How often should I use Compression Therapy? So you’re thinking about buying a compression system. You’ve seen them everywhere — from pro team training rooms to the living rooms of your favorite athletes and celebrities. But why invest in something that seems so...
Why the Achilles Complex is so Vulnerable by Gray Institute According to Greek mythology, Achilles was a dominant warrior who seemed invulnerable to his opponents. That is, until Paris fatally shot Achilles in his heel—the one and only place Paris knew that Achilles...
Rocktape for Runners: How to make it work for you! Kinesiology tape, or “Rocktape,” is a popular tool among runners for reducing inflammation, managing pain, and helping to prevent injury. This type of tape is different than traditional athletic tapes because it...
Should you be Flossing Daily? A beginner’s guide to RockFloss Floss bands are not a new concept. They have been around for a while now under various names mostly used as part of a warm up routine for gym workouts, particularly in the CrossFit world. But they can also...
Athletes with a Strong Squat are less likely to get Injured by Rodney Corn Squats are one of the most fundamental and functional actions we perform. They require both total body stabilization and strength to be performed at levels high enough to be beneficial for...
CHIN UPS VERSUS PULL UPS, THE BENEFITS, THE MUSCLES WORKED by Kinsey Mahaffey If you enjoy the convenience of bodyweight exercises and the challenge that they bring, then you may already know that chin ups and pull-ups are among the most effective bodyweight exercises...
3 Exercises to Strengthen the Knee after an ACL Surgery by Gray Institute The goal with the initiation of rehabilitation for an ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) surgery is to prevent what happened to happen again. Rehab should integrate both prevention and performance...
By Kinsey Mahaffey Stay Updated with NASM! Most people experience some type of muscle pain at some point in their lives. 60-85% of the population has had some type of nonspecific muscle pain in their back at some point in their lives (Krismer and van Tulder 2007).Even...
By ANDREW MILLS Improving physical performance is as much about maximizing performance quality as balancing and mitigating injury risks and maximizing recovery to prevent maladaptation in response to accumulated and progressive training loads. There is a lot of...
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI Are you ever in the middle of a workout and then BOOM… it hits you? Your muscle is locked up, the pain sets in, and you need to take a bit of a breather to handle the discomfort. I think all of us at one point in time have experienced this...
By NICOLE GOLDEN Muscle damage and delayed onset muscle soreness can hamper performance in sports and training. Speeding up the rate of recovery can mean better performance and bigger gains in the long term. Good nutrition, rest, and optimal hydration are the staples...
By NICOLE GOLDEN Chronic pain is defined as any pain from an injury or condition lasting more than 12 weeks. Many potential clients seeking a certified personal trainer, yoga class, or corrective exercise specialist do so in hopes of using exercise to mitigate chronic...
By Nicole Golden Shoulder pain, prior injury, or overall dysfunction is a very common problem in both the athletic and general populations in a personal training practice. A complaint of shoulder pain occurs in 16 to 26 per cent of adults and is the third most common...
By Nicole Golden There is nothing quite like the disappointment of excitedly starting an exercise program, preparing for a new season of your favourite sport, or attempting a personal record (PR) only to find yourself injured and on the sidelines. It can also be very...
By Nicole Golden Do you or your clients complain of bothersome pain in the shoulder, knee, hip, or foot? Perhaps you or your client do not remember any sudden injury leading to the pain? It may be described as a pain that moves around and waxes and wanes. Overuse...
By KINSEY MAHAFFEY If you’ve ever suffered from lower back pain, you know that it can be, well, a pain! The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services conducted a National Health Interview survey of 31,997 adults in 2019. Their reports showed that 39% of respondents...
By KINSEY MAHAFFEY If you’ve worked out with a personal trainer or in a group fitness class, you may have heard the term ‘pelvic tilt’. A fitness professional may have even told you that you have a pelvic tilt, but what does that mean? Many people may be unfamiliar...
By Chris Frederick In a previous blog that compared static vs dynamic stretching, the NASM OPT model delineates what type of stretching is used at specific levels of training clients. This is especially important to know if you’re a Stretching and Flexibility...
By KINSEY MAHAFFEY I have vivid memories of joining my dad as he laid on the ground with his legs elevated after a long run or intense biking session. “What are you doing, dad?” I asked as I wiggled in next to him to copy what he was doing. “Gotta get the lactic acid...
By TRX Recovery—aka what you do to help the body and mind manage the strain of physical activity and stress—isn’t a new concept. Those flimsy white foam rollers have been floating around physical therapy offices for decades. Believe it or not, massage has roots as far...
By COLLEEN BRIDGES Determined, consistent, and tenacious are just a few words I like to use to describe my Parkinson’s Disease “fighters.” I call them “fighters” because instead of lying down and giving up, they have chosen to take charge...
By Christine M Conti Offer up these simple tips to aid arthritic clients reduce flare-ups, decrease symptoms, and experience more pain-free days!In 2020, COVID-19 changed the world. Businesses closed, social gatherings ceased, isolation grew, and the fear of catching...
By NICOLE GOLDEN Ideal protein (PRO) intake is a topic of much debate in the fitness community as the benefits and recommended intakes can vary greatly depending on the source. Likewise, PRO needs can be considerably different depending on an individual’s baseline...
By Andrew Mills Anyone having experienced pain in their elbow while bench pressing knows it can be a frustrating ordeal. For those who have not, imagine entering the gym ready to put in the work, and after loading the appropriate weight onto the bar, laying back on...
With Rick Richey Host Rick Richey chats with Toni Ricci about the effectiveness of corrective exercise for professional fighters. Moving beyond that, he also explains how recovery, sleep, mindset, and more affect the overall preparedness of those who compete in fight...
By Stacey Penny Foam rolling is a self-myofascial release (SMR) stretching technique that has been embraced throughout the fitness industry. This effective and simple to do technique delivers positive, feel good results. Foam rollers have become easily accessible,...
By LAURA QUAGLIO Are you giving workouts your all but getting less in return—or even backsliding? Does it seem like you’re always battling bronchitis, tendonitis, or another “itis”? Or maybe your usual over-the-top enthusiasm for workouts has faded to “barely there.”...
By Ken Miller Lower crossed syndrome is one of the most common compensatory patterns. It is characterized by an anterior tilt to the pelvis (arched lower back). In recent years, we’ve heard a lot about the ill effects of prolonged sitting. Articles, blog posts and TV...
By KINSEY MAHAFFEY Recovery is important for getting the most out of your fitness programming and an essential component of a personal training education. I spend a decent amount of time talking with my clients about proper recovery techniques to avoid burnout and...
By Nicole Golden Genetic factors play a role in response to exercise and body composition, as in most physiologic functions in the body. High levels of physical activity have been known to provide benefits beyond just weight loss, such as decreased disease risk,...
By Andrew mills In a previous article, Prehabilitation Through Corrective Exercise: A Guide for Trainers, we explored how Certified Personal Trainers (CPTs) could help prepare individuals for a procedure like total knee replacement surgery. This article will focus on...
By Andrew Mills NASM Corrective Exercise Specialists (CES) can provide targeted help to improve their client’s baseline physical health before surgical intervention. The purpose of prehabilitation is to put the client into the best position possible for post-procedure...
By Nicole Golden RESEARCH REVIEW Effects of Selected Rehabilitative Exercises on External Rotator Muscles and Trapezius Muscles of Masonry Workers STUDY AUTHOR Singh, G. K., Srivastava, S., Kumar, M., & Ratnakar, S. ORIGINAL CITATION Singh, G. K., Srivastava, S.,...
By Dr. Jason Welcome to Help and Wellness, a blog where we will share everything you need to know about Theragun Percussive Therapy, general health & wellness, and everything in between. We’ll also share stories that move us and connect us with you, our Theragun...
By Dana Bender Overcoming exercise burnout is more important than ever for online personal trainers, fitness professionals and exercise enthusiasists alike! When fitness centers closed mid-March in response to COVID-19, many regular gym goers were tasked with...
By Nicole Golden Squat mechanics are very highly debated amongst fitness professionals and corrective exercise experts. Performing an internet search of “squat form” will turn up a plethora of results including focusing most on squat depth and lifting the most weight...
By DAVID A. TITCOMB · JUNE 4, 20200 Similar to other structures in the body, the cervical spine (CS) has a significant influence on body regions located above and below its location. Not only does CS musculature produce movement of the head and neck, but it also plays...
By Pete Mccall Starting a new habit can be challenging, especially when it comes to exercise. From joining a fitness facility to showing up for the first appointment, there are so many steps for beginning a fitness program that it can be overwhelming to take the first...
By JUSTIN KOMPF One of the requirements for a coach to be “good” is their ability to relay information to a client so that they can correctly and comfortably execute strength training movements. The inability to do this contributes to incorrect form, which in turn...
By Ken Miller MS, NASM MASTER INSTRUCTOR, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, GFS If you’re like the millions of people who use electronic tools such as a cell phone, tablet, laptop or desk computer, you’ve probably spent hours upon hours looking at the screen with your head jutted...
By Lara Quaglio With so much of life happening at the front of the body (driving a car, typing on a computer and even doing many exercises, such as pushup and bench press), a lot of people have developed upper crossed syndrome, which is characterized by a forward head...
By Sam Arnold WHY SHOULD ATHLETES TRUST THEIR PERSONAL TRAINER? Working with an athlete to achieve on-field success can be one of the most intimidating and complicated tasks for a young trainer to master. There are so many training methods available that “analysis...
By Rick Richley There are several pathologies that get in the way of living our best and most active lifestyles. Serval orthopedic issues that hinder our activities of daily living (ADLs) are arthritis and osteoporosis. There are two forms of arthritis that we discuss...
By Angie Miller Personal trainers are individuals who inspire, motivate, and guide others to achieve their fitness goals. It is a rewarding, highly-ranked career with immense job satisfaction (CNN Money, 2012). If you are ready to become more involved in the fitness...
By Laura Quaglio As NASM Senior Fitness Specialists well know, older adults are a growing segment of the population—and a rewarding group to work with. Check out these amazing perks that your senior clients can enjoy, thanks to your work. A CLEARER MIND ALL DAY LONG A...
By Krista Popowych The dawning of true winter—and holiday gifts of down-filled jackets and cozy snow gloves—may have clients eagerly anticipating a day on the slopes. For those who have yet to start schussing down the mountain, circling the ice rink or shredding it on...
By Kyle Stull In the last decade, the use of foam rolling has become increasingly popular for athletes and average Joes alike. Foam rolling as a corrective exercise method makes sense – they feel “good,” seem to work well, have an excellent cost to benefit ratio, and...
By Morgan Shapiro Rest days. Something all of us gym rats know we need to partake in, but often have a hard time doing. We are regularly exposed to phrases such as “no days off” or “no pain, no gain.” While working hard and pushing ourselves in the gym is excellent,...
By Kyle Stull Corrective Exercises are a technique used by health & fitness professionals to address and fix movement compensations and imbalances. These exercises are commonly used by personal trainers, massage therapists and chiropractors, to help clients move...
By Trish Muse Chances are, at some point in your personal training career, you will work with clients who’ve had a knee replacement or are on track to get one. This can be a daunting prospect to consider, but it doesn’t have to be. With a combination of cultivated...
By Kyle Stull When we think of corrective exercise, we often picture the process of trying to correct a less than optimal movement pattern with rolling, lengthening, activation, and integration techniques. Improving movement quality requires an individual to inhibit...
By Adam Annaccone Knee pain is common in physically active males and females. According to a new clinical guideline in the Journal of Sports Physical Therapy examining patellofemoral pain, approximately 25% of individuals will suffer from idiopathic (no specific...
By Alexandra Williams The news isn’t good regarding the influence of social media on the foods children prefer. In a study published in Pediatrics (2019; 143 [4]) of 176 children ages 9–11, doctoral candidate Anna Coates of the University of Liverpool found that the...
By Kyle Stull Proper assessment and training of the foot musculature are vital to optimal health. Given that the feet are our foundation and interact with our environment daily, it affects the whole body if they hurt. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society...
By LAURA QUAGLIO , ANDREA LEONARD , ANNA SCHWARTZ Cancer is serious business. It is second only to heart disease as Americans’ leading cause of death, and more than 1.7 million new cases of cancer are expected to be diagnosed this year. Of those new cases, many will...
By DAVID CRUZ, DC, CSCS, FMS, SFMA Cyclist can be prone to ITB Syndrome IT BAND SYNDROME: SYMPTOMS, RISK FACTORS, EXERCISES The warm summer weather is the perfect setting for people to get outdoors and participate in the activities they enjoy. However, too much of a...
By NASM Discomfort from too much sitting? Inactive glutes? Buttock and leg pain? Though small in size, the piriformis could have a big impact on keeping the human movement system moving smoothly. Addressing an overactive piriformis may be part of the solution. WHAT IS...
By BRIAN SUTTON, MA, MS, CSCS, NASM-CPT, CNC, CES, PES THE MOST SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE ARM EXERCISES Are you looking for stronger, more defined arms — the type of arms you can show off? If toned and sculpted arms are what you’re looking for, try these strength training...
By Kyle Stull What is thoracic outlet syndrome? Are there assessments that personal trainers can consider to identify it, and can corrective exercise programming help? Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a condition involving the vessels of the neck, shoulder, and arm....
By Fabio Comana 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 body’s ability to maintain homeostasis (that state of equilibrium of...
By Geoff Lecovin Whether you’ve just finished a HIIT workout, completed a CrossFit WOD, hit your PR or finished a triathlon, your focus should move from performance to recovery. This involves: Refueling Repairing Rehydrating Revitalizing Evidence-based strategies to...
B Kyle Stull Personal trainers will likely encounter a client with hip impingement as a training concern. Improve your client’s hip mobility with these stretching and strengthening techniques, plus cueing advice for pelvic positioning. Hip discomfort or pain is common...
by Dr. David Tiberio Kerrigan DC, Todd MK, Della Croce U, Lipsitz LA, Collins JJ. Biomechanical gait alterations independent of speed in healthy elderly: evidence for specific limiting impairments. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 199879:317-322. The purpose of this study was to...
By Kyle Stull Hamstrings are arguably one of the most talked about muscle groups, as well as the most researched, stretched, and injured. While there is a wealth of information about hamstring injury prevention and treatment, hamstring injuries are still widespread...
By KEN MILLER, MS, NASM MASTER INSTRUCTOR, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, GFS For as many ways as there are to challenge the body in a workout, how many ways do we think about approaching our warm-up routine? How well prepared are our bodies for the stresses of the approaching...
By Wayne David Clark As fitness professionals we sometimes tend to neglect our own bodies in favour of helping others achieve their goals. We become so focussed on the needs of others, that our own needs tend to be placed on the back burner. Having said that a lot...
By MARTY MILLER, ATC, DHSC, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, MASTER INSTRUCTOR Human movement is an amazing orchestra of muscle contractions controlled by the central nervous system to create joint actions to accomplish specific tasks. The motor tasks can be as simple as raising a...
RICK RICHEY, MS. When I was young and thought about flexibility, it would conjure up images in my mind of Jean-Claude Van Damme doing center splits between two chairs. I was obsessed with that, so I practiced that version of flexibility until I was able to actually do...
By STACEY PENNEY, MS, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, FNS Foam rolling is a self-myofascial release (SMR) stretching technique that has been embraced throughout the fitness industry. This effective and simple to do technique delivers positive, feel-good results. Foam rollers...
BY KYLE STULL Odds are high that you’ll have a training client with an artificial hip at some point in your career. Having a client with hip replacements may seem like a daunting prospect, but in most cases the new hips function just as well as biological hips....
By Kyle Stull Everyone is quick to talk about “tightness.” The calves are tight; the hip flexors are tight; the low-back is tight; the shoulders and the neck are tight. It’s true that many people are tight and restricted, but what about those that have too much...
by Dr. David Tiberio, Doug Gray Category: Applied Functional Science Share The popular song entitled “Dem Bones” is ageless. Furthermore, it is brilliant. James Weldon Johnson first composed it back in the early 1900s. Instead of quoting all the lyrics (as the song...
BY Andrew Mills For many of us, working with individuals with tight/overactive hip flexors is a common occurrence. Learning to properly assess and address overactive hip flexors is a powerful skill in helping today’s client move more efficiently. Spending long hours...
By STACEY PENNEY, MS, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, FNS Age is more than a number- it’s an opportunity to serve a growing population. Every day we are bombarded with statistics on seniors and baby boomers, and the customer potential they can bring. But what do trainers (or club...
By KATHY ZETTERBERG Static stretching is a highly debated and controversial topic within the fitness and sports performance communities and is focused around the concept that sustained static stretching could impair subsequent performance (Rossi et al. 2010; Shrier...
By Kyle Stull Most clients, and fitness professionals alike, use the term “tight” to indicate that a muscle or other form of contractile tissue is shorter than it should be. After being in the fitness industry for more than 15 years, I’ve heard the phrase “my...
By KEN MILLER, MS, NASM MASTER INSTRUCTOR, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, GFS Major League Baseball history was made in 1974. It wasn’t made by a World Series-deciding play at the plate or even a record-breaking event. History was made off the field when Tommy John, the then...
By Kyle Stull If you were to research IT band problems every day for the next year, there is a good chance you will accumulate over 365 different articles on causes, approaches to treatment, and quick fixes. Many of these articles would explain how the IT band rubs on...
By Dr David Tiberio Category: Applied Functional Science Share As the gait cycle progresses, the lead leg becomes the trail leg. But there may be an advantage to consider what is happening to the trail leg at the same time the lead leg is going through its REAL bone...
Ahhhh…. The trials and tribulations of back pain – perhaps the most elusive member of the “aches and pains” family. How it feels and where it comes from can vary drastically from person to person. It can be attributed to anything and everything from a...
By MICHAEL YAREMKO Minimize Injury Potential – Maximize Performance! When someone says that you have potential, they are really saying, “You could be great, but you aren’t right now.” Athletes typically don’t ever want to hear these words, especially goalies, but it...
By MICHAEL YAREMKO Avoiding non-contact injuries with corrective exercise can help keep your hockey team on the ice and in the game. Anytime I mention that I am a hockey player, the first question I get is, “How come you still have all of your teeth?” Hockey is...
By Kyle Stull You’ve probably heard the term biceps tendonitis as gym members highlight an ache or pain at the front of their shoulder. But what is biceps tendonitis and what can be done to avoid it? WHAT IS BICEPS TENDONITIS (AKA: TENDINITIS) AND WHAT CAN YOU DO?...
February 06, 2018 by Dr. David Tiberio Category: Applied Functional Science Shoulder joint motion (glenohumeral articulation) occurs when there is relative movement between the head of the humerus and the glenoid fossa of the scapula. Like all joints, real motion of...
By BRIAN SUTTON, MA, MS, CSCS, NASM-CPT, CES, PES Hockey is arguably the quintessential competitive sport of the cold weather season. Here we’ll discuss the unique demands of ice hockey and how sports performance professionals can safely and effectively implement...
By STACEY PENNEY, MS, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, FNS Foam rolling is a self-myofascial release (SMR) stretching technique that has been embraced throughout the fitness industry. This effective and simple to do technique delivers positive, feel good results. Foam rollers...
By Kyle Stull Foot pain can be one of the most debilitating types of pain and discomfort for both the average individual and the athlete alike. To put it simply, when your feet hurt, everything hurts. The foot is essentially the foundation of the body; it is the first...
By THOMAS F. WEST, PHD, LAT, ATC Our upper extremity is designed around our hands, our primary tool for manipulating objects in our environment. To this end, the shoulder complex provides the upper extremity with a wide range of motion, allowing us to position our...
By Kyle Stull Wrist injuries are very common. This is especially true for those on the ice and snow, and also in wheeled sports and activities such as skating and skateboarding in more recent years. In fact, wrist injuries are the second most common type of upper...
By Fabio Comana Despite growing popularity and adoption of programs incorporating heart rate (HR) zone methodology, the fitness industry in general appears to lack a solid understanding of the scientific facts and limitations to this programming concept. The goal...