Yes, they can — with proper training and some important caveats. By John Berardi, Ph.D. It’s a hot debate: Can personal trainers, health coaches, and other non-RD professionals give nutrition advice to their clients? You’ll be surprised (and relieved) to hear: Yes, to...
By Franziska Spritzler, RD, CDE Ketogenic diets have become incredibly popular. Early research suggests this high-fat, very low-carb diet may benefit several health conditions. Although some of the evidence is from case studies and animal research, results from human...
by Juliet Kaska Workout burnout is a common problem for the avid exerciser. Effects can be as simple as lethargy or not seeing results and as serious as severe injury and organ failure. In other words, we should not take burnout lightly—and we should take the warning...
BY KENNETH MILLER, MS Got Power? Training for power has been underrepresented, or at least misrepresented, for its benefit and application in life. When we’re younger we take for granted our ability to sprint after a ball, jump over a fence, or evade the person who is...
By DAVID CRUZ, DC, CSCS, FMS, SFMA · AUGUST 23, 2016 Assessing this full body movement provides a foundation for designing a client’s exercise program. See how to use the results of a squat assessment to incorporate corrective exercise strategies and potentially lower...
DAVID CRUZ, DC, CSCS, FMS, SFMA The ability to perform a squat or partial squat is an essential primal movement in life we must all be able to do, whether you are 8 or 80 years old. When we think of a squat, most of us associate the move with weight training or a...
By Fabio Comana. Despite research dating back over 30 years, several misconceptions surrounding lactic acid (lactate) still exist amongst fitness practitioners and the general public (1). Common misconceptions include that it was considered a primary cause of fatigue...
By DAVID CRUZ, DC, CSCS, FMS, SFMA The economic impact of low back pain (LBP) is greater than $100 billion per year and causes more disability globally than any other condition (1,2). It is the most common cause of activity limitation in adults aged 45 and younger and...
by EMILY BAILEY Can you be a vegetarian or vegan athlete and meet your protein needs? It is an outdated myth that it is difficult to meet protein requirements from plant sources. Choosing your individual approach to eating needs to fit your lifestyle, whether that’s...
By DAVID CRUZ, DC, CSCS, FMS, SFMA Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries among physically active people accounting for an estimated 23,000 sprains — daily –that are attributed to athletic activity. (1) Basketball players suffer the highest incidence rate...
Louise Grant discusses how pre-habilitation can help clients about to undergo hip surgery. As chartered physiotherapist, I have a specific interest in hip patients and prehabilitation generally. Prehabilitation means analysing an individual’s posture, movement...
by Ian O’Dwyer | Date Released : 17 May 2016 I recently presented four days with Tom Myers of Anatomy Trains, in Sydney (AU) and Auckland (NZ). Our workshops were directed at 1) merging the power of “hands on” and movement, 2) identifying and enhancing...
Outside of athletic endeavors, people will work with a coach (or trainer, or whatever title you use) for any number of reasons, all of which boil down to one thing: you bring value to their lives, says Steve Rast. Not many things are more professionally satisfying...
By LAUREL VAN DEN CLINE Sitting up tall is a hard habit to learn. If you tend to round forward, a variety of postural issues can affect your musculoskeletal system, as seen with upper crossed syndrome. Whether you are sitting at a desk, driving your car, or texting on...
By KYLE STULL In Part 1 of Key Steps to Muscle Care, we discussed some of the many stresses of holiday travel. Now that you’re going to plan ahead, bring your own snacks, water bottle, and have packed your foam roller, let’s take a look at the upper body. Part 1...
By KYLE STULL Recovery often sounds like a “dirty” word. What are you recovering from? A night out with friends? Surgery? A day in the office? What is recovery, anyway? There are several myths and misunderstandings associated with recovery from exercise. To find out...
By Coach Jenny Hadfield | For Active.com SIX STEPS TO SPEEDY MARATHON RECOVERY Congratulations, you’ve finished the marathon! Now what? Complete marathon recovery can take anywhere from several weeks to several months, depending on the intensity of your race...
By Fabio Comana. A fundamental attribute of fitness has always been our relentless pursuit of new ideas when it comes to programming. Whether evolutionary or incremental in nature; trend or fad, we appear to thrive on challenging the status quo in our quest for...
Updates from NASM’s research partners at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill If you see knee valgus collapse (hip adduction and internal rotation along with knee adduction and internal rotation) while assessing a client, you likely think of hip abductor,...
By David Cruz, DC, CSCS, FMS, SFMA DAVID CRUZ, DC, CSCS, FMS, SFMA The economic impact of low back pain (LBP) is greater than $100 billion per year and causes more disability globally than any other condition (1,2). It is the most common cause of activity limitation...
By Josh Trent With a surge of new fitness apps, wearable devices, and wellness technologies, trainers are beginning to enter the next level of smart coaching with the potential to garner more money from clients that are getting better results. This January, at the...
By National Academy of Sports Medicine Increase your heart smarts with info on how exercise impacts your heart, how to measure fitness via heart rate, and top cardio concerns fitness pros should know. How it Works Your heart weighs only about 10 ounces and is roughly...
By TRX Editor This November the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) predicted its top twenty fitness trends of 2016 in its 10th Annual Survey of 2,800 health and fitness professionals. TRX is truly grateful and thrilled to learn that the gear, education and...
We all know that our clients are doing good things for their bodies while we are with them, but probably not during the other hours of the week. Especially the prolonged time they potentially spend sitting, now considered detrimental to overall health. We see the...
Shoulder pain and shoulder injuries related to the rotator cuff are common issues within the general population and among athletes. This article will provide you with background knowledge and practical suggestions on how to prevent or improve conditions of this muscle...
15 and 30 Minute Workouts to Beat the Holiday Dessert Table! ‘Tis the season for stress, missed workouts, and falling off the workout wagon. We tell ourselves and our clients every season, year in and year out, to make time for their workout. But the holiday season...
We’ve highlighted seven end-of-year client challenges and provided solutions to keep them on track. Early planning and preparation can help you and your clients continue to succeed into the New Year. Though the weight gain during the six weeks of the end-of-year...
PAVIGYM™ 3.0 is an intelligent and interactive floor with integrated LED lights controlled by touch screen software, enabling trainers to design and track their training sessions. They can even control the lights and music at the touch of a button. PAVIGYM™ 3.0 is the...
By Emily Bailey “Well, there it is again… another disappointing number. I just don’t understand. I trained hard at the gym all this week and I know I ate healthy too. I was feeling great until I saw the number on the scale that indicated I haven’t lost a pound this...
Post Operative Breast Cancer TRX Exercises The more I learn, the less I know. I’ve been a fitness and nutrition professional for 11 years now but it is moments like these where I set out to understand something that is outside my experience that I am most humbled....
By DAVID CRUZ, DC, CSCS, FMS, SFMA We all know that our clients are doing good things for their bodies while we are with them, but probably not during the other hours of the week. Especially the prolonged time they potentially spend sitting, now considered detrimental...
Looking for an easy way to assess your client’s current level of cardio and aerobic efficiency? Using the talk test to identify their ventilatory threshold can help do just that. Plus, learning to apply this information gives you the details needed to design their...
Adults over 50 who are caring for ageing parents are not like other fitness clients of similar age. For starters, caregivers tend to be less healthy. A study by the insurance company MetLife noted that “adult children 50+ who work and provide care to a parent are more...
By Brian Sutton MS, MA, NASM-CPT, CES, PES It is estimated nearly 150,000 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries occur annually in the U.S. and approximately 70% of these are noncontact; oftentimes caused by the inability to decelerate, change direction, or land...
By NASM Here’s a quick 30-minute workout that will get clients on the road to fitness! The biggest excuse people give for not working out is, “I don’t have time!” Of course, as a fitness professional, you know that time is not a viable excuse. We have to make time to...
By Jessica Bento Dynamic Variable Resistance Training (DVRT™) provides us the outline to change sandbag workouts from a “shock to the system” form of training to something far more beneficial and comprehensive. In the previous article, Introduction and Principles of...
By FABIO COMANA Cardio programs continue to evolve given the changing needs and desires of exercisers. Driven in part by time constraints, but also by emerging research, it is the shorter, more-intense, yet time-efficient programs that are perhaps the most popular...
DEWAYNE SMITH, MS, NASM-CES, PES, FNS Gains don’t happen overnight. It takes your muscles time to respond and adapt to stimuli. Discover the resistance training program variables that will develop the strength gains and growth you or your client may be looking for....
Posted by TRX Editor 07/02/2015 nutrition & weight loss If you are looking for a quick trick to shed some excess belly fat, TRX could be a good place to start. Unlike almost any other training system available, TRX Suspension Training challenges your entire body...
By Justin Price The role of the personal trainer is changing. Traditionally, fitness professionals have helped clients reach their health and fitness goals by designing effective exercise programs, educating them about nutritional choices and motivating them to adhere...
By Jenna Walther Trained athletes and clients alike are monitoring their intakes and percentages of critical fuels – carbohydrates, fats, and protein – but are potentially falling short on their micronutrient needs. These trace players in the diet can have a...
Speed, agility, and quickness (SAQ) training is too often associated with sports and other physically demanding activities. Upon closer observation, we realize we have missed the everyday events and activities that can greatly benefit from SAQ training. You never know...
STACEY PENNEY, MS, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, FNS In addition to improving your clients’ fitness, have you looked for ways to use your expertise and services to benefit a cause? With a little planning and creativity you can help make a positive impact. Share your social...
Here are the tips of the day from NASM experts for Fitness Week! Enjoy and let us know what your tips are in the comments! Monday’s Tip: Lift more to stay trim. Lifting weights might be the best way to control belly fat as you age. Data from healthy men culled over 12...
By Ben Greenfield As a successful fitness trainer — I get a lot of questions about how people can become healthier versions of themselves. Most of the time, they want to know the absolute fastest way to lose weight, tone up, build muscle or as I like to call it,...
By Camilla Moore Strength training is a necessary component of a well-rounded exercise program. For some, however, strutting into the weight room can be a little intimidating. The good news is there are many options to fit anyone’s needs. Incorporating strength...
Follow the OPT™ model and your snow-sport-loving clients’ last run can be as fresh as their first, all season long. By Selene Yeager, NASM’s The Training Edge Five years ago, Liz Littman, now 34, was perched atop Bogus Basin, a ski area in Boise, Idaho, for her first...
BY CHRISTINA STANLEY Once Barbie and GI Joe started doing yoga, we could pretty much call it: Yoga is officially everywhere these days. But all that stretching and balancing is just for bendy people who can flop over their legs effortlessly—the rest of us non-bendy...
BY ERIN KELLY There are few things every runner agrees on. The best running shoe, the most accurateGPS watch, and whether KT tape really works are all up for debate in running communities. One thing all runners can all agree? Shin splints (pain along either or both of...
By Monica Nelson If you’re looking to switch up your workout routine or are short on time, this TRX sequence is the perfect workout for you. “TRX” is short for Total Body Resistance Exercise. It’s a type of training that uses your own body weight and...
By Fabio Comana, MA, MS, NASM-CPT, CES & PES; ACE CPT & HC, CSCS, HFS, CISSN Coaching has become the buzzword in the personal training industry. See how behavior coaching can enhance a client’s potential for success, while also enhancing the relevance and...
The Workday Boost Desk-bound employees can develop a hunched posture that saps energy and strength. Here’s a safe-for-the-office routine that can help. For many people, nine-hour workdays are the minimum—and lunch breaks are short or taken at the desk. Even if the...
By Fabio Comana, MA, MS, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, NASM Faculty Instructor Although agility drills should always emphasize good body alignment, movement mechanics and efficiency, don’t forget that a little creativity and fun can add an experiential element to your training...
By Fabio Comana, MA, MS, NASM-CPT, CES & PES; ACE CPT & HC, CSCS, HFS, CISSN We all speak of it and experience it, but what is stress? It is defined as a non-specific response by the body to any demand (stressor) that overcomes, or threatens to overcome, the...
January 16, 2015 Did you resolve to make any changes to your diet in 2015? While we’re not big fans of making New Year’s resolutions, we do believe in making changes, especially to what we eat. Trying new foods is a great way to get more vitamins, minerals...
Body-weight workouts are getting big buzz right now as people discover that the only equipment you really need to get fit is with you all the time. Want to give your clients a taste of a body-weight workout that incorporates core, balance, and resistance-training...
For American Heart Month, increase your heart knowledge with insights into how exercise impacts your ticker, how to measure fitness through heart rate, and top cardio concerns that trainers should know about. BY LAURA QUAGLIO HOW IT WORKS Your heart is about the size...
By Stacey Penney, MS, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, FNS Looking to build endurance? What about power? Do dreams of being an all-star hitter or marathon runner need to be dashed if twitch ratios aren’t ideal? Not necessarily. The types of muscle fibers targeted in different...
By: Meredith Butulis, DPT, CIMP, ACSM HFS, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, BBU Pilates, Life Time Academy Instructor The changing of seasons can bring about the onset of colds, viruses, and even flus. Some of these illnesses can last several weeks, sidelining your hard work....
NASM If you are like most fitness professionals, reading about exercise technique can be confusing with so many opinions floating around as fact. It is hard to get a grasp on what is right, what is fallacy and what really matters when it comes to exercise...
If your client’s wants and needs differ give the client what they want before what they need. Giving a client what they want builds their trust in you to allow them to address their needs. The PTA Global checklist To properly address the client’s needs and wants is to...
Often we take for granted our body’s ability to move. Movement occurs quickly and often without thought. But take a deeper look beneath the surface and you will understand why simple movements, like bending at the knee, require complex interactions between bones,...
TRAINING TIPS The new year provides an excellent opportunity to take inventory of your life and reboot your goals. We recently did some research into the most common new year’s resolutions and developed some tips to help you turn your big goals into healthy habits. 1)...
Here’s a quick 30-minute workout that will get clients on the road to fitness! The biggest excuse people give for not working out is, “I don’t have time!” Of course, as a fitness professional, you know that time is not a viable excuse. We have to make time to keep our...
By Fabio Comana MA, MS, NASM-CPT, CES & PES; ACE CPT & HC; NSCA CSCS; ACSM HFS, CISSN, Exercise Physiologist and Faculty Instructor – SDSU, UCSD & NASM Looking for optimal exercise training results? What you do before and after could be just as important...
By Stacey Penney, MS, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, FNS For some of the top New Year’s resolutions, the benefit of incorporating exercise to achieving the goals seems obvious. But for others, the connections are just now coming to light. Here are some of the top New Year’s...
How to Biohack Your Metabolism Posted on December 19, 2014 by National Academy of Sports medicine Geoff Lecovin, MS, DC, ND, CSCS, NASM-CPT, CES, PES Looking for ways to boost your metabolism? Try a biohack! Here’s 5 simple biohacks to get your body’s engine revving!...
By Fabio Comana MS, MA, NASM-CPT, CES, PES In this mindful eating article, we reveal several simple ideas that can make big differences with weight loss without having to consciously feel deprived of everything you enjoy. Part of this overall strategy will require you...
By: mc schraefel : Precision Nutrition For more than 40 years, people in the West have been running on built-up “squishy” shoes, hoping to prevent injury and go faster. Yet “barefoot” runners argue that running without shoes or in minimal footwear is safer and better....
Geoff Lecovin, MS, DC, ND, CSCS, NASM-CPT, CES, PES There are many myths and misconceptions regarding optimum protein intake and the effects of protein on body composition, performance, recovery and metabolism. The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN)...
By Fabio Comana, MA, MS, NASM-CPT, CES & PES; ACE CPT & HC; NSCA CSCS; ACSM HFS, CISSN, Exercise Physiologist and Faculty Instructor – SDSU, UCSD & NASM High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is all the rage in the fitness world. No doubt you’ve seen...
Love to bust a move in Zumba? Look forward to unwinding on your mat in yoga? Get pumped up just thinking about breaking a sweat in boot camp? If you’re an avid group fitness goer you’ve probably noticed that not only is there an ever-growing number of class formats to...
The Two Fitness Myths You Still Believe Are True November 10, 2014 In a world full of information, it’s often hard to differentiate between what’s fitness fact and what’s fiction. On occasion it’s easy to spot—like claims that performing one particular move for just...
By Ryan Andrews & Brian St. Pierre :: Precision Nutrition Six-pack abs. Tight butts. Lean, vibrant, flawless health. That’s the image the fitness industry is selling. But have you ever wondered what it costs to achieve that “look”? What you have to do more of? And...
ViPR is used to drive movement, condition movement efficiency, and add integrated strength to movement through the variable load demands imposed on the body via authentic use of ground and gravity forces. Nick Luciano, Global ViPR Master Coach explains. To understand...
By: Function First, San Diego, CA Foot problems can be a nightmare for anyone who exercises upright. The fact that the foot must interface with the ground consistently can jeopardize your workouts (and therefore your health) when there is a problem there. Plantar...
By Pete Mc Call, MSMcCall has an MS in Exercise Science and Health Promotion. In addition, he is an ACE-certified Personal Trainer (ACE-CPT) and holds additional certifications and advanced specializations through NSCA and NASM. McCall has been featured in the...
By Joe Vennare for Life by Daily Burn It seems logical — a toned tummy is the by-product of a million sit-ups. At least that’s what the late-night infomercials lead us to believe. Plus, gym-goers everywhere appear to be using Swiss balls, ab wheels and...
By Nilufer Atik – Telegraph Is the Grid X the answer to body aches? Beckham thinks so. Do you suffer from niggling aches and twinges? A new type of ‘trigger’ therapy, already used by David Beckham, may be the answer – and you can do it all by...
By Fabio Comana, MA, MS, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, NASM Faculty To this day, we still hear certain squat rules echoed over and over throughout gyms and health clubs by many fitness professionals that often sound contradictory. While some rules emerged through research, the...
By Fabio Comana, MA, MS, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, NASM Faculty That dreaded six-letter word that many of us know all too well. While we may be aware of some of the consequences of stress, the question that should be asked is what we are doing on a consistent basis to...
TRX 101 TRX Editor 10.15.14 Born in the Navy SEALs, Suspension Training bodyweight exercise develops strength, balance, flexibility and core stability simultaneously. It requires the use of the TRX Suspension Trainer, a highly portable performance training tool that...
TRX 101 TRX Editor 10.15.14 Originally created to meet the needs of combat sport athletes and physical therapists, Rip Training variable resistance exercise is a multi-faceted approach to strength and cardiovascular conditioning that challenges you in all three planes...
Sports Medicine TRX Editor 10.12.14 Since its inception, TRX has advocated that people stand up to train. Going to a gym to sit down in a machine to “workout” after a day spent seated—during a commute, at the office, at the dinner table and while watching TV—creates...
By Kevin Murray – Function First Director of Education Tight and Weak, Stretch and Strengthen. “The biology of pain is never really straightforward, even when it appears to be”. Lorimer Moseley, a renowned neuroscientist and pain researcher succinctly...
By Jamie Allan, M.S. Soccer is a sport that requires a large demand from the lower body in all planes of motions. It includes many repetitive actions such as kicking, sprinting and changing of direction. The large stress placed on the lower body, along with the...
Derrick Price : MS in Exercise Science and Health Promotion, Master Trainer for ViPR, Power Plate, Core-Tex and Technogym You’re probably well versed in high-intensity interval training (HIIT), a form of training that utilises interval training of near maximal...
Small group training (SGT) has become increasingly popular recently because it promises to deliver more money per hour for PTs and group X instructors. However, the problem is that SGT is commonly misunderstood and often badly delivered. Many group X instructors...
Foam Rolling For Recovery “This is how we roll” By Steve Novencido MA, CSCS, USATF II, PES, FMS While working as a Strength & Conditioning Coach at IMG Academy, one of the premier academic and athletic institutions in the world, I have become familiar with the...
TRX 101 TRX Editor 10.08.14 One of the most frequently asked questions we receive is: how often should I train using the TRX Suspension Trainer? Here, TRX Head of Human Performance Chris Frankel explains how regular TRX use can ensure your training program is varied,...
