Top 10 Fitness Trends for 2017
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has announced its annual fitness trend forecast and, unsurprisingly, exercise pros say wearable technology will again be the top fitness trend in the coming year. The results were released in the article “Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2017” published today in the November/December issue of ACSM’s Health […]
Movement is Natural for Healthy Children
The toddler was bee-bopping in the seat of that BJs shopping cart, perfectly in rhythm with the music piped quietly, unobtrusively, barely perceptibly through the speakers into our shopping experience. And the young mom was dancing along as they cruised down the aisle of canned goods. “Amazing how they arrive with rhythm, isn’t it?” I […]
Avoid Injuries: Take Time Off
“But we can’t afford to rest. Our archnemesis has indoor space and they’re training twice a week. Plus, they’ve registered for two indoor leagues and a futsal session. We can’t rest; we’ll lose ground.” If this is going through your head, you’re not alone. It’s the “keep up with the Joneses” mentality that is rampant […]
When Health and Recreation Programs Become Human Performance Laboratories, Who Pays?
Last week I saw a friend I hadn’t seen in some time. She has three kids: one graduating college, one beginning his second year at university and one nearly finished with high school. “So, what about you?” I asked, “What are you doing with yourself?” “Oh, the kids are still keeping me busy. I really […]
Everybody Wants a Piece of My Kid: Calculate, Don’t Negotiate
If I told you that rest builds and work breaks down, would you rest them more? This is the question I pose to the well-intended but extremely competitive AAU basketball coach who is negotiating with the families of his starters. He needs those top three and, you see, they also play travel soccer. Spring soccer […]
Nix the Cardio-loading and Balance Your Fitness This Year
This is gonna be a decidedly low tech Christmas and new year for me. I have just read Lenny Bernstein’s blog in the Washington Post magazine highlighting a couple of “science fitness” options: an ear bud who whispers sweet workout feedback into your ear and a hovercraft that badgers you to stay on pace. Not […]
Brain Injury and Mental Health, A Time to Heal
What a national conversation we’re having, around an issue very close to home: illness of the mental variety. We’re afraid of it, because we can’t see it, can’t touch it, can’t manipulate it to see where it hurts like we can for the other illnesses we’re used to. We are a nation of fixers. If […]
Two Sports in the Same Season: What Can We Do?
Two sports in the same season, it doesn’t end. We just switch which team gets dibs on our kids. Now that fall soccer is over we head into the winter season. The fall soccer players are taking on winter sports, but also playing indoor or futsal, or just plain training outside. Two sports in the […]
What’s in a Joint?
Nope, not talking about new legislation in Colorado and Washington State. Sorry. Talking about joints of the body. I know, there’s nothing more boring than an anatomy lecture. Trust me, I know. I’ve made students sit through hundreds of them. I used to trick them into having fun on the first day of class. I brought in […]
Coaching Fitness by Being Fit
What is the most important thing you can do to encourage good fitness in your players? a. have them run? b. have them do calisthenics? c. give them a home program for non-practice days? d. be fit yourself As an exercise physiologist, I certainly believe running, strength and home programs are important to help kids […]
