Don't Rush Into Big Lifts

Long-time, no-post.

I've been wanting to make this blog post for a while but haven't had a lot of time available. I see this a lot in young athletes that come into the clinic to workout and even some in the adult population that want to return to exercising/working out regularly.

Are you or your kids beginning "big" lifts before you (they) are ready? Read on for more info.

Are We Praising Athletes Who Are More Likely To Get Injured?

The WGEM news station here in Quincy, IL recently did a special report on the potential risks of athletes lifting too much weight at a young age. If you haven’t already seen/read the report, you can view it here: http://www.wgem.com/story/23946627/2013/11/12/pressing-it.

In their report, “Pressing It,” they interview different high school athletes and coaches about the potential dangers of lifting weights at a young age and the risks involved with doing so. They argue (correctly) that lifting weights can damage growth plates and can impact the child's’ health as they continue to grow. This is true if the young individual has not been properly taught correct lifting mechanics prior to lifting weights. It is especially true if the child cannot move correctly to begin with. That is an entirely different matter itself.

Breaking Down The Softball Pitcher: Post 2 of 2

Part One focused on the different phases of the softball pitcher's windmill as well as the muscles activated during the process. This post will focus more on injury prevention while also going more in-depth on the importance of core/trunk/lower body strength and the role they play in improving a pitcher's velocity, stamina, and overall stability.

Breaking Down The Softball Pitcher: Post 1 of 2.

A common mistake made by coaches, trainers, therapists, etc. when looking at an injured softball pitcher's shoulder/elbow is ignoring the reason for the injury in the first place. Many times it was the shoulder/elbow that broke down due to an inability to properly recruit muscles in the lower extremities. This post will focus more on the phases of the softball pitch and the muscles activated. My second post will focus more on injury prevention and what can be done to improve lower body support/stabilization.

What is the Difference Between Power and Strength?

Power and Strength. These two words are often used as synonyms. And while they do have some similarities, it's their differences that you must take note of when training yourself and/or your athletes.

Differential Diagnosis: Groin Strain or Sports Hernia?

Sports hernias are one of the most commonly missed diagnosed injuries in the athletic population. Due to the pain being in the groin, a sports hernia is often incorrectly diagnosed as a groin strain.

Something All Coaches/Trainers Should Know Regarding ACL Tears in Female Athletes

It is fairly common knowledge that female athletes are more likely to tear their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) than males. But do you know why? And more importantly, what can you do to help prevent it?