- With Mayo Clinic physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist
Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
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Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
Dr. Edward Laskowski is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine. He is co-director of the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center and a professor at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.
He has been on the staff of Mayo Clinic since 1990 and specializes in sports medicine, fitness, strength training and stability training. He works with a multidisciplinary team of physical medicine, rehabilitation and orthopedic specialists, physical therapists and sports psychologists.
Dr. Laskowski is an elite-level skier and approaches sports medicine from the perspective of a physician and an athlete. In addition to skiing, he is an avid hiker, cyclist and climber.
In 2006, President George W. Bush appointed Dr. Laskowski to a two-year term on the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
Dr. Laskowski was a member of the medical staff of the Olympic Polyclinic at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and was involved in medical coverage for the Chicago Marathon. He serves as a consulting physician to the National Hockey League Players' Association and is a featured lecturer at the American College of Sports Medicine's Team Physician Course.
Dr. Laskowski, a Cary, Ill., native, has contributed to Mayo Clinic's CD-ROM on sports, health and fitness, a Web site guide to self-care, and hundreds of Mayo Clinic articles and booklets in print and online. He is a contributing editor to Mayo Clinic's "Fitness for EveryBody" book.
"There are many myths and misconceptions about exercise and fitness in general, and also many traditions that don't stand up to scientific scrutiny," he says. "My goal is to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information on sports medicine and fitness topics in a way that you can practically incorporate into your life."
Fitness basics (4)
- Exercise and illness: Should you exercise when you're sick?
- Heart rate: What's normal?
- Body fat analyzers: How accurate are they?
- see all in Fitness basics
Aerobic exercise (10)
- Weighted hula hoops: Exercise gimmick or good idea?
- Elliptical machines: Better than treadmills?
- Air pollution and exercise: Is outdoor exercise risky?
- see all in Aerobic exercise
Strength training (10)
- Weightlifting belt: Do I need one?
- Sit-ups: Is it OK to stabilize my feet?
- Flat stomach: Can wearing a girdle tighten abdominal muscles?
- see all in Strength training
Sports nutrition (4)
- 'Natural' steroids: Are they safe?
- Insulin: Can it boost athletic performance?
- Energy drinks: OK for athletes?
- see all in Sports nutrition
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Question
Insulin: Can it boost athletic performance?
Can insulin injections improve athletic performance for an athlete who doesn't have diabetes?
Answer
from Edward R. Laskowski, M.D.
Athletes who have diabetes may use insulin as part of a diabetes treatment plan. Insulin has been banned from use by other amateur and professional athletes, however.
For athletes, misuse of insulin may potentially improve endurance, promote the development of muscle mass and speed muscle recovery — but that's not the whole story. In addition to the legal and ethical issues surrounding performance-enhancing drugs, misusing insulin poses serious health risks.
For example, athletes who misuse insulin may experience low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Left untreated, low blood sugar can lead to seizures or loss of consciousness. In severe cases, low blood sugar can be fatal. Misusing insulin may also lead to insulin resistance, insulin allergy and other potentially serious problems.
If you're hoping to gain a competitive edge, don't look to insulin or other performance-enhancing drugs. Instead, adjust your training program to safely increase your strength and stamina.
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