It's time to pour yourself some pickle juice and suck on a salt tab (or is it?) as we talk exercise-associated muscle cramps (EAMCs) - one of the most complex, and common, afflictions facing athletes. Difficult to research and predict, the causes of EAMC's can be varied depending on the individual, as are the solutions to fix them. In this episode, Prof. Ross Tucker and Mike Finch break down the most common theories around causes and then discuss the best long-term, medium-term and immediate solutions (yes, there are some!) to preventing this painful condition.

Discourse

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SHOW NOTES

The cramping thread on Discourse - members only

An Evidence-Based Review of the Pathophysiology, Treatment, and Prevention of Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps

Similar review on cramps

Study showing how pickle juice works fast in low doses, via a neural reflex

Ron Maughan paper on muscle cramps, contrasting the hydration model with the neural theory

People who cramp have similar sodium and other electrolyte levels to those who don’t cramp

If you drink more, your sodium levels drop, even if you drink an electrolyte containing drink

A paper that compares the two leading hypotheses for cramps:

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The show

This week on The Real Science of Sport Spotlight world records fall and big questions rise. Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet lit up the track in Eugene—how fast can they go, and what happens if (or hopefully when) they clash over 5000m, 3000m, or possibly even 1500m? Their record-breaking performances headlined a meeting that showed track and field can be exciting, modern, and appealing to younger fans. Is the sport in better shape than critics thought? From spikes to strings, we then turn to Wimbledon, where Electronic Line Calling has come under fire. Is the system flawed, or just misunderstood? We break down the tech, the myths, and why perfection was never the point.

In our Center Stage (27:44), we focus on the Tour de France, where concussions, broken bones, and questions of responsibility have again reared their head. Do race organizers or riders bear the blame? We explore the UCI's priorities, enforcement of their own rules, and creation of new rules with marginal benefits. We also discuss the race. Jonas Vingegaard says he’s heavier, more muscular, and more powerful than ever. Will that close the gap to Pogacar? The early signs, after the Stage 5 TT, suggest an emphatic "no"? Is he solving the 'wrong' problem, and how will that increased mass play out against a relentless Pogacar in the mountains?

We also Spotlight listener insights in Ross Replies (52:00), with a focus on David Roche’s Western States DNF and his pre-race transparency. You wondered whether he created mental and emotional pressure on himself by being so open, and we discuss. In Listener Lens (58:25), we celebrate some Discourse success stories. And finally (1:02:16), are endurance athletes more likely to have daughters? A quirky study suggesting so closes the show.

Links

• USADA statement on the father and son banned for testosterone use
• Guardian article on the tech failures and player mistrust of electronic line calling
• Strong criticism of the UCI/ASO for a hazardous stage finale in the race
• The Michael Woods Tour diary in which he describes the ASO approach to safety, including his thoughts on how to improve safety
• Vingegaard's comments about his power, weight and performance prospects
• Are athletes getting older - for DISCOURSE only, Max's amazing analysis on age of elite athletes over the years
• Endurance athletes are more likely to have girls - the quirky paper we finished on

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Kevin Ullyett has won 34 career tennis titles - including two doubles (2001 US Open, 2005 Australian Open) and one mixed (2002 Australian Open) Grand Slams - and had a world ranking of 107th in singles. So he knows what it's like to fight his way through the ranks and play among the best. In this interview with Ross and Mike, Ullyett explains what it takes to make it to the top tier of professional tennis, the daily and financial pressures of just breaking even, how players cope with loneliness and the ups and downs and how modern developments in string technology have changed the face of the game in the last 10 years. It's a fascinating insight into the realities of a career where unwavering determination is one of the most important qualities a player can have,

SHOW NOTES

Kevin Ullyett's Wikipedia page

Andre Agassi's mind games with Boris Becker

Another funny Agassi story about a young Rafael Nadal

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