Summary of the impact

This well established research conducted by members of Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport (Loughborough University) is seen as an integral part of the support provided for Paralympic wheelchair athletes and has impact in 3 key areas:

1. To help identify the fundamental characteristics of elite wheelchair athletes and assist with athlete profiling by supporting the Paralympic `performance pathways' to refine their talent identification and confirmation procedures
2. With the refinement of the testing and monitoring procedures used to assess the physiological and biomechanical demands of wheelchair sport performance
3. Supporting the education of high-performance coaches by enabling them to gain a better understanding of the technical variables that affect wheelchair mobility performance

Summary of the impact

The Human Performance Research Group at Aberystwyth University developed a novel high- intensity "warm-up" regime, known as "priming exercise". Performing this type of exercise can provide an ergogenic effect during subsequent exercise or competition. This research has impacted upon professional practice of sports scientists and coaches tasked with preparing elite athletes for competition. Specifically, previously warm-up exercise was performed prior to exercise, whereas now many practitioners apply priming exercise regimes. In addition, this practice has a direct impact upon the performance of both elite and amateur athletes.

Summary of the impact

Research from the Unit has demonstrated a positive effect of the amino acid beta-alanine on exercise performance and capacity, which has informed best practice on its use by elite athletes, athletic individuals and the general population. In addition, this research has allowed performance nutritionists and exercise physiologists access to research that affords them the ability to follow an evidence based practice approach with their clients. Our research has contributed to the increased worldwide use of beta-alanine as a dietary supplement to enhance sport and exercise performance.

Summary of the impact

Research conducted at Swansea University has helped transform the pre-competition strategies of elite sport. This research has focused mainly on the application of post-activation potentiation (PAP), manipulation of warm-up variables and morning priming for enhanced performance. This work has had significant impact on the recent successes of elite skeleton bobsleigh athletes at the 2010 Winter Olympics (e.g. ~4% improvement on their key performance indicator) and a number of other British sports during London 2012 (e.g. British Cycling who won 12 medals). The research continues to impact elite sports and is being embedded into athletes' pre-competition routines for Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016.

Summary of the impact

A 20 year collaborative programme of research and physiological monitoring between the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and the University of Chichester (UC) has significantly impacted upon training and competitive strategies adopted by the RYA to maintain world class sailing performance within the REF period. Research conducted in the period 1993-2004 provided the first empirical evidence base to underpin training for dingy and boardsailing. This provided the foundation to develop training guidelines for youth and elite sailors, contributing to successful sailing performances in the past five Olympic games. The guidelines are now freely accessible online for recreational sailors.

Summary of the impact

The impact of this research has been to improve the performance of elite athletes and safeguard the well-being of Paralympians. It has affected the management of athletes' dynamic physiological responses and advanced the regulatory frameworks of sporting bodies. This has changed the strategies of the USA Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee and the British Paralympic Association. The indirect impact of this primary research has been to change the routine training practices of recreational athletes and influence the advice on exercise given to military personnel and people with disabilities.

Summary of the impact

Pioneering research at the University of Chichester lead by Professor Harris provided in 2006 first evidence on the effectiveness of beta-alanine supplementation in augmenting carnosine content in human skeletal muscle. Subsequent studies demonstrated the performance-enhancing effect of beta-alanine supplementation, particularly in high-intensity exercise. The research was exploited by a US company through a number of worldwide patents based on Harris' work achieving sales and license revenues of $4.8M in 2013 fiscal year alone. Beta-alanine supplementation has emerged as a legal means to enhance performance taken up at amateur and elite level sport worldwide; it is having global impact on the sports nutrition industry.