Course overview

The Immune System of Athletes

For athletes, maintaining a robust immune system is crucial as it supports sustained energy and endurance during training and competitions. A healthy immune system helps in the rapid adaptation to the increased energy demands of the body, ensuring optimal performance. Moreover, it reduces the risk of infections and illnesses, which can otherwise lead to missed training days and subpar performance.

Write your awesome label here.

What's included?

  • 3 Chapters
  • 4 Q&A's
  • 1 Certification

Purpose of understanding Muscular Hypertrophy

Understanding the immune system is crucial for coaches to help athletes maintain optimal health and prevent infections, especially during periods of intensified training which can induce transient immune dysfunction. This knowledge enables coaches to manage training loads effectively and ensure athletes are well-prepared for competition without compromising their immune health.

What's in-store?

In this series, you will learn and understand the following:
  • Understanding the immune system and its role in the human body.
  • Providing recommendations for boosting the immune system regarding sleep/rest; nutrition; adjusting training load; and travel.
  • Helping coaches understand immune system physiology to plan and structure training in extreme outdoor training environments (hot vs cold).

Course Lessons

Meet our SSISA Research Digest team

Warren Lucas

Research and Partnerships Manager

Warren Lucas is an Accredited Sport Scientist (SASMA), completing a PhD in Exercise Science at the University of Cape Town. His research is focused on designing patient-centred exercise interventions for youth with substance use and mental health conditions in treatment settings. His supervisors are Dr. Sharief Hendricks and Prof. Vicki Lambert (HPALS UCT).

Evan Knight

Research Consultant

Evan Knight is an Exercise Scientist with an MSc in Exercise Physiology from the Stellenbosch. University. He works as a Research Consultant at the Sports Science Institute of South Africa, and his research is focused on biomarkers and the intercellular adaptation and communication following different endurance running training regimes in elite runners.

Devon Da Costa

Research consultant & Lecturer

Devon Da Costa is a Qualified Biokineticist completing a PhD in Exercise Science at the University of Cape Town. She works as a Research Consultant and Lecturer at the Sports Science Institute of South Africa. Her research is focused on fuelling endurance sports performance through a variety of different dietary and supplementation strategies. She is supervised by Associate Prof Andrew Bosch (HPALS UCT).

Tim Klein

Research Consultant & Sport Scientist
im Klein is an Exercise Scientist who is currently completing an MSc in Exercise Science at the University of Cape Town. His research focuses primarily on the effects of resistance training on cycling performance. His research is supervised by Associate Prof. Mike Posthumus and Dr. Caroline D’Alton (HPALS UCT). 
Created with