Athletes/Sport Conditioning Articles

Engaging in team sports may help high-school students lead more active lifestyles. But depending on the sport, your teen may also be at greater risk for injury. Of all high-school sports, football and wrestling are the most injurious, according to recent research. In a first-of-its-kind study, published in the September issue of the American Journal of Sports Medicine (2009; 37 [9], 1798–1805), scientists examined severe injuries among students from 2005 to 2007.

All the time, I hear fitness professionals tell their clients not to exercise above a certain heart rate, as if it were bad for people to run or bike fast. Target heart rate has become a buzz phrase. Even many cardio machines display a “fat-burning zone” on their panels, encouraging people to exercise in a specific heart rate range. Have you ever wondered if your clients really have to exercise in a specific heart rate zone to lose fat? And what happens if they venture out of that zone?

It’s not just the ranks of older Americans that are swelling: the number of seniors who are physically active is also going through the roof. Now, more than ever, your older clients are participating in races and vigorous fitness classes—and a percentage may even make it to the Senior Olympics.

When you’re a sports fan, it doesn’t matter if you prefer the NBA, figure skating or the Olympics—you’re sure to admire the performances of athletes who work inconceivably hard to achieve greatness. It’s practically impossible to watch without feeling compelled to hit the gym and try some new training method, hoping to achieve your own gold-medal performance. So what’s the latest buzz in the training room?

There are more than 300 marathons just in the United States each year, with hundreds of thousands of people running them. Chances are that one or two of your clients want to do one. So how do you train them for a marathon? Consider the following strategy. Mileage

What exactly is a “balanced, varied and adequate” vegetarian diet, and how hard would it be to follow and maintain such a pattern of eating?

What exactly is a “balanced, varied and adequate” vegetarian diet, and how hard would it be to follow and maintain such a pattern of eating?

In 490 BC the ancient Greek hero Pheidippides ran from Marathon to Athens to announce the Greeks’ victory over Persia in the Battle of Marathon. When the modern Olympic Games began in Athens in 1896, a running race named after the Greek town of Marathon was introduced to commemorate Pheidippides’ legendary run. Now there are more than 300 marathons just in the United States each year, with hundreds of thousands of people running them. Chances are that one or two of your clients want to do one. So how do you train them for a marathon?

Athletes are often thought of as specimens of advanced health and fitness; however, a recent study has found that those eager to gain size for their sport might also increase the risk of developing complications related to metabolic syndrome. In the study, which was published

With its low cost and accessibility, running is often the exercise modality of choice. Those looking to drop pounds and gain