The anatomical term “posterior” refers to the backside of the body. Thus, the phrase, “posterior chain,” refers to the muscles of the backside of the body, specifically the low back, gluteals, hamstrings and calf muscles. Posterior-chain exercises involve contracting and lengthening the muscles in a chain-like manner. This is important for athletic movements that require…
The fusion of technology and the fitness industry continues at warp speed. This brings both excitement and concern, with users around the world waiting for the release of the new iPhone 6, new iOS 8 and the closely guarded Apple iWatch. Rumors suggest the devices will be both fashionable and practical. Wall Street has also…
Hip mobility and strength is essential for many daily activities like bending down to pick up an object or young child from the ground, walking up stairs or simply getting up from a seated position. In addition to providing an appealing shape, the glutes play an essential role in optimizing human performance for athletes, dancers…
Partner exercises are a great way to add some creativity to your workouts, as well as offer possibilities for small group and group training. Check out this fun and unique partner workout, which includes exercises that are done during a jiu-jitsu class to help improve strength, balance and coordination. THE WORKOUT (Perform 2 rounds) Fireman…
The illiotibial band, or IT band, is a band of thick fibers that connect from the most prominent area of the hip bone (iliac crest) and runs laterally down the leg, attaching to the shin bone (tibia). It is formed by the fibers of the long tendon of the tensor fascia latae (TFL) and the…
To have longevity in movement (being able to play and do what you love for a very long time), mobility has to be addressed in your fitness routine. Let’s first take a look at what mobility is so we can apply this principle to how we are training. Mitch Hauschildt, the Prevention, Rehab and Physical…
ACE Chief Science Officer Cedric X. Bryant, Ph.D., attended Apple’s launch event earlier this month, where they unveiled the iPhone 6, iOS8 and the Apple Watch. Here are his thoughts on how the Apple Watch will affect health and fitness professionals. With last week’s unveiling of its Apple Watch, the tech giant officially entered the…
Chronically tight hips not only can make certain yoga poses difficult to execute, they can also cause chronic discomfort. Although the reason varies, most people lack hip mobility because of sedentary lifestyles, past injuries or scar tissue from surgeries. Furthermore, according to certain yoga lineages, the hips are the storage center for unresolved emotions; therefore,…
The stability ball was originally used as a physical therapy aid for postural re-education and orthopedic rehabilitation. Today, you can find these large, air-filled balls in a variety of sizes in just about any fitness setting. They are used by exercise professionals in personal training and group fitness as a way to add interest and…
Here’s a fun Halloween-inspired workout to get your blood flowing! This is a superset workout, so pair the exercises together with no rest in between sets. This gives you an opportunity to save time, increase intensity, make things interesting and overload your muscles. Set a timer or watch the clock for 45 seconds each exercise….