Recently, a particular college football coach has justified his support for a rule that would allow substitution of defensive players within the first 10 sec of the play clock by claiming that this is a player safety issue.  He has stated that he is concerned about his players that have sickle cell trait and how the exertion of playing defense may trigger sickling and death.  Is this really a concern for defensive players during a game?  It is true that sickle cell trait occurs in...

For more information about this week’s Human Performance Minute, check out the links listed below. A kinetic comparison of single, double, and triple axels. Aleshinsky, S.Y. Professional service for amateur skaters: What biomechanics can do for figure skating. Skating, 1986, 63(9), 10-13. Part 2. Skating, 1986, 63(10), 11-15. Nash HL. US Olympic figure skaters: honing their performances. Phys Sportsmed. 1988;16(2):180-185. The Triple Axel BlogSpotBe sure to check out future weekly Huffines...

Dr. John Thornton, Director of the Texas A&M Coaching Academy, has been honored in the 12th Man Magazine Series "Making an Impact." Read the article and find out how this Aggieland Legend is making an impact at Texas A&M University and Aggie Athletics.

Our very own Texas A&M University graduate student, Heather Vellers, has been featured in the Health and Kinesiology Department's semiannual "On The Move" magazine. The article highlights her current research looking for links between performance and heart rate. Uniquely, this isn't the typical performance associated with sports medicine. Ms. Vellers' "rock n roll research" is focused on musicians from various genres and their cardiovascular changes ...

For more information about this week’s Human Performance Minute, check out the links listed below. Running on age in a 15-km road run: minor influence of age on performance. Characteristics associated with 10-km running performance among a group of highly trained male endurance runners age 21-63 years. Aging and factors related to running economy. Master's performance in the New York City Marathon 1983-1999.Be sure to check out future weekly Huffines Institute Human Performance Minut...

Read the weekly text article "Iron Helps Us Play" by Steve Bui. "Iron is one of the most essential minerals to health; unfortunately, sometimes we neglect its importance. What makes iron so important?"

Read the weekly text article "Nutrition for Crossfit Athletes during Crossfit Regionals" by Michael LaMantia. "The Crossfit Regionals event consists of seven workouts through three consecutive days. The workouts include Olympic weightlifting, gymnastic movements, powerlifting movements, and overall athletic movements found in any athlete’s training regimen."

Read the weekly text article "Shred Body Fat in Just 61 Days" by U.S. Army Ranger William Kobbe. "A title like the one above usually produces immediate interest and often some skepticism, especially in the society of quick fixes but, at least in this case, isn’t misleading. A course pioneered in the 1950’s in support of leadership development does just that -- shreds body fat."

Read the weekly text article "Chia Seeds: “More than an answer to ceramic statue baldness”' by Samantha Springer. "The title’s quote was published by the Global Healing Center as a clever introduction to the health benefits of the infamous chia seeds. Chia pets have been a popular novelty since the 1980s, but as science advances, health discoveries are gradually shifting the purpose of this herb away from garnishing a ceramic display. It is now being cla...

Read the weekly text article "Motor Output Variability in Older Adults" by Deanna Kennedy. "Often athletic performance seeks to improve accuracy and consistency. For example, while playing golf, we want to consistently hit the ball into the hole. However, many factors affect our ability to produce smooth and accurate movements."