Athletics

Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Track events. 3. Throwing events. 4. Jumping events. 5. Multi events. 6. Road race course. 7. Athletic training programmes. 8. Endocrine factors affecting athletics. 9. Cardiovascular evaluation of athletes. 10. Ankle and foot injuries. 11. Medical management for athletics competitions. 12. Nutrition for athletes. 13. Anti-doping regulations. Bibliography. Index.

"Athletics is one of the most popular sports around the world. The name is derived from the Greek word "athlos" meaning "contest". Its events are the oldest form of organised sport, and are associated with the simplest physical activities--running, throwing a stone, surmounting an obstacle. These activities gradually evolved into sports events such as running, jumping and throwing events. Athletics is divided into two main categories: events that take place inside the stadium, and events that take place outside the stadium such as the marathon and road walk.

Athletics is one of the purest of all sports, relying solely on the strengths of the human body rather than technological implements to improve performances. Rather than being one event Athletics is considered as different events each with their own specific physical and mental requirements. For many in athletics the competition is against themselves-to run faster, to jump higher and to throw further than they have ever done before.

This book features an enormous amount of information about athletics. It describes the history, rules and regulations, techniques and major competitions in athletics. It also covers common injuries, which athletes suffer in the course of normal sporting activities."