Alex Hutchinson's Sweat Science blog is a great resource for anyone who is interested in evidence-based information about exercise and training (and running specifically). One issue that comes up repeatedly is the clash between evidence-based research and anecdotal research. One challenge with evidence-based research (such as controlled and randomized clinical trials) is that they are slow to deliver results. Trials take a long time to design, organize, conduct, and analyze, and even once all of that is completed, the results may be statistically insignificant, very narrow, and/or hard to extrapolate the broader population. It gets frustrating to read study after study that just says "we need to do more studies before we can draw conclusions." At the end of the day, though, this sort of research is what enables us to determine what really works (as opposed to what might work based on a placebo effect or some other intervening factor).
Anecdotal evidence can be extremely powerful. It is hard to discount stories of individuals who have experienced profound improvements in their training or health with specific interventions (such as barefoot running, for example). At the same time, it is hard to quantify the effect of these specific interventions for individuals because there are no controls. Moreover, these anecdotal claims are often advanced in order to market a specific product, which always sets off alarm bells for me. I also get frustrated by the one-size-fits-all evangelism of people who have these sorts of anecdotal stories.
This longread is part of why I really enjoy reading Sweat Science. Hutchinson believes firmly in using scientific evidence to drive things like nutrition and exercise. He doesn't hesitate to call out the limitations of certain studies or to point out when anecdotal claims are twisted and leveraged to sell a product. This sense of reasonableness is reflected in this article about "rebooting" -- that sometimes you reach a point where a new approach or intervention is worth trying even if the science behind it is questionable.
Happy Friday and enjoy the Olympics!
“ 'Rebooting,' Platelet-Rich Plasma, and Minimalist Running" by Alex Hutchinson
Published on Sweat Science, July 22, 2012
http://sweatscience.runnersworld.com/2012/07/rebooting-platelet-rich-plasma-and-minimalist-running/
Eric
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