Keynote Speakers Announced for 2024 Annual Meeting!
Thursday (10/17/24) Keynote
Dr. Sandra Hunter, PhD, FACSM
“Sex Differences In Athletic Performance”
Biological sex is a primary determinant of athletic performance because of fundamental differences between males and females in anatomy and physiology dictated by sex chromosomes and sex hormones. Adult males are stronger, more powerful, and faster than females of similar age and training status. Thus, for athletic events and sports relying on aerobic endurance, muscle strength, speed and power, males outperform females by 10-35% depending on the requirements of the event. These sex differences in performance grow markedly with the onset of puberty and coincide with the increase in endogenous sex steroid hormones, in particular testosterone in males, which increases to 15X greater in adult males than females. Historically, however, females have not been provided the same opportunities to participate in sports and athletics as males and they have not been assessed in biomedical science and exercise science research at the same rates as males. This presentation will highlight: (1) the magnitude and mechanisms of the sex differences in motor function and athletic performance revealed from more recent studies, and (2) factors that contribute to low participation of females in sports, athletics, and science. Large opportunities for high-impact studies that aim to understand sex differences in motor function and athletic performance remain.
Friday (10/18/24) Keynote
Dr. Philip Friere Skiba, DO, PhD, FACSM
“Performance Engineering: From Bench Science To Breaking 2”
There are a variety of tools available to help optimize human performance. One of the most neglected is the use of physiological models. Dr. Skiba will discuss the development and use of peer-reviewed mathematical tools to improve athlete performance everywhere from local fun runs to the Olympic Games and beyond.
Here is the link to the 2023 Long Program.