower abdomen — can debilitate athletes for months. But a new, minimally invasive surgery could get you back in the game in as little as a third of the time of traditional treatment. A…
You survive a plane crash in the Amazon? Who cares! What's far more likely to go wrong during an international journey is injuries and illnesses that would be easy to manage close to home but are much trickier on the far side of paradise. Here are seven frequent scenarios and how to handle them.
In the near future, going out for a sports team may require more than just a basic physical exam, especially for young people with a family history of cardiovascular abnormalities. In response to growing concern involving sudden cardiac death in young athletes, a study conducted by the Massachusetts General…
Gene manipulation to enhance athletic performance is now scientifically possible, and it may become the next doping trend, CNN reports. Researchers point to “Marathon Mouse,” who gained the ability to run twice as far as normal mice with a modified protein gene. While gene…
It seems counterintuitive: Shouldn't Vancouver's relatively low altitude and thicker air help athletes perform better at this year's Olympics? Not always, says Robert Chapman, an expert in altitude training and exercise physiologist at Indiana University. In the special Winter Olympics issue of the journal Experimental Physiology, Chapman argues that…
An Oklahoma veterinary scientist named Mike Davis says there's no doubt about it: The world's greatest athletes, of any species, are the canines who pull sleds at the Iditarod. Now, in a project funded by the Pentagon's research arm, he's coming up with ways to make us more like them.
Going 26.2 miles is a great way to prove your grit—and there's no greater showcase than the world's biggest. Presenting a simple plan to get anyone off the couch and across the finish line.
The videos and pictures showed everything. Search and rescue teams digging through rubble. Haitians praying, then hushing, in hopes of the sound…
K-Swiss and Trek announced today they would sponsor possibly the world's most accomplished triathlon team. Trifuel has the full story. The team is made up of multiple Ironman and Ironman 70.3 champions, including three-time champion Chris Lieto.
Female athletes are far more prone to certain injuries – like to their shoulders and knees – than men, reports Science Daily. But, it doesn't have to be that way. The study, completed by the University of…
Linsey Corbin, who came in second at the Ironman Arizona 2009, offered some helpful swim tips for triathletes over at Trifuel. We often focus a lot on strategies for running, so it was interesting to see ways to…
Due to injuries and exclusions, we've revised this list. Check out the new and improved list of The Top 10 Breakout Players to Watch in the World Cup. Every four years the 32 best teams…
A simple test for diagnosing exercise-induced asthma—previously performed on elite athletes—may now be ready for diagnosing the condition in the general public, according to a study done by the Ohio State Medical Center. The test involves forcing a patient to hyperventilate in…
A quick daily routine to maintain essential muscles for any sport.
The Togo national soccer team has been officially disqualified from the Africa Nations Cup for failing to show up for a scheduled game, reports Reuters. The team had been ordered back to its country by the government following a deadly attack…
A solid way to asses your fitness level is to calculate your VO2max, which is your maximum oxygen consumption during an exercise that gradually increases in intensity, New Scientist reports. The higher your number, the fitter you are. A VO2max test is usually done…
(photo by Jens Mortensen) Thinking of running a triathlon this year? Trifuel has 10 Ways to Enhance Your Sprint Triathlon…
Turns out moderate drinking might not be preventive medicine after all. But that doesn't mean it's not good for you.
Jason Dinant worked out four times a week with a trainer and ate only protein and vegetables during the first half of 2009 and was rewarded in June with six-pack abs, his 2009 New Year's resolution. Dinant was chosen by CNNhealth.com last…
Performance mouthpieces may help reduce stress during exercise and help athletes to breathe easier, says a piece in the New York Times' Fitness Section. We're not talking your generic rubber mouth guard here — you know, the kind that turns you into…
Thanks to an influx of new computerized design tools, there are suddenly more custom ski makers and cheaper custom skis—about $1,300 for a pair of planks crafted to your physique and habits. Now you just need to know what to ask for.
Professional skier Davenport, 37, was first to ski all 54 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks in a single year
By now, you've probably seen ads for Reebok's new EasyTone shoes for women, the shoes that claim to tone your legs and butt by engaging the calf, hamstring, and gluteal muscles. But if you weren't one of the many who bought into the…
UP-AND-COMER The Sundance set will rejoice over the fact that The Canyons, a once unknown Park City resort, now hosts a Waldorf Astoria, complete with a slick new Spruce Restaurant from celeb chef Mark Sullivan. Avoid the glitz by hitting the steep, open glades off the Ninety-Nine…
Need some help getting motivated to stay fit this year? The American College of Sports Medicine has some advice for actually keeping that New Year's resolution. The ACSM says you should plan ahead, determine your barriers, and try to incorporate sports into your…
Michael Feigin, owner of a boutique gym in Brooklyn and frequent traveler, sits down with the New York Times's Frugal Traveler to talk exercise on the go — even when your hotel doesn't have a gym. Feigin offers up some interesting…
Researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy in Sweden have found that young adults who are physically fit score better on their IQ tests, ScienceDaily reports. There is a strong correlation between fitness and logical thinking and verbal comprehension, but the correlation doesn’t stand in…
There are five things you can do to prevent getting sick during the winter season, according to Dr. Gillian Stephens of St. Louis University Medical Center: 1. Make sure you get enough sleep…
Outside's Lab Rat, Nick Heil, shows you how to do lateral jumps, which test your lower body's plyometric strength–the explosive power you need in your legs for ball sports, running, and cycling. –Aileen Torres…
How strong is your core? Watch Outside's Lab Rat, Nick Heil, teach you how to do the inchworm exercise, and you'll be able to gauge where you're at; plus, build up core strength in the process. –Aileen Torres…
Researchers at the Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center are developing a surgical technique that uses therapeutic hypothermia to treat serious or multiple concussions, reports Medical News Today. Therapeutic hypothermia helps reduce the risk of tissue injury by…
Outside's Lab Rat, Nick Heil, shows you how to do the perfect pull up, with an overhand grip. –Aileen Torres…
Outside's Lab Rat, Nick Heil, shows you how to do the assistedpistol, a low-tech workout that will strengthen your legs for multiplesports. –Aileen Torres…
A couple of years ago, Wired magazine put out a forward-looking article addressing whether paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius's artificial legs (called Cheetahs) gave him an advantage over able-bodied sprinters. After all, at the time he was close to qualifying for the Olympics with prostheses.
The fifth TEDMED conference finished last week, and videos of all the talks will be up in a few months on the web site. TED Talks are always interesting and innovative, and with all that's going on inour country regarding health care,…
The American College of Sports Medicine has released its annual survey of the top fitness trends. Here are the top ten for 2010: 1. Training with certified, experienced fitness professionals2. Strength training3. Children's fitness/fighting obesity4. Personal training5. Core…
“The Colbert Report” has become the primary sponsor of the U.S. Speedskating team after its former sponsor, DSB Bank, went bankrupt, according to ESPN. The name “Colbert Nation”– referring to the legions of fans that regularly enjoy the satirical Comedy Central show “The Colbert…
Ever wonder what breeds make up your mutt? Certain breeds are happier to live an outdoor lifestyle than others are. Rhodesian ridgebacks, for instance, can withstand extreme heat and cold and they love miles-long runs, so they make good companions for distance runners. Chesapeake bay retrievers, on the other…
How can I prevent sore legs during my first long ski weekend? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
Without agility, working out is just bodybuilding.
Medical News Today reports that The School of Psychology at Belfast's Queen's University have been working with the Ulster rugby team by testing the player's visual perception through a range of virtual training scenarios. The testing goes beyond a regular computer…
Over at the New York Times's Health section, one writer ponders why so many sources insist that cooling down is important after exercising, and finds very little evidence in support of it. Hirofumi Tanaka, an exercise physiologist at the University of Texas, Austin,…
Chris Lieto was gunning for the victory this year at Kona, but he came in second to Craig Alexander, who won last year, too. Lieto's great on the bike, but he…
Dave Scott is the ultimate triathlete. This six-time Ironman Kona champion is only one of a handful who have won the coveted top spot three times in a row. And although he's no longer racing, he's still…
The Kona Ironman, which involves a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run, is grueling enough for elite athletes. But imagine trying to accomplish this feat after surviving cancer four times and receiving a heart transplant. That's what…
The International Olympic Committee voted today to add both golf and rugby for the 2016 and 2020 games. The New York Times reports that golf had major supporters in Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Michelle Wie, while the…
The most popular annual Ironman event will take place at Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii Saturday, October 10. Outside Online's Aileen Torres will be covering the big day, but before then, she'll be posting about competitors and all other…
Exercise can help prevent colds during the winter, according to the American College of Sports Medicine. Studies show that a minimum of 45 minutes of exercise at moderate intensity for most days of the week can lead to a 25-to-50 percent decrease…
Five Olympic athletes who tested positive for the blood-booster, Cera, are scheduled to find out their punishment in December, BBC Sport reports. Runners Rashid Ramzi and Vanja Perisic; cyclists Davide Rebellin and Stefan Schumacher; and walker Athanasia Tsoumeleka all face possible bans. The International…
Your body holds power only your brain can unlock. The key? A few awkward contortions—and a lot of concentration.
Chris Lieto is poised to make Americans care about the Ironman again—if he can just hold on to his lead.
Some cities are magnets for groundbreaking industries. Here are 13 that have put themselves on the map.
Alarming new science shows that thin air can wreck brain cells—at lower altitudes than you'd think. Here's how to protect yourself.
Want a low-tech workout that will get you buff? Watch Outside's Lab Rat, Nick Heil, show you how to do walking lunges, with a little impromptu weight. For more workout videos, go to Outside…
Photographer Alexx Henry shoots a revolutionary video using the Red One camera.
In support of Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, President Obama will travel to Copenhagen later this week to meet with the International Olympic Committee. The New York Times reports that this will be the first time in history an…
How can I improve my lateral speed for defense in basketball? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
Bob Burnquist is on a quest to go bigger and scarier than any athlete has ever thought possible—while also running an organic farm and choosing smoothies over Red Bull. He calls this progress. Behold the enlightened life (and far-out dreams) of the world's greatest skateboarder.
Build Power, Not Bulk The Pillars of Fitness To get in peak shape try out all four parts of our comprehensive series. IF YOU’VE BEEN FOLLOWING our Pillars of Fitness series (“Building a Base,” March, and “Speed Up,” May), congratulations. By now you’ve dedicated yourself to sustainable, year-round conditioning…
After a brief tutorial at rodeo-clown school, our man steps into the world's most terrifying ring.
Identify your fitness flaws and the path to becoming a better athlete will be clear.
Turns out your old PE coach was right. Yes, it hurts, but the new thinking about athletic pain is clear: Keep moving.
The latest research can help boost your horsepower—and cut your workouts in half
An old-school move holds the key to unlocking your power; if only you can do it right.
I'm working on a ship in crowded conditions for months on end. I want to go hiking and trekking on my time off. What's the best way to maintain endurance without being able to walk or run at sea? Bonus if I can do it in 30 foot swells.
You stand on a 300-foot cliff and think, “Mommy!” Ted Davenport stands there and thinks, “Sick air!” The difference, neuroscientists are finding, may lie in the very anatomy of our minds.
I train very hard in the spring and summer by cycling. I seem to peak in mid-July, and by mid-August my aerobic capacity drops off. I fatigue easily and struggle to keep up with my cycling group. What is going on and how can I prevent this next year?
Most NFL players spend the off-season recovering from injuries or pumping iron. Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Dhani Jones, 31, spent the spring of 2008 traveling from Switzerland to Singapore, trying his hand at the world's most exotic sports, for his new Travel Channel show, Dhani Tackles the Globe, premiering March 16.
For multisport athletes like you, the trick isn't getting in shape. It's staying there. Here's how.
I'm having surgery on the big toe on my left foot, which will keep me on crutches for six weeks. The doctor has told me no pressure on the foot, not even from a stationary bike. What can I do to keep from totally losing my conditioning?
Nick Heil hits the gym with the star point guard of the Denver Nuggets.
No, you haven't met her somewhere before, and neither had we. Fletcher, a 33-year-old triathlete from Red Deer, Alberta, has spent the last five years coming up through the amateur-triathlon ranks, consistently winning her age group, and is poised to go pro in 2009. How does she practice jockeying against other hard-bodied type-A women who occasionally kick
