Exercise is Medicine: A Physical Activity Prescription and Opportunity for Personal Trainers

It is amazing that physician networking is so infrequently explored by the personal training community. A November 2007 press release from the American Medical Association (AMA) announced the launch of a new initiative called Exercise is Medicine, a program designed to encourage America’s patients to incorporate physical activity and exercise into their daily routine.

Increase Your Personal Training Client’s Vertical Jump

When the basketball off season is in full swing and I have been asked numerous times, "how do I increase my vertical?"  Most aspiring basketball players think about flying through the air "Like Mike".  As fitness professionals these people come to us for help in achieving that dream.  They see the value of having professional training to get them off the ground quicker and higher than their opponent. 

The Electrolytes Sodium and Potassium

The term “electrolytes” gets thrown around a lot with not much more understanding beyond “you need them in your water to properly replenish the body after dehydration”. Most people know this to be true, but what exactly are electrolytes, and why are they so vital for effective hydration? Especially sodium and potassium… What Are Electrolytes? […]

Acromioplasty vs. Rotator Cuff Repair

The shoulder is one of the most complicated joints, having the ability to move in six different motions. The shoulder is therefore susceptible to injury because of potential trauma, overuse or degeneration requiring potential surgery. Two of the most common surgical procedures for the shoulder are acromioplasty and rotator cuff repair.

Dying Tan

Picture yourself on a white sandy beach. A slight sea breeze sprays a mist of salt water across your face and over the crowded beach. You’re at the mecca for the area’s best bikini contest, Coconuts on the Beach, Cocoa Beach, Florida. It’s 10 a.m. and like a Thanksgiving turkey, you’ve planned to baste your day away in the heat of the sun.

Training an ACL Reconstruction Fitness Client: What Personal Trainers Should Know

Many sports, such as soccer, basketball and football involve jumping, cutting and pivoting maneuvers. These motions place stress and demands on the ligaments that support the knee. One of the most common injured ligaments is the anterior cruciate ligament(ACL).

Helping the Total Knee Replacement (TKR) Client: Post Therapy and Beyond

Osteoarthritis(OA), the most common form of arthritis, a potentially devastating joint disease, affecting some 27 million adults per year and is on the rise. OA typically occurs in the hands, spine and hips affecting a multitude of joints particularly the knees.¹ Obtaining a detailed history by the physician, via x-ray, where individuals will complain of symptoms of stiffness, low-grade inflammation and pain, makes diagnosis.

What Is a Calorie? Personal Trainers Need to Know!

Weight loss to improve cardiovascular health is a high priority of the American Heart Association because approximately 34 percent of the population is overweight.
The most basic and fundamental law that governs whether you gain weight or lose weight is the first law of thermodynamics, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be transformed from one type to another. For our purposes here, the most common unit of energy measure is the calorie.

Clients with Arthritis: Effective Personal Training Strategies and Exercise Approaches

In this installment, we will review each type of arthritis and discuss effective training strategies and exercises that can benefit those afflicted as well as exercises that are to be avoided.

The Role of Protein in Training: What Personal Trainers Should Know

Proteins are indeed the building blocks of the body. They also play a vital role in resistance and aerobic training.