Many sports enthusiasts around the globe have been focused on Paris as the 2024 Summer Games play out. Elite athletes in 329 medal events showcase their skill, talent and endurance with elegance, grace—and a whole lot of sweat. How do the best athletes in the world perform the amazing feats they do? Read on to learn more about how the human body deals with the challenges of extreme heat as they compete, how they stay hydrated throughout and recover from it all.

Performance

How the Human Body Physically Performs

Exercise physiology shows us how people move and adapt, advancing our knowledge of the possibilities and limits of the human body. But studying the science of sports doesn’t just benefit the most active among us. Ultimately, it helps us all.

Is Running Barefoot Better than Wearing Shoes?

The question remains why a runner would want to strike hard ground with the tender sole of his or her foot instead of a cushioned running shoe. The answer may be that barefoot runners have fewer impact-related injuries.

Heat

Some like it Hot

“When there’s a sudden heat challenge, like the first day of football camp … the body hasn’t geared up yet to respond to the heat stress,” [APS member Larry] Kenney says. “It takes usually between nine and 14 days to fully acclimate to exercise in a hot environment.”

Physiology and Climate Change: It’s Getting Hot in Here

Researchers are studying the effects of climate change on human health. Physiologically, extreme heat has detrimental effects to the entire body. But it seems to be particularly bad for the kidneys.

Hydration

Exercise and Water: Responsible Drinking in the Summer Heat

We know we should drink plenty of water when it comes to exercising in the heat. The detrimental effects of dehydration on health and performance are widely promoted. But the deadly effects of overhydration are lesser known. The key to proper hydration is moderation, while avoiding both extremes.

Marathon Runners: There’s a Downside to Drinking Too Much Water

The consensus among experts is that athletes need to be educated to promote safe hydration strategies. The next time you find yourself racing toward the finish line, take the advice of these researchers and sip your water sparingly.

The Science of Hydration

In more recent years, we’ve all heard recommendations regarding how much water healthy adults should drink. It’s eight glasses of eight ounces of water each day, right?

Recovery

A ‘Holy Grail’ for Exercise Recovery?

Listening to your body and learning how it responds to exercise and rest is also important to creating the right recovery plan for you.

Exercise Recovery: Which Body Position Is Best?

Is an upright position better for your recovery after a workout, or are you better off with your hands on your knees? Science has the answer.

These articles only scratch the surface of the dynamic field of exercise physiology. The American Physiological Society is hosting the Integrative Physiology of Exercise conference in partnership with the American College of Sports Medicine November 20–22, 2024. Researchers will discuss the latest research on these topics and many more. Until then, keep rooting for the best athlete to win at the Summer Games!