Whether you exercise daily or only once in a while, make stretching part of your regular routine. Stretching increases the range of motion of your muscles and joints, including the joints in the neck and back. Increased range of motion translates to better flexibility. Do I Have To Stretch? As much as I believe that …
The dramatic heart-related deaths of young athletes naturally grab headlines. But the reality is that sudden death in athletes is actually quite rare. Still, it presents difficult challenges for doctors, trainers, coaches and especially parents of young athletes. The principal challenges are how best to screen athletes for heart disease before a heart attack or …
Did you ever wonder how Arnold Schwarzenegger got those abs in his movie Pumping Iron? He has the same muscles as you and I do, but most of us would never believe it. Abs is the nickname that refers to the muscles of the abdominal wall. Anatomically, your trunk (the midsection below your ribs) is …
Ever wonder what gives basketball players their explosive jumping power, or how soccer players get those sudden bursts of speed and agility? For years athletic trainers and conditioning coaches have used plyometrics to enhance the performance of competitive athletes. Today the same types of plyometric exercises are being used in group fitness classes, for injury …
When your mind and body tell you, “I can’t take another step or complete another rep,” do you listen to your body or push beyond it, thinking, no pain, no gain? There is no right answer, but learning why you feel you’ve reached your limit will help move you to a higher fitness level. Improving …
