These are words or terms important to Physiotivity. I use them often in helping you perform better and refer to them often in my work. The official definition is in italics and is then followed by my definition. I will be updating this glossary as I consider more terms that are important to Physiotivity.

 

Sleep: a condition of body and mind such as that which typically recurs for several hours every night, in which the nervous system is relatively inactive, the eyes closed, the postural muscles relaxed, and consciousness practically suspended. The most important recovery tool we have. Understand how much your body needs on average. If you can set aside 4-7 days to go to sleep at the same time and wake without an alarm, your body will let you know how much is correct for you. Try to keep this amount. You may need more after an atypically physically or emotionally strenuous day.

 

 

Nutrition: the process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth. The second most important recovery tool we have. What we eat has an effect on how well it helps us recover. Always start with whole foods. Whether your diet is carbohydrate, protein, or fat focused should be dependent on what we are or aren’t doing for exercise.

 

 

Sports Science: The most recent findings of what performance is and how it can be affected. Sports Science has a short half-life so must be foremost in our thoughts so we can keep abreast of what is new or updated in research.

 

 

Biomechanics: the study of the mechanical laws relating to the movement or structure of living organisms.

 

 

Physiology: the branch of biology that deals with the normal functions of living organisms and their parts. The way in which a living organism or bodily part functions.

 

 

Psychology: the mental and emotional factors governing a situation or activity. How the brain works and how it affects our training, racing, mindset, sleep habits, eating, relationships, 

 

 

Anatomy: the branch of science concerned with the bodily structure of humans, animals, and other living organisms, especially as revealed by dissection and the separation of parts. The muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, fascia, nervous system, circulatory system, gastrointestinal system, and how they interact with each other. How they are trained is a result of if we look at the body as muscle and bone focused, fascia focused, or everything has a purpose.

 

 

Context: the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood and assessed. Looking at how our environment and our bodies interact to create how we move. A sprinter interacts with the track and with the weather; the simplest environment. A football player interacts with the field and other players that are ever moving; one of the more complex environments.