Monday Motivation

Anything is possible – seriously

Always believe that you can do anything.

Training Principles #5

Training Principle #5 – Do no harm!

This principle should perhaps come in at number one. There is a slew of training methods available but what we have to look at as fitness professionals is obeying the Hippocratic oath. If we are working with athletic populations, our first goal should not be performance enhancement. It should be injury prevention. We should also not jeopardize an athletes career by performing dangerous exercises in the weight room.

 

 

 

 

This exercise looks good, but has a high risk factor!!

 

 

When we look at exercise selection we need to look at the safety of each exercise and the risk to benefit ratio. For example, performing a barbell snatch may be an exercise with some great benefits in terms of increasing power, hip extension and starting strength, but may also be contra-indicated for someone who lacks thoracic extension and shoulder mobility.

So when we analyze the exercises we use and different modalities we need to look does the exercise prevent any risk factors and does the client have any risk factors. The dead lift as an example is a safe exercise for the majority of people but if you have a inability to resist anterior shear, then the exercise has too many risk factors.

As fitness professionals we have a huge responsibility to our clients and society. We need to step up our game and be professional in our exercise selection ,choice of modality and program execution. Follow the rule of doing no harm and you will be well on your way!

Random Friday Thoughts

Welcome to the 2nd installment of random friday thoughts. Lets get started!!!

1. Bikram yoga – honestly pisses me off. Now, don’t get me wrong, I believe their is huge value in stretching, saunas, yoga and movement. But not all at once! You wouldn’t necessarily try to perform heavy dead lifts, run interval sprints, plyometrics then perform olympic lifts then max rep chin ups (or am I bagging on Crossfit..hmmm). Also, lets talk about biomechanics and movement. I had a client go to one class and come back in with a sacro-illiac jam, low back pain, neck pain and head aches. The pose involved simultaneous extreme lumbar flexion and a hyperextended stork stance on one knee. Now, basic exercise technique has told us that stiff legged deadlifts are bad for the spine as they shut down the gluteus maximus and research by Dr Stuart McGill has shown us that flexion is one of the worst things you can do to your spine. So what a great idea, shut down the glutes, add in extreme range flexion performed on one leg, further causing a movement challenge and perform it in a boiling hot room which improves tissue laxity and stretch!! Also, where is the overload principle! The same movements every class? Everyone knows the key to improvement is progressive overload!

 

 

 

Lets bulge a disc!!!

 

 

2. Something else that really grinds my gears – training dogma. I can’t stand Poliquin disciples, chekkies, Boylers, functional trainers, crossfitters, bodybuilders, kettlebell guys or clubbell guys. All tools have a place, it just is simply a matter of choosing the right tool, at the right time, for the right client. there is no perfect way to squat, only what is perfect for the individual. All these systems and philosophies have a place, it is the dogma associated with them that causes problems. I personally will use tools from all of these systems but will not subscribe to any.

3. Family guy is way too funny.

4. Fascial anatomy is way underrated. Check out Thomas Myers Anatomy Trains if you are any kind of therapist or trainer. It will instantly change the way you view the human body.

See you next week!