The debate over the most effective form of aerobic exercise has been raging ever since Dr Kenneth Cooper coined the term ‘Aerobics’ in the early 70’s. Today, there are two diametrically opposed groups – those who advocate slow state, steady cardio and others who swear by high intensity, short duration cardio sessions. When it comes […]
The multidirectional movements and cutting patterns inherent in soccer place great demands on the lower body and core. What is often overlooked is the strength and balance of the supporting leg, which is needed to allow the kicking leg to optimally strike the ball. Large ranges of lower body motion are required, making flexibility of […]
You do your best not to overindulge over the holidays. But, inevitably you end up eating more, moving less and generally having a more relaxing time over the Xmas period. That’s great – and there is no way that you should feel guilty about the odd extra few calories that you are taking on. Yet […]
One of the best ways to quickly improve your full body functional fitness is through the use of circuit training. Circuit training involves performing a series of exercises as a circuit with no rest between them. Throughout the course of your workout, you go through a number of rounds of the circuit. One important advantage […]
Injuries to golfers commonly involve the wrist, hand and lower back. Exercises to improve stabilization of the wrist joint and lower back are key parts of a training program for golfers. Additionally, very large amounts of trunk rotation are used to generate power in the golf swing, with contributions from the legs and hips playing […]
Baseball and softball players perform very repetitive movements, especially during throwing actions. While the lower body movement patterns are similar to those of many sports, there are some applications of specific movements tat can be adapted for these two sports. Injuries from overuse of the shoulder and elbow are particularly prevalent in baseball and softball […]
Elastic resistance can be used to improve the sports performance elements of power, agility and speed. Power is the ability to exert or produce force in a very short period of time. Agility is the ability to accelerate, decelerate, and change directions quickly while maintaining good body control, and finally speed may be defined as […]
Athletic and functional movements require a strong core consisting of the muscles surrounding the trunk and pelvis: the abdominals and the lower back. These muscles must function as movers, stabilizers and force transducers. Functional strength of the upper extremities (used in actions such as throwing baseball) is often built initially by the lower body and transferred […]
One of he most important areas of the body to strengthen is the hip and thigh region. As the main milk between the lower extremities and the trunk, the hips serve as a stable base for the core (the abdominals and low back region). The hips perform the main role in locomotion, propelling our center […]
Bodyweight resistance is the most common mode of strengthening the abdominals and low back. Adding external resistance such as an elastic band may increase the training stimulus to these areas, particularly in programs whose progress is stalled. The abdominal and core region is a key area for whole body stabilization and sports performance, most likely […]
