“Biorhythms” and menʼs track and field world records

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Abstract
Rrors of judgment, and accidents, during the negative phases and particularly at crossover points (critical days). “Biorhythm” amplitudes were calculated, and a chi-square (X2) analysis was used to compare the frequencies of records occurring in the positive, negative, and critical phases of each cycle with a random model. The phase-distribution of records within each individual cycle fit the random model (X2 ≤ 2.22, P > 0.30). The combined effects of the three cycles, determined from the mean “biorhythm” amplitude (X2 = 1.30, P > 0.20) and the number of cycles in each phase (X2 = 3.50, P > 0.30), also showed no significant departure from the expected frequencies. The number of records broken on single or multiple critical days was as expected from the number of critical days in each cycle (X2 = 3.37, P > 0.15). These data reinforce our previous study on Australian records and the preponderance of acceptable published research into sports, accidents, and medical data in that they provide no evidence of the existence or effects of “biorhythms.” ©1982The American College of Sports Medicine...

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