Blog: johnloguk

THE LATEST SCIENTIFIC ADVANCE IN SPORT?

How many of you have seen this?

http://www.canterburynz.com/site/static/ionx_performance.htm

A company has developed a line of sports clothing, called IonX, based on the principle that negatively charged ions improve performance. Apparently, the military, space program and elite athletes have known this for decades. The idea is that electromagnetic fields saturated with negative ions, enhance alertness, attentiveness and a sense of well-being.

Three of the England rugby world cup squad will be wearing this gear, and the whole of the South African squad will be wearing it, amongst others no doubt.

Is this a real development, or just the latest scam to part punters with their hard earned cash? They claim to be able to show an improvement in performance in double blind tests, but would it actually be noticed by us the average sportsmen and women? One thing for certain, it won't be cheap, but I bet loads of people will buy it.

I recently bought a new pair of road running shoes for £68 (reduced from £90 so I felt a little bit smug!). But then I do a lot of running and am desperately trying to protect my ankles, knees and lower back from taking too much of a battering as I enter my 50s. Some people pay big money for trainers that they only wear to the pub. Shall we have a competition to see who spots the first IonX clothing down the pub?!

by johnloguk on 10:19 on 7th September 2007