Muscle Relaxation Techniques
The ability to reduce tension and relax muscles affects strength, speed, coordination, and in turn, sports performance.
Are Your Lateral Rotators Strong?
The rotator cuff muscles of the shoulder play a very important role in the prevention of shoulder injury and in the execution of overhead throwing and hitting actions. The four...
Oblique Strains and Rotational Power
Earlier this season, Josh Hamilton put on an amazing show with 28 homeruns in the first round of the major league baseball (MLB) Homerun Derby.
Preventing Hamstring Injuries: Part I
Last summer, I worked with a college running back who was contemplating quitting football because of chronic hamstring injuries.
Solving Anterior Knee Pain
Pain in the front of the knee is becoming an epidemic among serious lifters and fitness enthusiasts alike.
The Validity of Massage, Hydrotherapy, and Hyperbaric Oxygenation as Recovery Accelerants
Popular sporting literature such as health and fitness magazines, internet training, and sport sites as well as articles written by athletes, coaches, and physical therapists have endorsed the use of techniques such as massage, hydrotherapy, and hyperbaric oxygenation as ways of speeding up the recovery process and thus improving athletic performance.
Are You Setting Yourself Up for Injury?
Lifting weights is easy, but preventing injuries when lifting weights is not always as simple. Because of this, it is not uncommon to find many injuries in weight training. To...
Sports Medicine and Sports Performance
I was introduced to the chiropractic and active release technique (A.R.T.) in 1997 when I first arrived in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Michael Leahy, DC, who is the founder of A.R.T., was my first provider. Yeah, I know, that’s pretty lucky!
Pilates Magic
Here’s a question for worshippers of Pilates: don’t you think that Pilates is a form of weight training (added resistance training)?
The Importance of Strength Training for Middle Age and Older Adults
Do you hope to maintain your quality of life as you age? Is it important for you to be able to perform daily tasks, enjoy recreational activities, and care for yourself? You probably want to stay fit, trim, strong, and mobile for as long as possible. You don’t have to accept frailty as you age!
Active Release Therapy
Tired of banging your head against the wall trying to fix old injuries that have been preventing your total from going up? What should you do when the foam roller, specific sport stretching, equiblock, and massages are no longer helping? Well, guess what? Here’s your golden ticket to PRville…
Static Postural Assessments
After college, I strength trained at a chiropractic rehabilitation facility for a few years. While there, I picked up a few helpful tips that I still use today when initiating static postural assessments for my athletes.
The Evolution of Rehabilitation and Why RICE Sucks
The rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) regimen sucks, at least the standard “R” and “I” portions. I will tell you why and give you an alternative.
No Pain, No Gain?
Over the last decade of training, I’ve had many people throw several different training “myths” out at me. Whether it was “lifting stunts your growth” or “eating too much protein shuts down your kidneys” or “too much strength will hurt your martial arts,” I’ve heard them all. Two myths I hear most often are regarding soreness and training.
When Surgery Is Not an Option
To all my fellow lower back pain sufferers who have subjected themselves to needless surgeries, cortisone shots, and therapies that flat out don’t work, here is my story.
Young Throwing Athletes: The Specifics of Shoulder Care & Longevity
I feel it is the responsibility of any trainer or coach working with young throwing athletes to have a solid working knowledge of the shoulder.
ACL Injuries & Young Female Athletes
There has been an epidemic of sorts in the past few years regarding ACL injuries and young female athletes.
Shoulder Rehab 101
I am going to attempt to provide the reader a generic blue print for individuals suffering from an acute shoulder problem to a chronic condition.
A Career Liability - ACL Injuries in Females
Female athletes are more prone to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries than males. Depending on the study, comparing male and female athletes, females are said to be anywhere from 4 to 6 times more likely to tear their ACL.
Some Nerve
The nervous system of athletes in speed and power sports can be enhanced by various means such as coordination exercises, structural work, and traditional power lifting methods.
Restoration, Part 2
Last month I addressed the restorative measures of ice, massage, and rest to aid recovery. These methods are designed to not only increase workout performance and reduce injury, but help you feel better when you’re not training. Other useful methods include stretching, diet, supplementation, stimulants, and contrast methods.
Restoration Methods
Now that you have moved your total training volume higher and your training frequency is higher, you may be wondering, “How do I recover from the increased workload?”