2012年4月27日星期五

Overuse injury: How to prevent training injuries

Thinking of starting a new physical activity program or ramping up your current training program? If so, you may be at risk of an overuse injury — which could ultimately prevent you from being active. Find out what can cause an overuse injury and how to safely increase your activity level.
Common causes of overuse injury

An overuse injury is any type of muscle or joint injury, such as tendinitis or a stress fracture, that's caused by repetitive trauma. An overuse injury typically stems from:

    Training errors. Training errors can occur when you enthusiastically take on too much physical activity too quickly. Going too fast, exercising for too long or simply doing too much of one type of physical activity can strain your muscles and lead to an overuse injury.
    Technique errors. Improper technique can also take its toll on your body. If you use poor form as you do a set of strength training exercises, swing a golf club or throw a baseball, for example, you may overload certain muscles and cause an overuse injury.

Although an overuse injury can happen to anyone, you may be more prone to overuse injuries if you have certain medical conditions. Overuse injuries are also more likely to occur as you get older — especially if you don't recognize the impact aging can have on your body and modify your routine accordingly.
Avoiding overuse injury

Most overuse injuries are avoidable. To prevent an overuse injury:

    Address medical conditions. It's always a good idea to talk to your doctor before starting a new type of physical activity — especially if you have a medical condition that may predispose you to an overuse injury. You may need to correct imbalances in flexibility and strength or, if you've had a previous injury, work to restore range of motion, muscle strength and stability. Your doctor may offer tips to help make physical activity safe. If you have a muscle weakness in your hip, for example, your doctor may show you exercises to address the problem and prevent knee pain.
    Use proper form and gear. Whether you're starting a new type of physical activity or you've been playing a sport for a long time, consider taking lessons. Using the correct technique is crucial to preventing overuse injuries. Also make sure you wear proper shoes for the activity. Consider replacing your shoes for every 300 miles you walk or run, or — if you regularly exercise — at least twice a year.
    Pace yourself. If you're starting a new physical activity program, avoid becoming a weekend warrior. Compressing your physical activity for the week into two days can lead to an overuse injury. Instead, aim for at least two hours and 30 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity or one hour and 15 minutes a week of vigorous aerobic activity — preferably spread throughout the week. Always take time to warm up before physical activity and cool down afterward. Also keep in mind that as you age, you may not be able to do the same activities that you did years ago. Consider ways to modify activities to suit your abilities.
    Gradually increase your activity level. When changing your activity level or the amount of weight you're using while strength training, keep it gradual — such as increases of no more than 10 percent each week until you reach your new goal.
    Mix up your routine. Instead of focusing on one type of exercise, consider combining two or more types of physical activity, also known as cross-training. Doing a variety of low-impact activities — such as walking, biking, swimming and water jogging — in moderation can help prevent overuse injuries by allowing your body to use different muscle groups. Strive to include aerobic exercise, strength training, stretching, core stability and balance training elements in your routine.

2012年4月26日星期四

Upper Body Dumbbell Exercises

Who doesn’t want to have an upper body built like people they see on TV and in magazines that all the women swoon over? Well with some dedication and a good workout routine, you can get one of those bodies yourself. One good way to accomplish this is through upper body dumbbell exercises. There are countless upper body dumbbell exercises that you could use, but I’ll give you just a few that could get you started on your quest to a great physique.
Dumbbell Flat Bench- One of the staples for many people’s workouts is the dumbbell flat bench. It is a fairly straight-forward lift. You grab a dumbbell in each hand and lay on your back on a flat bench. Hold each dumbbell off to your side and raise them until your arms are extended. At the top, try to squeeze your pecs then return to the starting position in a slow, controlled manner.
Dumbbell Military Press- You can do this exercise either seated or standing. Grab a dumbbell in each hand and hold them about shoulder level with your palms facing away from your body. From there, raise the weights straight up until your arms are fully extended. Pause at the top briefly then return to the starting position slowly.
Preacher Bicep Curls- Standing behind an inclined bench, grab a dumbbell with one arm. Place the back of the arm with the weight in it on the bench. Slowly release your arm and let it straighten out. Once the weight touches the bench, curl it back up while keeping the weight under control. Try not to swing the weight, as that will take the stress off of the bicep.
Behind-the-Head Tricep Extensions- These can be performed either seated or standing (though I prefer seated). Grab a dumbbell in one hand and raise it straight above your head. From there, slowly bring the dumbbell behind your head (bend your arm at the elbow only, try not to go too far past 90 degrees). Pause for a moment, then return to the starting position. Once back in the starting position, try to squeeze your tricep for maximum effectiveness.
These are only a few of the possible dumbbell exercises you could use in order to build muscle in you r upper body. If you are a beginner, be sure to start with a lower weight as to avoid possible injuries.

2012年4月25日星期三

No Exercise Plan Works - You Do

There is no way that anyone can tell you exactly what you need when it comes to an exercise plan or program. It should fit your needs and your lifestyle. A decision is all you need to work out, to lose weight, or to better health. Many plans or programs on the Internet guide and coach you.

You need a guide to set up a schedule, to show you the correct exercise and correct execution. So many times, people start exercising without guidance. The result is physical injuries or just over exertion leading to discouragement.

We read many articles, in an effort, to present relevant and important exercise and diet information. The Articles and sites visited stressed exercise and weight loss as the most important.

Many claim the magic potion or the perfect workout. You will find promises of fast, easy weight loss and perfect bodies. There is no doubt they work. Exercise done consistently and properly will get results.

Before being swooned into a program or plan research and study them before making your decision. There is no program or diet plan that works.... only thing that will make a plan or program work is you! Positive mental attitude and effort will take you farther than any plan or program.

Physical exercise is any bodily activity that stresses muscles, improves health and gives an overall good feeling. Exercise has many benefits, to lose weight, to better the physique, strengthen muscles and to improve health.

After much research the conclusion is no bad plans just bad attitudes. People want results now. They don't want sweat and tears nor do they want to exert effort. Couch potatoes and channel surfers want results now.

Realize when it comes to diet and exercise there is nothing easy or free. It is a life changing decisions and an unstoppable effort that gets results. Make a decision let go of the remote.

After consulting with your physician and doing your research decide what you need for your goals. Select an exercise, a plan, or a program to help you reach those goals. To help make an informed decision we listed some tips. Make sure you look for the program or plan that will:

• Motivate you to exercise.

• Tell you to consult your doctor for a physical.

• Find out if you are physically able and if you have any special needs. What you and your doctor need should be a part of a program or plan.

• Meet your goals and needs: to feel better, to look better, or to resolve a medical issue.

• Coach and guide you to do proper exercises.

• Provide instruction on healthy nutrition.

• Give you guidance on the use and need of equipment such as shoes, gym clothes and monitoring techniques.

• Provide information on monitoring equipment and devices such as pedometers, heart rate monitor, and a blood pressure cuff.

• Set up a schedule and regiment. Stick to it!

• Include a Cardio workout always.

Many blogs stressed exercise, yet only one made it a point to emphasize cardio workouts. This is where you need the doctor's advice.

This is worth stressing. Cardio pulmonary workouts are essential to weight loss and good health. Monitoring heart rate is another essential. Cardio work outs do not have to be long just consistent.

Low impact workouts protect your knees. Low impact is walking briskly, bicycle riding or elliptical trainers. The emphasis is low impact with high intensity. High intensity, according to recent studies, is the way to build and tone muscles faster. Look for simple not easy, because in the long run there is no getting around exercise.

2012年4月24日星期二

A Strong Backside can Help Your Running

A toned gluteus muscle is no doubt one of the hallmarks of fitness and sexiness. But how does having a nice butt help us in movements such as running?

Frédéric Delavier explains in his book Women’s Strength Training Anatomy that in the human being, the gluteus maximus, one of the muscles that makes up the hip extensor muscles, does not play a significant role in gait. But as soon as the effort increases to walking fast or running, the gluteus maximus becomes engaged to extend the hip energetically and straighten the torso.

How much do we need the gluteus muscle when you want to sprint?  A lot!

A study “Effect of Running Speed on Lower Limb Joint Kinetics,” published in the Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise Journal showed the hip extensors and knee flexor muscles (gluteus and hamstrings) demonstrated the most increase in biomechanical load with faster running.

2012年4月23日星期一

Zumba Time

The popularity of Zumba is spreading across the world as its reputation for positive results is evident and being broadcasted worldwide. Zumba has turned into not just a Latin dance, but a dance that people from all cultures can adapt to and make their own.

“According to zumba.com, Zumba has expanded to more than 110,000 locations and 125 countries,” said Stephanie Kariuki of Ohio State University.

Zumba has been described as a formula that proves that working hard will promise results. So it is surprising that the dance was formed by accident? Alberto “Beto” Perez, an aerobics teacher from Columbia, forgot the music for his class one day and decided to improvise. After positive feedback and the creation of a dream, Beto moved to Miami to start what is now known as the Zumba revelation.

“… in 2001, his innovative style caught the attention of two entrepreneurs, Alberto Perlman and Alberto Aghion.  The three men joined together to create Zumba Fitness, LLC, a global company based on Beto’s fitness philosophy,” said writers ofzumbaway.com.

Zumba has transformed from a Latin dance, to an exercise class at the gym, to take home DVD’s and games, to physical education classes on college campuses. Zumba, especially in college, encourages students to stay fit with friends. 

"You can go with your friends and get the same workout and have a good time,” said an anonymous student from Ohio State University.

Dance is a great workout because of all the aspects of exercise it targets. Zumba, unlike other forms of exercise, improves the cardiovascular system, improves coordination, helps lose weight at a steady pace, and can even boost one’s mood all in a fun way.

“Research has found that one of the best ways to improve the condition of your cardiovascular system is by performing physical activity that stresses the heart, such as… Zumba dancing. For best results, try to get at least 30 minutes five days a week,” said 4 Fitness Benefits of Zumba Dancing.

Zumba has had a reputation for changing the way people feel about themselves while exercising and being a great tool for motivation as opposed to feeling self-conscious.

“There is something about the way Zumba Fitness can make you feel. The way your body performs those Zumba Fitness moves. You just let go…and allow your body to enjoy itself. When I do Zumba, I dance like no one is watching. There are no barriers,” said a blogger from jfitnessarts.com.

The skyrocketing popularity of this dance form is also just due to the plain and simple fact that it is fun and never the same. A majority of first time Zumba dancers always go back for another class.

"I needed something more than my usual exercise and walking to get my weight down and Zumba has been it!  Plus it is so much fun!” said Sarah G, a frequent Zumba dancer.

2012年4月22日星期日

Should You Work On Fundamentals? No One Wants To Hear That

A movement pattern is what can make up a challenging workout. Not how many reps and how much weight you can lift, push, or pull. The quality of the movement is what really matters. Can you squat, lunge, push, pull, move into 3 planes of motion, and stabilize your spine like you do in life? An effective and challenging workout is about you moving better and feeling better. It's not about you completely exhausting your nervous system and unable to move the next day because you are so tired, aching, and over-worked.
A good analogy is the service and upkeep your car needs compared to your body. What happens when you forget about changing your oil or a tune-up for your car? You have a dirty or poor running engine, right? Well, your body needs a tune-up and oil change as well to run as optimized as possible. If you can't or don't do the basic upkeep, you're probably going to break down sooner rather than later. Although it may not be immediately, you are going to pay the price for neglecting your essential maintenance. Your body is definitely not going to move better just like your car. You have to make sure your body and your car engine is primed and running on all cylinders.
Fundamental movement or motor patterns help develop a strong foundation. Building your whole body and improving your joint stability will serve you well. A third component of fitness is to increase your endurance and outlast your competition. However, if your fundamentals are weak your entire body and health will not perform at a level you could otherwise be achieving. You must develop your foundation and build on a strong base.
The master of fundamentals as far as I'm concerned was and is the late, great coach John Wooden. The coach used to drill and practice "the fundamentals" during every training session at UCLA. When game time came around his players were prepared. If you're not familiar with Wooden's Pyramid of Success you should be. The coach's positive principles will power every person to new heights and achievements.
Your workout "fundamentals" are basic movement patterns involving strength and stability. Although TRX suspension training and kettlebells is trendy and hot right now, you have to walk before you can run. Anyone can squat and lunge with assistance. Have you ever used a cane or walker? I'm being facetious of course. I'm talking primitive patterns here where you need to be able to use and master your body. A gymnast and wrestler are great examples of athletes who have developed their bodies from the inside out. These athletes have tremendous core strength and stability which is where the fundamentals begin.
Don't be like everyone else who skips steps to advance before you're actually ready. Learn to develop your body in practical and fundamental ways. Big muscles aren't going to save you when you trip and fall. But if you worked on your stability and developed more intrinsic strength you might prevent yourself from taking that nasty fall in the first place. Movement patterns are how you gauge your health and fitness. If you've never been educated on how you can improve the way you move, then consult with a fitness professional who will provide you a proper assessment along with sequential steps to improve your overall health and fitness. There are certain norms that we should all strive for, but we all have certain weaknesses that can and should be improved. The weakest link will break you down time after time in your kinetic chain. The most successful people understand and appreciate the basics and fundamentals whether it be in movement and exercise or business and life.
Marin health and fitness expert, John Spongberg is the founder of Personal Training in Marin as well as an accomplished author, speaker and life coach. He is dedicated to helping people reach their optimum level of fitness, health and body satisfaction through a unique, comprehensive whole-person approach, customized to each client.

2012年4月20日星期五

Be Amazed by the Schwinn 460 Elliptical Trainer!

The Schwinn 460 is the latest in a line of Schwinn elliptical training machines that enjoy a really high popularity. They are renowned as being very good budget crosstrainers and the Schwinn 460 is also enjoying a similar reputation. The customer reviews that are posted online are positive and the device also managed to receive an impressive "Best Buy" rating.
What is interesting is the fact that the Schwinn 460 takes a different elliptical training approach when compared with similar items on the market. The problem that appears with such devices is the fact that they have a stationary stride. This limits toning abilities. Schwinn 460 is different as it will offer you variable stride. You can change the stride from 2 inches to 26 inches. This is a special feature known as Schwinn V-Stride. By using it you will be able to have short strides that will target quads and calves, medium strides that work on glutes, thighs and long strides that will engage most muscle groups. V-Stride basically offers you the possibility to work more muscle groups while also being perfect for accommodating users that have various heights.
Schwinn 460 brings in numerous extra features that you might want to know about. There are 16 workout programs that are offered. 11 are profile, 2 are custom for two users and 1 is manual. You might be happy to know that the unit weight is of 221 pounds. Most elliptical will be light weight and a heavy user will not be able to use them. This does not happen with Schwinn 460 as it is perfect even for overweight users. The limit is set to around 300 pounds.
The flywheel weighs 25 pounds and this offers a really smooth elliptical stride. It is not the quietest or the smoothest that you will find but it is perfect given that attached price tag. Foot pedals are articulating so they will angle with motion. Schwinn 460 is just as long as the 420 model but it is wider. A length of 54 inches is visible and this does not affect stability. You are surely going to love the wireless heart rate monitor. All elliptical have a heart rate monitor but they are usually linked to a handgrip. Schwinn 460 includes a special chest strap so the heart rate is monitored without having to pay attention to putting your hands in the right spot.