Charles Sturt University exercise science PhD student Grant Brechney is inviting male combat sport competitors from the Bathurst area to participate in a research project titled 'Effect of weight cutting and recovery on exercise performance'.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The research project, led by the PhD student and supervised by researchers at the Charles Sturt School of Exercise Science, Sport and Health, aims to investigate weight cutting and recovery practices in combat sports and how these practices affect athlete performance.
Mr Brechney said research will have a significant contribution to help further scientific understanding of the effects of weight cutting.
He also hopes it will also help the movement to have protocols surrounding official weigh-ins changed to promote athlete health and safety, as well as optimise performance.
The research project will feature two trials and requires participants to complete a range of light and high-intensity activities.
"In one trial participants will reduce their body mass by five per cent by completing light intensity exercise wearing a sweatsuit in a controlled climate chamber that exposes them to heat and humidity," Mr Brechney said.
"During the other trial participants will still complete the light intensity exercise in the climate chamber, but will maintain their normal body mass.
"Further testing, including blood and hydration testing, will take place after each trial."
Participants will be asked to complete an exercise protocol on an assault air bike, which will mimic the performance demands of an mixed martial arts competition, participate in strength and endurance tests and complete an aerobic capacity assessment on a cycle ergometer.
- READ MORE: New timing technology for Edgell Jog
Mr Brechney said the benefits for the athletes who take part in the study will be they will receive personalised performance data, whole body strength and power test analysis and hydration data.
To participate in the research project participates must be male combat sport athletes aged 18 years or older who are currently actively competing, have two years' experience in combat sport training, and are experienced using weight cutting practices.
Participants must have no recent history of performance enhancing drugs, and must not be medically suspended from relevant sporting authorities.
A guide is available by contacting Mr Brechney at gbrechney@csu.edu.au.
The research project is being supervised by Doctor Jack Cannon, Professor Frank Marino, and Associate Professor Rylee Dionigi from the School of Exercise Science, Sport and Health and Doctor Ashleigh Moreland from RMIT University.
