A recent study by Wang et al. (2011) used an interesting contrast training protocol that demonstrated even more interesting results (these results are actually ahead of print, but should be released soon). The study combined endurance cycling training with lower body resistance training to see if local muscle adaptations occurred in the athletes leg muscles. [...]
I am absolutely convinced that strength and endurance are the foundations of any successful athlete. That is not to say that we neglect speed or power training, quite the opposite. Having coached Olympic weightlifting techniques to athletes’ of mine for a number of year now, power is always the logical end-point of any strength cycle. [...]
Every now and then, someone asks me if they think their parents or grand parents should weight train. The answer is always yes, with the proviso that they are healthy enough to do so. LaStayo et al 2003 is one of a host of articles demonstrating that the elderly population can benefit from weight training. [...]
In a previous post we introduced the concept of using bands and chains to change your rate of force development while lifting. It is important to understand the implications. Ghigiarelli, JJ et al 2009 demonstrated in a 7 week study that bench pressing with and without bands (total load the same) had no effect on [...]
Each of us has experienced low back injury/pain at some stage. This summer, a sacroiliac tear and the ensuing sciatic nerve block put us out of action for 10 weeks. They key for me during my rehabilitation was in achieving gluteal muscle activation. Once a low limb injury occurs, gluteal activation is essential! Gluteal inhibition [...]
Elliot et al. 1989, Ferreria et al. 2003, McCaw and Friday 2004 all demonstrated by EMG that pectoralis major activation (clavicular portion) for dumbbells and barbell bench press is the same. Anterior deltoid activation during these exercises was similar as well. Interestingly, tricep activation was not measured in these studies and might bear investigation. All [...]
Recruiting the hamstring during a back squat has been demonstrated to minimize the anterior shear forces along the knee and the ACL. Essentially, the hamstring helps to hold the bones in place while the knee bends under the load. EMG studies by Wright et al 1999 demonstrated that hamstring recruitment during a 70% max squat [...]