Focus on Eccentric Loading for Enhancing Muscular Adaptation to Training
Resistance exercise is a fundamental aspect of athletes’ training programs, especially in sports where force- and power-production capabilities are keys for elite performance. In traditional strength-training programs, equal absolute load is applied during both the concentric and eccentric phases of muscle contraction. Skeletal muscle is capable of 30%, or more, force production during maximum eccentric […]
Supporting Athlete Mental Health
It has been remarkable to witness high-profile athletes advocating and educating the public about mental health support needs in elite-sport environments. In both National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Olympic settings, I have observed transparent efforts to bolster support for mental performance consulting services and/or mental health resources over the past 5-10 years. It is becoming increasingly […]
25 Years of Physical Activity Time Trends Research
In developed countries, the life expectancy of adults has increased dramatically over the past century. This is largely due to decreases in smoking and reductions in infectious disease and cardiovascular disease brought about by modern medicine. However, due to a rise in labor-saving devices and electronic entertainment, many have suggested that we have engineered much […]
3 Essentials for Building a Home Gym
If you’re one of the many people whose exercise routine was interrupted by the pandemic, setting up a home gym could be the right choice in 2022. According to the 2022 ACSM Health & Fitness Journal Fitness Trends Survey, the number two fitness trend is home exercise gyms. Since online programs routinely offer 24/7 availability, including […]
Mythbusting | Youth Resistance Training
Myth: Lifting weights is unsafe for children and will stunt their growth. One of the most common myths associated with youth fitness programs is that resistance training is unsafe and harmful to the developing skeleton of children. Unfortunately, these outdated views persist today and some parents and caregivers question if children should lift weights in […]
Physical Activity and Function in Older Age: It’s Never too Late to Start!
Despite the known benefits of physical activity to health and physical function in aging, the proportion of older adults meeting recommended physical activity guidelines remains low (27%). Since the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans were published, considerable evidence has emerged regarding the relative benefits of various modes or combinations of physical activity, such as progressive resistance training, multicomponent […]
High-Intensity Interval Training: For Fitness, for Health or Both?
That which was old is new again. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been a common component of exercise regimens designed to improve fitness and performance for many generations. In recent years, research interest has surged. A simple search of PubMed for the term “high-intensity interval training” reveals a more than 20-fold increase in the number […]
Body Weight and Waist Circumference Trending Upward in Americans
Recently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published a National Health Statistics Report updating the trends in body weight, height, waist circumference and body mass index (BMI) in the U.S. population. This update uses data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and primarily focuses on trends from 1999-2000 through 2015-2016. If you […]