Injury / Injury Prevention
Fit to Travel
Whether we’re vacationing with our family or heading to the 2015 IDEA World Fitness ConventionTM with 12,000 other fitness enthusiasts, it can be challenging to stay fit when we’re on the road. Even the healthiest exercise professionals can get caught off-guard with aches, pains, stress and guilt that prevent us from having fun and functioning at our best.
If travel throws the fittest of us off track, imagine what it does to everyone else.
10 Signs You Are Suffering From Burnout
Generally, group fitness instructors are known for their upbeat, can-do attitude. It can be challenging to admit that you’re feeling burned out. The following signs of job-related burnout may give you clues about your own performance, so you can take steps to keep yourself inspired and motivated.?
Bench Angle and Muscle Activation
Have you ever wondered about differences in muscle activation when the bench press is performed at a variety of angles? A report printed in the European Journal of Sport Science (2015; doi:10.1080/17461391.2015.1022605) may satisfy your curiosity.
Pregnant Instructor FAQs
Many years ago, while I was pregnant with my second child, something happened that I hope no other group fitness instructor goes through. As I was driving to teach class,…
Taking a Tech Break
Cellphones, computers, tablets. All of these are important tools that help you to run a successful fitness business. But technology can seep into every moment of your life and take over. Do you need to step away from email or give your smartphone a rest from time to time? Discover why you’ll be a better entrepreneur if you explore options for setting limits around technology and just say no to it some of the time.
How to Be an Empathetic Personal Trainer
New beginnings. When Patty Shoaf first met Barbara 19 years ago,
she realized quickly that this would be a client like no other. “I
arrived for a consult at her house and a classy, high-heeled,
67-year-old woman wearing a skirt walked in,” Shoaf recalls.
Older Runners: Beware of Switching to Barefoot
Do you work with anyone who is interested in running barefoot or trading traditional running shoes for minimalist footwear? According
to research presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2015 Annual Meeting, some runners over 30 who transition to barefoot have difficulty adapting to the potentially less injury-prone forefoot strike pattern.
Five Benefits of Eccentric Exercise
Not everyone likes to focus on eccentric contractions, but this style of training deserves more attention because it may be a “secret weapon” for creating healthier joints and a long, lean body. Research reveals the perks for newcomers and well-trained athletes.
Self Myofascial Release for Seniors
Did you know it’s important to take care of the fascia—or connective tissue—in your body? The health of connective tissue is a serious concern for older people, as movement restrictions can make it hard for them to perform simple activities of daily living. The condition of our connective tissue depends on two factors—how old we are and what we have done in our lives to keep our tissue healthy, hydrated and flexible.
Postmenopausal Women: Jump for Bone Health
Knee osteoarthritis (OA)—a progressive disease that destroys articular tissues and cartilage—affects about 13% of women aged 60 and older. According to a report published in the Caspian Journal of Internal Medicine (2011; 2 [2], 205–12), the percentage of the overall population affected by OA is expected to increase owing to the growth of the older-adult segment and to high overweight and obesity rates. However, this study shows there may a solution for women with mild knee OA: progressive-impact exercise.
A Back-Pain Solution
Starting with the basics. Personal trainer Jamal Younis first met 38-year-old Jessica in August 2014. Jessica, a former competitive collegiate swimmer, suffered from a degenerative disk disease, which had resulted in three surgeries to address the issue. Post physical therapy, she decided that in order to keep her back healthy she’d need to continue with a structured training program. She met Younis through a friend of his who was also a personal trainer.
Playing Hurt
When Gray Cook was a high-school athlete, his coaches would comment, “That Gray Cook sure can play hurt.” He had over 20 fractures before he was 18, what with his love of football and motorcycles. He played while hurt, he says, because he had the ability to block out pain. Flash forward to 2014, and Cook—now a practicing physical therapist, certified orthopedic specialist and founder of Functional Movement Systems in Chatham, Virginia—was no longer able to block out neck pain. It was affecting his life, his work, and his ability to share his message of fitness and health.
Nutrition Strategies for Stress and Pain Management
Stress and pain diminish quality of life for millionsofAmericansandcostbillionsin healthcare expenses and lost wages.
Fall Prevention Training for Seniors
It appears there is a growing need for seniors to engage in fall prevention. A recent report found a significant increase in falls from 1998 to 2010.
Researchers looked at data from the Health and Retirement Study, which is an interview-based report. Among individuals aged 65 and older, the percentage who had experienced at least one fall in the 2 years prior to the interview rose from 28.2% to 36.3%—a relative increase of close to 30%. The researchers were surprised to learn that the increase was most marked among the younger people studied (those closer to 65).
Asian Americans Face Significant Health Risk
It may be time to focus health promotion efforts toward Asian Americans. Research from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2014; 64 [23], 2486–94) says that this population has a significantly high risk of dying from heart disease or stroke.
Using U.S. census data and death records, researchers examined death rates among the largest Asian subgroups (Asian-Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese). They then narrowed their search to deaths caused by heart disease and stroke. Overall, the researchers combed 10,442,034 death records.
Safer Training for Obstacle Races
Health authorities have been alarmed by the injuries—and deaths—that have occurred during obstacle course races. Owners of obstacle course gyms say they are addressing the risks of these competitions by focusing on more extensive prerace training.
Physical Considerations for Training Older Seniors
The market for older seniors (70 and over) is growing thanks to the aging of the Baby Boomers. By 2050, 1 in 5 Americans (21%) will be 85 or older— up from roughly 14% in 2010 (Vincent & Velkoff 2010).
Posture Tips for Clients
We asked trainers the question: “What Is The Most Effective Posture Tip You Give Clients?” Here is a sampling of the answers we received.
OTS Indicator Checklist
OTS Indicator Checklist
Personal trainers are encouraged to use this OTS Indicator Checklist to help identify or prevent OTS in clients. Although this list was developed from scientific research, there currently is no research consensus on how many of these factors must be present (and to what degree) to confirm OTS.
PERFORMANCE AND FATIGUE INDICATORS
These may be symptoms of OTS:
7 Possible Causes of Overtraining
Conducting primary research studies on the causes of overtraining is difficult because it’s unethical to induce overtraining syndrome, which can damage a person’s performance for months. Kreher and Schwartz (2012) reviewed previously published overtraining research and summarized seven hypotheses (see Figure 5) for mechanisms that cause overtraining syndrome.
HYPOTHESIS #1: AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM IMBALANCE
