Fact or Fall acy? This chapter considers the facts and some of the fallacies that abound in the world of physical activity. It also describes how facts are properly established in order to help you become a better consumer of information about fitness and health.
Facts How does a hypothesis or theory become a fact? Carefully planned and controlled studies help us separate fact from fiction. Exercise physiologists conduct many types of studies in order to understand the immediate and long-term effects of exercise and training (see the table on the following page). In status or comparison studies, we are able to determine differences between groups, such as athletes and nonathletes. Such studies can show differences, but they don’t prove why athletes are stronger or faster (chances are that their heredity and environment predispose them to become successful in a particular sport). Another type of study—the correlation study— looks at the relationship of one factor (e.g., a particular training method) to another factor (e.g., performance). These studies are used to show the relationship of training volume (e.g., miles or kilometers per week) to performance in swimming, running, and other events; they do not, however, prove the need for highvolume training. Why not? The reason
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