Task Description: You will be required to write an article on a hot topic in Exercise Physiology. News articles often present a one-sided opinion on physiological and exercise-related issues such as the latest product or training method claiming to improve aerobic fitness, or a nutritional supplement claiming to improve weight management. Typically, these articles include conclusive statements but have minimal supporting scientific evidence. Here is an example: It can be tempting to believe the claims put forward; indeed we are spending increasing amounts of money and time on products or methods we think will help improve our physiology. In some cases, exercise physiologists may be asked for advice. As such it is important to have knowledge of the underlying physiological mechanism and to be able to find and provide evidence-based guidance. Practitioners should therefore be adept at reading the relevant scientific literature to 1) check the authenticity of the scientific mechanism and 2) establish if the technology or method actually works as claimed. Practitioners should also be adept at communicating evidence-based information to the public.
These are important skills for any practitioner working with people in athletic, clinical and general populations. This assignment involves writing an article that summarizes the scientific evidence on a given exercise physiology topic. You will draw balanced (i.e., unbiased) conclusions from the scientific literature in ways that might help you, other practitioners and people in the general population to decide an appropriate course of action.
