By Mike Croskery, M.Sc. HK (Biomechanics) – Clinical Exercise Physiologist At some point, almost all of us have felt that unsettling pulling sensation in a muscle, often followed by an uncomfortable spasm during exercise or movement. What initially feels like a minor tweak – awkward, tight, or slightly painful – can quickly escalate if ignored. Chances are, you’ve experienced a muscle strain, commonly known as a […]
Continue readingUsing EMG Analysis to Improve Performance
Using EMG Analysis to Improve Performance Surface EMG analysis, also known as surface electromyography, records how muscles activate when the nervous system sends a signal to the muscle to contract, allowing it to move, stabilize, or decelerate a joint. The small electrodes, similar to ECG electrodes, are placed directly on the skin above the targeted muscle to measure the electrical signal generated by the movement […]
Continue readingYour Midsection Abs Definition Plan: Sculpt a Strong, Defined Core
By Mike Croskery, M.Sc. HK (Biomechanics) – Clinical Exercise Physiologist “Mirror, Mirror, on the wall…” Ever feel a little dismayed when you catch a glimpse of your midsection after the holidays? Those festive feasts, busy schedules, and abundance of delicious food can often lead to a tighter pant waistline and a softer feel around the middle. But here’s the good news: your body is incredibly adaptable! […]
Continue readingPersonal Training FAQ
What is a personal trainer? A personal trainer is a coach that works one-on-one with their clients to help them achieve a certain fitness goal by teaching proper exercise technique, intensity, and creating training program tailored to their needs. For example, some are interested in losing body fat, increasing strength, firming up certain body parts, building muscle, improving general health or training for sport to […]
Continue readingTraining for Aerobic Performance
Although coaches, instructors, fitness trainers, and physiologists often differ on the terminology of the different aerobic training methods, generally one can divide the training into the following sections. Training zone determination can be performed by measuring lactic acid levels, heart rate in relation to power production, and/or changes in EMG amplitude and muscle fatigue at various points through a progressive stage test. From this information, […]
Continue readingLactic Acid and Fat Burning: Optimize Workouts for Max Fat Loss
You’ve just finished your aerobic workout, you’re breathing hard and heavy, and your legs are weak and are burning like their on fire. ‘That fat is going to be burned up like crazy’ you think to yourself. What you might not know is that you may have just sabotaged your fat-burning quest because of the high lactic acid levels you have generated from your hard workout.
Continue reading5 W’s of How to Get Fit for Beginners
By Mike Croskery, M.Sc. HK (Biomechanics) – Clinical Exercise Physiologist Are you curious about how to get fit for beginners but not sure where to start? Many people want to begin a fitness journey, but feel overwhelmed by the conflicting information out there. This guide simplifies the process into five questions. By answering the 5 W’s of Getting Fit—Who, What, When, Where, and Why—you’ll have the […]
Continue readingImproving Your Performance in Business Through Proper Exercise and Nutrition
Peak performance in the business world requires that you are alert, full of energy, mentally sharp, and highly motivated. When your energy level becomes a problem all of these essential attributes can suffer. Proper exercise and nutrition techniques can help to increase your energy through positively affecting your nervous system, hormone levels, and blood sugar levels.
Continue readingMuscular Adaptations to Resistance Training With Special Emphasis on Muscle Fiber and Whole Muscle Hypertrophy
Resistance training has seen a marked rise in participation over the past number of decades. From its increase in popularity during the late 1800’s, lifting weights has become one of the most popular forms of exercise today. It can enhance athletic performance through increasing muscle mass and strength and it can help in the rehabilitation process following an injury. These results are all due to the increases in tension that the working muscles experience as they try to work against a certain amount of resistance (Tesch, 1988). Not only does the muscle respond by getting larger, but muscle strength also becomes specific to that movement (Morrisey, Harman, & Johnson, 1995). In other words, you can be strong lifting 100 pounds one way, but try to lift that 100 pounds in a different fashion and you may find yourself not nearly as strong.
Continue readingThe Effects of Magnetism On Strength Recovery From Combined Concentric and Eccentric Exercise
The use of magnetism to aid in recovery from illness and injury has been practiced for thousands of years, from Aristotle who spoke of the powers of natural magnets to modern technology which uses a wide variety of applications of magnetic fields. However, it has only been recently that the medical community has begun to understand how magnetic therapy might work to aid the body in recovery. Researchers believe that magnetic therapy helps to stimulate the body to heal itself and decrease levels of pain by creating optimal healing conditions within the body or afflicted body part. Such conditions include: increasing blood flow and lymphatic function; changing the migration of calcium ions; returning pH balance to a more normal level; increasing or decreasing hormone production; and altering enzyme activities of certain systems.
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