Athletes/Sport Conditioning Articles

client: Dana | personal trainer: Michael Piercy, owner, The Lab | location: West Caldwell, New Jersey Injury. When Michael Piercy, owner of The Lab (Performance & Sports Science), first met Dana in the summer of 2008, she presented with a rare condition described by doctors as “functional movement disorder.” According to The Lancet Neurology (2012; 11 [3], 250–60), functional movement disorders are included in a wide spectrum of neurological disorders and are difficult to both diagnose and treat.

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Athletes typically train during the offseason to improve their performance and reduce their injury potential during the regular season. However, the results of a study from Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy, Rehabilitation, Therapy & Technology (2012; doi:10.1186/1758-2555-4-26) suggest that preseason fitness levels may be unrelated to the potential for injury during the regular season.

Of the 600 carotenoids responsible for the rainbow of colors seen in fruits and vegetables, only two--lutein and zeaxanthin--accumulate in the retina of the human eye, giving rise to the “macula lutea” or “yellow spot.” These macular pigments, or color filters, serve as internal sunglasses. Athletes who consume more of these two important xanthophylls may experience: newsletter_teaser: Of the 600 carotenoids responsible for the rainbow of colors seen in fruits and vegetables, only two—lutein and zeaxanthin--accumulate in the retina of the human eye, giving rise to the “macula lutea” or “yellow spot.” These macular pigments, or color filters, serve as internal sunglasses.

Athletes are being groomed at younger and younger ages. Many factors play into this, and as the level of competition rises, parents want to help their children excel while also preventing injuries. Regular Pilates practice is one way to reduce injuries, increase body awareness and enhance coordination. newsletter_teaser: Athletes are being groomed at younger and younger ages. Many factors play into this, and as the level of competition rises, parents want to help their children excel while also preventing injuries.

Over 40 million people use treadmills regularly in the United States. Their reasons range from losing weight to improving cardiovascular fitness and on up the spectrum to training for competitive distance running. newsletter_teaser: Check out this great article from the IDEA Online Library, and learn why running on a treadmill is safe and convenient, with almost all of the fitness advantages of running outdoors.

Get some neat tools for your fitness career by helping us research the question, “Does your sport match your personality?” We have been studying this topic for a few decades and want to update our understanding. Follow the link below and complete a 10- to 15-minute questionnaire on the seven dimensions of exercise. In return we will send you a review article and template you can use in your practice. The survey is anonymous, and it will help us all know more about the science of fitness.

About half of you and your clients may be drinking too much fluid during running races, say results of a recent survey by Loyola University Health System researchers, published in the June 2011 issue of the British Journal of Sports Medicine. The survey revealed the following about runners:

While this equation may not be a surprise to conscientious fitness professionals, it can be helpful in encouraging athletes—professional or otherwise—to get more shuteye. A study in the July issue of SLEEP (doi: 10.5665/sleep.1132) draws a strong correlation between sleep extension and athletic performance.