A Discussion and AnalysisOf the Relationship of Nutrition and ExerciseTo the Athlete: Pros and Cons

In the 1990's, nutrition is an important preoccupation of an inordinately large number of Americans Ñ but nowhere is this consciousness more pervasive and important than for the athlete. In my view, there has been much disinformation which has been disseminated regarding proper nutrition and diet. Similarly, exercise, in my view, is particularly important. This is not unrelated to the equally inordinate number of injuries suffered by athletes. To this extent, there exist a large number of injuries which athletes are seen to suffer. Yet, many of these injuries are not only reoccurring but are also preventable. In this country there exists a particularly fierce emphasis upon winning at all costs. To this extent, good nutrition and exercise are extremely useful and valuable vehicles for achieving good athletic performance and success. Unfortunately, the dire emphasis upon this success has led many athletes to indulge in drugs, i.e. steroids. This ominous factor cannot be casually dismissed, as reports have underscored the pervasiveness of this malpractice. Statement of the Problem For purposes of this study, it is hoped through a thorough review of the literature, this author will identify those aspects which correlate with a good athletic performance, i.e. diet, exercise and injury prevention. It is the view of this author that much of the traditional disinformation be carefully scrutinized as well as the importance of injury prevention, which it is the view of this author that not enough attention is placed on this aspect of athletics. As indicated, many of the injuries that we see are too often reoccurring. It is the belief of this author that, with special emphasis upon these types of injuries, much can be done in the way of offsetting their potentiality. For