Category: CEC Articles

We’re all familiar with that guy in the gym–the one who spends as much time posing and admiring his physique in the mirror as he does lifting weights. He knows that the “pump” he achieves while training is ephemeral, merely a function of temporarily increased blood flow, and not the instant addition of true muscle mass.

Fat often gets a bad rap, and sometimes, rightly so. It is essential for many bodily processes, yet, like just about anything else, too much can be a bad thing.

Some women still fear the weight room.  The existing myth is that women who lift weights will end up with big bulky muscles and look too manly.  Ideas like this are giving resistance training a bad name.  We as trainers have to remember that men and women are physiologically different in the fact that the increase in muscle mass that is acquired by men is due to testosterone.  Yes, women secrete and deliver testosterone just like men do, but at much lower rates and volume.  This allows for women to build tone lean muscle and increase metabolism to enhance weight loss.

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Knee pain can be a debilitating problem, especially when an individual is not involved with a traumatic event or accident. One condition that I have seen more frequently in my practice as a physical therapist over the years is called patellofemoral syndrome (PFS).

An athletic body is truly a work of art, a wonder to behold. Male or female, every serious athlete, from swimmers to sprinters to gymnasts to bodybuilders, dedicates a tremendous amount of time to their chosen endeavor, spending hours each day striving for excellence. The result is a physique that is strong, healthy, and in good working order.

Information on what people should be eating to become healthy and stay healthy can be found just about everywhere you turn, from tabloids in supermarket checkout lanes, to Internet pop-up ads.

Having an adequate amount of nutrients is essential to proper health, but in the case of sodium, it’s easy to have too much of a good thing. In a super-sized food culture, controlling sodium intake can be an uphill climb.

Many clients rejoice when they step on the scale and see that they have lost weight. The numbers on the scale, as well as the changes in their physical appearances, are great indicators that their bodies are changing.

The core is where the most of the body’s power is derived. It provides the foundation for all movements of the arms and legs. The core must therefore be strong and be capable of dynamic flexibility and synergistic function in its movements in order to achieve maximum performance.

Athletes often focus on developing a specific set of muscles needed for a particular sport, often overlooking the importance of core stability.

When we as health care or fitness professionals meet someone for the first time, we are assessing them as soon as we meet them, as we talk to them and during the formal portion. Why do we do this?