Flexibility—the ability to move joints at their full range of motion (ROM)—is important for several reasons. Without enough flexibility, daily routines become difficult and, over time, the body compensates movement positions because of reduced mobility. Maintaining a flexible body decreases physical pain and prevents injury. Scientific evidence suggests that the risk of injury is reduced…
Your back is riddled with muscles of many different lengths, moving in many different directions and coordinating many actions. But it also suffers from the “out-of-sight, out-of-mind” phenomenon. With so much variety in the back musculature, it can be hard to know exactly what part of the back is working when you are doing any…
Flexibility is an important yet often overlooked component of a well-rounded fitness routine, especially for those who tend to gravitate to strength-based workouts. Adequate range of motion around the joints is imperative to perform loaded movement patterns safely and effectively using strength-training tools such as barbells and dumbbells. In addition to enhancing performance in the…
“Do you even lift, bro?” is a popular refrain from an online video lampooning the bodybuilding subculture. Although the point of the video is to poke fun at a specific community of weightlifting enthusiasts, the underlying theme is accurate—many people who exercise with the goal of adding muscle or improving their appearance may not be…
Reaction drills are a great way to have fun while also enhancing cognitive processing (thinking) and cognitive operation (remembering). Cognitive processing drills include visual or verbal cues set from the trainer. When a client sees or hears a cue, he or she will respond to the task associated with the cue. Therefore, one takes in…
The ankle is a complex hinge joint that is primarily defined by the shin bone (tibia) and its meeting with the talus bone on top of the foot. There are several other bones that surround this meeting, as well as all the muscles, ligaments and tendons that make these bones moveable in several directions, but…
For many people, working at a computer or typing on a tablet or phone is how we spend a majority of our day. This can lead to several biomechanical issues or ailments including wrist inflammation and, potentially, carpal tunnel syndrome. In addition to setting up an ergonomically effective working environment, and putting down the iPad…
The word “core” is thrown around so often in today’s movement classes, it’s almost lost all meaning. The core doesn’t mean just your abdominals or the front of the body. It means the entire trunk, front and back, including the hips. The goal in this series of exercises is to help train and create core…
For those who like to dress up and enjoy the revelry, Halloween can be one of the most fun holiday events of the year. The challenge is that Halloween is also the unofficial kick-off to the holiday season, which will run through January first. From Halloween treats to Thanksgiving pies to New Year’s drinks, the…
Agility training isn’t just for athletes. After all, everyday life requires us to change directions and be able to maintain balance and control of our bodies during activities of daily living. These exercises, which feature equipment from SKLZ, are both fun and effective for improving stability, mobility and strength, whether you want to improve performance…