Sports Endocrinology

This book on sports endocrinology is a complete handbook which provides wholesome insights into the effects of environmental, psychological and physical activity factors on endocrine functions. It is divided into two major sections. The first section deals with the effects of physical activity and training on endocrine function and second one deals with the use of performance-enhancing endocrine drugs (doping) in competitive and recreational sports activity. There is a detailed discussion of how homeostatic disruption of exercise causes differing responses in each hormone axis. The hormones studied include Thyroid hormone, growth hormone, insulin like growth factor prolactin, their interaction and potent physiological stimulus upon pituitary gland and hypothalamus has also been discussed at length. The role of sex hormones in neuromuscular adaptations to exercise in females and males is discussed in depth. The Biochemistry of energy supply to the exercising muscle on the molecular mechanisms involved and the physiology of energy metabolism during exercise in healthy individuals and diabetics forms the crux of the following chapter. The book also throws light on the effect of exercise on bone strength and thyroid hormone metabolism.