Glossary beginning with P

A means of planning and programming exercise training which takes account of the training principles of "detraining" and "overload"

A layer of dense connective tissue that covers the surface of a bone

Nerves outside of the spinal cord (as opposed to inside)

Inflammation of a vein, usually accompanied by pain, swelling and tenderness

A dummy pill (or other form of treatment) which is designed to look (and taste) like the treatment under investigation but is biologically "inert" - ie it has no effects whatsoever. Normally taken by subjects in a control group (see above)

Foot arch pain

An explosive form of exercise, often involving jumping movements, that utilises the muscle's ability to stretch then contract rapidly to produce more force

Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that stimulate the growth and/or activity of bacteria in the digestive system which are beneficial to the health of the body. They were first identified and named by Marcel Roberfroid in 1995.

Training designed to build a base level of conditioning to prepare the body for participation in sport or physical training

A molecule used as a building block for another molecule

Substances (sometimes used by athletes) that don't have a significant hormonal effect in themselves but which can be metabolised into active hormones once ingested

Probiotics are dietary supplements of live microorganisms thought to be healthy for the host organism. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and bifidobacteria are the most common types of microbes used as probiotics; but also certain yeasts and bacilli are available.

Awareness of the position of your limbs and body in three- dimensional space

Compounds with hormone-like activity, synthesised in the body from essential fatty acids in the diet