Categoriespodcast

Podcast Bonanza: International Edition

Apologies on my end for the increased incidence of abrupt posts of late. I do want to disclose some significant life events and projects that have transpired in recent days and weeks, however I’m afraid I have to play the nebulous card and keep everyone in the dark for the time being.1

Everything is hunky-dory, all is well. I’m just stupid busy with several projects and my writing has been slacking as a result

To help make up for it, I wanted to share two appearances I made recently on two separate (international) podcasts.

1) Sigma Nutrition Radio – How to be an Effective Coach

You’re reading that correctly, I was invited onto a nutrition podcast.

The idea of me discussing the efficacy of high-carb vs. low-carb diets, gluconeogenesis, gluten intolerance, and the absurdity that there’s such a thing as “Paleo brownies” (and that people keep a straight face when they argue that they’re somehow healthier than “regular” brownies) is daunting in of itself.

Nutrition is not me strong-suit.

Luckily, the host, Danny Lennon, knew as much, and he and I had a lovely chat on coaching instead. I had a great time recording this episode, and if nothing else you get to listen to a British accent intersperced in the conversation for 45 minutes.

2) Make Your Body Work Podcast – When Too Much Exercise Becomes Too Much of a Good Thing

Top Canadian trainer, Dave Smith, invited me onto his podcast to discuss the follow reader questions:

“I spend a lot to time training and do a few races each year. My times have actually improved a fair bit recently, and I’m 41, not getting younger, but I don’t love what’s happening to my body composition. I look soft. I know that strength training is the ticket, but I find it hard to make time for weights, run, and have time to recover. When I lift, my running seems to suffer. How can I do it all and get the results I’m looking for. Ha! I guess I’m hard to please. Thanks, from Robert.”

He and I spend about 25 minutes discussing the answer.

CategoriesNutrition

Even More Reasons Why Athletes Should Eat Carbs

Outside of being downright delicious, carbohydrates do serve an important role in day-to-day nutrition, and especially so with competitive athletes.

Today’s guest post comes courtesy of strength coach, Travis Hansen. If you happened to miss the first two installments of this article series, please check them out HERE and HERE.

Right now, I’m going to jump right into things and discuss five more final reasons why any team sport or explosive based athlete requires carbohydrates in order to optimize their performance and physique

#1-CENTRAL FATIGUE MANAGEMENT

This theory continues to be explored, and isn’t fully understood yet. When we train long and hard, levels of free Tryptophan (5-HT) begin to circulate in higher quantities throughout our bloodstream. Eventually Tryptophan crosses the blood-brain barrier where it’s converted into Serotonin.

Serotonin has been shown to elicit key symptoms of fatigue when there is still available peripheral energy sources available to our working muscles. Dr. Mark Davis published a very interesting article in a Sports Nutrition Journal back in the late 90’s which covered nearly every element of “The Central Fatigue Theory.” (1)

If you are a geek like me and want to know all of the ins and outs of this particular subject matter, then I would definitely give it a good look. I’m going to bypass some of the specifics and just give you what’s really important here.

The F-TRP/BCAA ratio becomes very significant. In order to gain access into the brain, Tryptophan needs a specific transporter that BCAA’s (Branched Chain Amino Acids) compete with. Thus, by increasing BCAA’s in the blood, one could simply assume that this would limit Tryptophan levels and subsequent fatigue. Unfortunately, BCAA’s don’t show much promise in this arena directly, and there are a number of factors that Davis discusses which help explain the dilemma that is beyond the scope of this article.

On the upside, carbohydrate feedings show a consistently strong impact on CNS fatigue suppression.

According to Davis, one way in which they do this is by limiting the release of FFA or free fatty acids into the bloodstream. When we train at high intensities, liver glycogen support for the muscles in our body can be reduced fairly quickly. As training continues, we begin to rely upon more fat for fuel.

Fats influence F-TRP and its binding with a protein called Albumin. In other words, if FFA’s are elevated due to a lack of carbs then they will naturally knock of Tryptophan from Albumin which will then allow the now unbound Trytophan to make its way to the brain and subsequently induce fatigue.

I should also note that the exact mechanism for why carbohydrates prevent fatigue is very controversial still, and one theory is that glucose is the preferential source of fuel for neural cells and they absolutely crave this particular energy source when it’s readily available.

#2-CORTISOL LEVELS

When it comes to maximizing your physique and overall athletic performance there is zero doubt that Cortisol is your body’s potential kryptonite!

Several pathways throughout the human body are to be disrupted when Cortisol is high and chronically elevated by consuming less carbohydrates combined with rigorous training protocols.

Thyroid conversion will be altered as well as nervous system activity. Direct protein synthesis is reduced, and last but not least, Insulin and Testosterone levels will take a substantial hit. And if you already read the previous two articles (see links in intro) then you can already appreciate just how much of a negative impact this can create.

#3-DE NOVO LIPOGENESIS

I’ve been excited to discuss this issue because I still get asked the question whether or not we really store carbs as fat very easily.

The answer is definitely no.

De Novo Lipogenesis is the production of fat from carbohydrates specifically. Again this all goes back to The First Law of Thermodynamics, or calories in vs. calories out. You can’t store more energy if you are taking in less energy.

Period.

I know I might be beyond beating a dead horse here, but some people still can’t accept this scientific law and blame everything else for weight gain or lack of success in losing fat/weight, especially carbs.

Come on.

According to the highly credible and world renown physiologist Lyle McDonald, De Novo Lipogenesis is quite difficult to come by to say the least. Under normal dietary conditions, where people aren’t severely obese, upwards of 700-900 grams of carbs per day for several days had to be ingested in order for De Novo to occur. (2) This is an absolutely INSANE amount of carbohydrates mind you.

And some of the reasons why it’s difficult to store carbs as fat is because of the glucose-ffa cycle. This cellular function just means that when we eat carbs we burn carbs, and vice versa. Moreover, there is roughly 500 grams or so of potential glycogen that can be stored in the muscle and liver which amounts to approximately 2000 calories.

Also, standard high intensity weight and athletic training causes these stores to naturally adapt and increase their storage potential even further making fat storage from carbohydrates even harder to come by. So as you can see from the evidence above, if you are a female or male athlete who wants to get leaner and improve your body composition, then by all means eat your carbs!

#4-SLEEP FUNCTION

According to the American Society for Clinical Nutrition, carbohydrates consumed prior to sleep can decrease the onset of actual sleep. (3)

A common sleep deficiency in research is initiation, so the carbs could be very helpful in this department if you are an athlete who needs to quickly recover and perform at a high level regularly.

Moreover, although the primary type of clients in which I work with aren’t bodybuilders or figure competitors, I have been fortunate enough to train quite a few over the years and consult several of them and prescribe and monitor their nutrition. A very consistent observation has been definitive improved sleep quality with adequate carbohydrate consumption with other influential factors held constant.

This observation is highly subjective, but if several of these athletes are benefiting from more carbs, then that is more than good enough for me as a coach who wants them to be at their best.

#5-LEPTIN PRODUCTION

I’m going to very quickly introduce or simply review this hormone and give you a very basic short course on the hormone.

Leptin is a peptide hormone that is primarily synthesized and released from our fat cells in the body. Leptin has specific receptors in the brain which help to regulate energy production, appetite, and weight management to name a few.

Basically, if calories, bodyfat levels, or carbs are too low then Leptin production is decreased and energy expenditure decreases, performance decreases, hunger goes through the roof, and we pack on lbs. Keep Leptin at normal levels by eating sufficient carbs and calories at a healthy weight/bodyfat level and the metabolism remains in harmony. Here are a few starter articles to get you properly acquainted with Leptin if you aren’t already:

Control Leptin and Control Your Leanness

Bodyweight Regulation: Leptin Part I

SCIENTIFIC REFERENCES:

#1-Davis, M. Carbohydrates, branched-chain amino acids, and endurance: The Central Fatigue Hypothesis. International Journal of Sports Nutrition, 5: 29-38, 1995.

#2-http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/how-we-get-fat.html/

#3-http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/85/2/426.full

About the Author

Travis Hansen has been involved in the field of Human Performance Enhancement for nearly a decade. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Fitness and Wellness, and holds 3 different training certifications from the ISSA, NASM, and NCSF. He was the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Reno Bighorns of the NBADL for their 2010 season, and he is currently the Director of The Reno Speed School inside the South Reno Athletic Club. He has worked with hundreds of athletes from almost all sports, ranging from the youth to professional ranks. He is the author of the hot selling “Speed Encyclopedia,” and he is also the leading authority on speed development for the International Sports Sciences Association.

CategoriesStuff to Read While You're Pretending to Work

Stuff to Read While You’re Pretending to Work: 7-22-16

I man of few words today, so lets jump right into this weeks list of stuff to read.

Elite Athletic Development 3.0 – Mike Robertson & Joe Kenn

Today’s the last day to save $100 off this 10 DVD set.

Mike and Joe are two of the most respected coaches in strength and conditioning, and there’s a reason why there is a 3rd edition of this seminar.

Lets put it like this: The Godfather III? Horrible. The Matrix Revolutions? Uhg. EAD 3.0? Baller.

If you’re a S&C coach, personal trainer, physical therapist, athletic trainer, or just someone who likes to toss heavy things around this is a must have resource.

You Got Guru’d: Max Relative Trap Bar Deadlift Strength – Bret Contreras

I have high doubts the coach in question who’s commentary sparked this article written by Bret did so with ill intent or had some sort of nefarious “game plan” to bamboozle people.

I 100% believe he gets results for his athletes, and does so in a safe manner.

HOWEVER – when something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Thanks for writing this Bret.

Why I Keep Coming Back to Kettlebells – Max Shank

Max is a freak of nature. He’s the guy who can deadlift 500 for reps, follow that with a few back flips and splits, and then follow that with tapping out a gorilla.

He possesses quite the eclectic training background, and isn’t afraid to use a variety of tools and methods. In this post he explains why he continues to gravitate towards the KB.

CategoriesExercises You Should Be Doing rant

Porcelain Post: Results is a Battle of Repetition

NOTE: the term “Porcelain Post” was invented by Brian Patrick Murphy and Pete Dupuis. Without getting into the specifics, it describes a post that can be read in the same time it takes you to go #2.

Huh, I guess that was more specific than I thought.

Enjoy.

Results is a Battle of Repetition

You didn’t think I was going to use the word “battle” in a blog post and not figure out someway to finagle a lightsaber reference in there did you?

It’s me we’re talking about here.

So I was listening to THIS interview with Adam Bornstein on The Fitcast the other day and something Adam said resonated with me:

Part II of his commentary was him explaining how his most successful clients (both in person and distance based) – the ones whom he’d use as a walking advertisement for his services – were the ones who stuck with him for a minimum of 1-3 years.

This is not to suggest that those people who only decided to stick around for a month or two (or nine) didn’t receive any benefit or reach their goals in working with Adam. I’m sure many did, because he’s a rock-star coach.

Rather, his message was to demonstrate a hard truth for many to swallow.

It’s the long-game, and consistency with doing the same shit over, and over, and over, and over again that will usually pan out in your favor.

Those people (or clients) who stick to their guns, hold themselves accountable, and make the time to prioritize their health/fitness over the course of many, many weeks/months/better yet, years, are the ones who do very well.

And, honestly, as much as I feel exercise variety is overrated, it’s not even about always doing the monotonous stuff consistently. I do feel learning the basics are important, and taking the time to master them is never a bad thing. The basics should, more often than not, serve as the foundation of any program.

Having said that: I also understand there comes a point and time when some people would rather swallow live bees than perform another Goblet squat.

However, and this is a big however, the more cogent word to focus on in this particular discussion is “stuff.”

Doing “stuff” consistently – whether it’s CrossFit, powerlifting, taking group exercise classes, or pantless Zumba pillow-fighting (<— make it happen Equinox) – and doing it for a very long time, is almost always going to result in some pretty phenomenal things happening.

The key, though, is to START. Stop making excuses, stop reading articles, stop sending emails to fitness pros asking what you should do. Just start. And then, don’t stop. You’ll win the battle.

CategoriesAssessment coaching personal training Program Design Strength Training youth/sports training

Addressing the Stone Cold Facts of Training Athletes

Remember that show diary on MTV? You know, the one that aired back in the early to mid-2000s?

The documentary style show centered mostly on musicians and celebrities and followed them through their daily lives.

Each episode started with said celebrity looking into the camera and saying…..

“You think you know, but you have no idea.”

And then for the next 60 minutes we got a true taste of the celebrity lifestyle, given an opportunity to witness their trials and tribulations with the paparazzi, hectic travel schedules, demands on their time, and what it’s like to demand a bowl full of green only M&Ms in their dressing room (and actually get it), not to mention the inside scoop on what it’s really like to be able to bang anyone you want.

Stupid celebrities. They suck….;o)2

Sometimes I feel like strength coaches should have their own version of the show diary, because when it comes to training athletes I feel like many people out there “think they know….

“…..but they have no idea.”

Oh snap, see what I just did there?

While I don’t think it’s rocket science, I’d be lying if I said there isn’t a lot of attention to detail when it comes to training athletes – or any person for that matter – and getting them ready for a competitive season. Everyone is different, with different backgrounds, ability level, injury history, strengths, weaknesses, goals, anthropometry, as well as considerations with regards to the unique demands of each sport and position(s) played.

By contrast, there are numerous parallels in training despite athletic endeavors or whether or not someone is an athlete to begin with.

We can take the Dan John mantra of:

Push, pull, hinge, squat, lunge, carry

Do those things, do them well, and do them often….and you’ll be better off than most. It’s complicated in its simplicity.

Much like Dan I prefer to train everyone I work with as if they’re an athlete. There’s something magical that happens when I can get Joe from accounting or Dolores from HR to deadlift 2x bodyweight or to start tossing around some medicine balls. Even better if it’s done while listening to Wu-Tang Clan.

They wake up!

They’re less of a health/fitness zombie, haphazardly meandering and “bumping” into exercises. Once they start to train with intent and purpose – and move – it’s game time.

That said, lets be honest: when it does come to training athletes there are many other factors to consider; many more than an article like this can cover. However, I do want to discuss a few philosophical “stamps” that some coaches deem indelible or permanent when it comes to training athletes, when in fact they’re anything but.

1) Strong At All Costs

There’s a part of me that cringes to admit this, but it needs to be said: strength isn’t always the answer.

Don’t get me wrong, I still believe strength is the foundation for every other athletic quality we’d want to improve.

If you want to run faster (<— yes, this matters for endurance athletes too), jump higher, throw things harder or further, or make other people destroy the back of their pants, it’s never a bad thing to be stronger.

When working with athletes, though, there’s a spectrum. If you’re working with a college freshman who’s never followed a structured program and is trying to improve their performance to get more playing time, you can bet I’ll take a more aggressive approach with his or her’s training and place a premium on strength.

When working with a professional athlete – who’s already performing at a high level, and is worth millions of dollars – is it really going to make that much of a difference taking their deadlift from 450 lbs to 500 lbs?

Moreover, we’ve all seen those snazzy YouTube and Instagram videos of people jumping onto 60″ boxes:

 

It may get you some additional followers and IG “street cred”…but man, the risk-reward is pretty steep if you ask me. I’m not willing to risk my career (and that of my athletes) for some stupid gym trick.

Besides, if I wanted to I’d up the ante and have them do it while juggling three chainsaws. BOOM! Viral video.

To that end, I like Mike Robertson’s quote which sums my thoughts up the best:

“I think athletes need to be using the weight room as a tool to improve efficiency and athleticism, not simply push as much weight as possible – MR”

2) You Don’t Have to OLY Lift

Some coaches live and die by the OLY lifts, and I can’t blame them…..they work. But as with anything, they’re a tool and a means to an end. They’re not the end-all-be-all-panacea-of-athletic-and-world-domination.

I don’t feel any coach should receive demerit points – or be kicked out of Gryffindor – because he or she chooses not to implement them into their programming.

Lets be real: If you know you have an athlete for a few years, and have the time to hone technique and progress them accordingly, the OLY lifts are a good fit. It’s another thing, too, if you’re competent.

I for one am never guaranteed four years with an athlete, nor am I remotely close to feeling competent enough to teaching the OLY lifts. And that’s okay….

I can still have them perform other things that’ll get the job done:

Jumps:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUbClRjpLGk

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn5v85ekXFs

 

NOTE: both videos above courtesy of Adam Feit.

Starts/Acceleration

5 yd Starts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TklqD8uN_Ds

 

5 yd Jog to 10 yd Acceleration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM-BPJKTslg

 

Change of Direction

Up 2, Back 1 Drill

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSFDp1QSA2w

 

That One Time I Looked Athletic

Medicine Balls Drills

Scoop Toss

 

OH Stomp

 

Kettlebell Swings

 

Punching Ramsay Bolton in the Mouth

No video available.3

3) Single Leg Work Matters

This is probably the part where some people roll their eyes or maybe scroll past, but hear me out.

I think it’s silly when I see coaches on Facebook argue over bilateral vs. unilateral movements and try to win everyone over as to which is best.

They’re both fantastic and warrant attention.

Where I find the most value in single leg training:

  • Serves as a nice way to reduce axial loading on the spine when necessary.
  • It can be argued all sports are performed – in one way or another – on one leg, so from a specificity standpoint it makes sense to include it.
  • Helps to address any woeful imbalance or weakness between one leg and the other.
  • Places a premium on hip stability and core/pelvic control.

All that said, I do find many people are too aggressive with their single leg training. It’s one thing to push the limits with your more traditional strength exercises like squats and deadlifts, but when I see athletes upping the ante on their single leg work to the point where knees start caving in and backs start rounding that’s when I lose it.

I’m all about quality movement with any exercise, but more so with single leg training. I’d rather err on the side of conservative and make sure the athlete is owning the movement and not letting their ego get in the way.

Like that one time I posted this video and Ben Bruno shot back a text showing me a video of Kate Upton using more weight than me. Thanks Ben! Jerk….;o)

Unfortunately, some coaches are so set in their ways that they’ll never cross the picket lines. They’re either team bilateral or team unilateral.

How about some middle ground with B-Stance variations?

 

4) Recognize Positions Matter

I’m not referring to Quarterback or Right Fielder here. But rather, joint positions and how that can play into performance in the weight room and on the field.

If you work with athletes you work with extension.

As I noted in THIS post, anterior pelvic tilt is normal. However, when it’s excessive it can have a few ramifications, particularly as it relates to this discussion.

Without going into too much of the particulars, people “stuck” in extension will exhibit a significant rib flair and what’s called a poor Zone of Apposition.

Basically the pelvis is pointing one way and the diaphragm is pointing another way, resulting in a poor position; an unstable position.

Anyone familiar with the Postural Restoration Institute and many of their principles/methods will note the massive role they’ve played in getting the industry to recognize the importance of breathing.

Not the breathing that’s involved with oxygen exchange – evolution has made sure we’re all rock stars on that front.

Instead, PRI emphasis the importance of the reach and EXHALE; or positional breathing.

It’s that exhale (with reach) that helps put us into a more advantageous position to not only encourage or “nudge” better engagement of the diaphragm, but also better alignment….which can lead to better stability and better ability to “display” strength.

NOTE: this is why I’m not a huge fan of telling someone to arch hard on their squats.

 

When joints aren’t stacked or in ideal positions, it can lead to compensation patterns and energy leaks which can compromise performance.

5) You Need to Control Slow Before You Can Control Fast

It’s simple.

Learn More With Elite Athletic Development 3.o

Mike Robertson and Joe Kenn released their latest resource, Elite Athletic Development 3.0 this week.

I can’t begin to describe how much information they cover, but if you’re someone who trains athletes then this is a no-brainer.

Many of the concepts I discuss above are covered, in addition to twelve more hours worth of content over the course of ten DVDs

Point Blank: You’ll learn from two of the best in the biz.

The seminar is on SALE this week at $100 off the regular price, and it ends this Friday (7/22), so act quickly.

Go HERE for more details.

CategoriesCorrective Exercise personal training Rehab/Prehab Strength Training

Bridging the Gap Between Physical Therapy and Strength and Conditioning. How Much of a Gap Is There?

Today’s guest post comes courtesy of Andrew Millett – a good friend of mine and brilliant physical therapist outside of Boston.

The term “bridging the gap” is always brought up when the discussion of physical therapy and strength and conditioning comes up. There’s no doubt a melding of the two when discussing the most successful outcomes for patients and athletes. However, in a day and age where more and more personal trainers are taking it upon themselves to play the role of “therapist” (and vice versa), it’s important to note that, while it behooves us to dip our toes in both ponds, there IS a distinction between the two.

And we need to respect that.

Enjoy.

Bridging the Gap Between Physical Therapy and Strength and Conditioning

In the fields of strength and conditioning, human performance, physical therapy, etc., we interact with people on a daily basis.  We learn about their family, their job, their goals, and what they want to get out of their training or rehab.  The majority of the people in this field did not get into their respective field for the money.

I am not saying that any of these fields can’t be lucrative.  The majority of us share a common bond:  the desire to help people.

Whether you are a physical therapist trying to help someone get rid of their pain and get back to doing what they want to be doing or a personal trainer trying to help someone lose some weight, most of us want to help people.

When we see a client who is in pain or has some type of movement dysfunction, most of us want to help them get out of pain, whether or not we are a healthcare practitioner.  Personal trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, etc. are well-qualified to assess and correct movement.

There are many schools of thought such as the Functional Movement Screen (FMS), Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA), and Functional Range Conditioning (FRC) – to name a few – that teach trainers and coaches how to assess movement so that they can make their programming more effective based off of how their client presents on their assessment.

 

More often than not, a strength coach or trainer will see a movement fault they would like to fix in order to optimize their client’s training in order for their client’s to succeed.  There is nothing wrong with wanting more for your client and for your client to achieve their goals.  When assessing a client, if some type of movement limitation is present (I.e., decreased joint mobility and range of motion), then by all means, use the tools in your toolbox to attempt to correct it.

Tools such as a foam roller, lacrosse ball, or other self-myofascial release device, can be beneficial in attempting to increase soft tissue flexibility that could be limiting a client’s movement pattern.

 

Self-myofascial release can be very effective for improving movement quality and at reducing pain.  By doing something such as this, you are doing your due diligence in trying to help your client to the best of your abilities.

If you use an implement suggested above and someone moves or feels better, GREAT!

If someone doesn’t move or feel any better after something like that, then as Charlie Weingroff has said,

“4th and 10, you have to punt.”

As he described in his DVD, Training = Rehab, if you have a client who has some type of mobility limitation and they aren’t improving, “punt” them, not literally, to another provider…I.e., physical therapist, sports chiropractor, or a massage therapist.

If someone has pain, punt!  Per the Functional Movement Screen (FMS), if someone presents with pain, the test is over and they should be referred to a healthcare practitioner.

Now, if you referred all of your clients who are in pain to another healthcare practitioner, you would probably have a lot of free time on your hands.

Most clients have some type of ache or pain they are dealing with.

By “punting” them, this does not mean you have to get rid of them.  You can use a multi-disciplinary approach and continue to train them without worsening their pain or dysfunction while they are treated for whatever ails them.

Don’t try to be a jack of all trades and a master of none.  Don’t try to be the strength coach or personal trainer who trains their clients, but also attempts to treat their pain or soft tissue dysfunction by performing some form of manual therapy.

This is where you need to know what you are good at and what someone else may be able to do better.  If a patient or client presents to me and I know another practitioner that is better at it than me, they are definitely going to continue their care with that better clinician.

Keep the manual therapy to the physical therapists, sports chiropractors, etc.  These clinicians have hours upon hours of training on various manual therapy techniques to assist in improving movement, pain, and dysfunction.

By meeting with local PTs and chiropractors in your area and developing a network of providers you can refer to, you should have no problem sending a client to a colleague who can help improve their current state.  Your client will think the world of you for having the humility to refer them out to someone who can help them properly.

Even if the physical therapist helps decrease their pain, that client will always remember that you had their best interests at heart and you were thinking of them first.

Think of your client’s needs first, not your ego!

Now, just because I am a physical therapist, doesn’t mean I am not going to “bash” on personal trainers and strength coaches.  I have a background in physical therapy and strength and conditioning.  I consider myself a hybrid physical therapist, bridging the gap between rehab and strength training.

I know that I am not the smartest trainer or coach out there.  I have the confidence in my skill-set to start the programming process and teach and help clients squat, deadlift, lunge, carry, push/pull, etc.

There eventually comes a time where I can have a personal trainer or strength coach take over and continue the process.  My goal for my clients when they leave me is that they have some type of basic foundation of the various movements just mentioned so they can effectively and safely progress towards their health and fitness goals.

If you are a physical therapist, sports chiropractor, etc. and you either do not have the confidence in how to teach basic movements and program them OR you have not educated yourself on how to program and teach basic movements, then leave that to the strength and conditioning or personal training professionals.

The message goes both ways: as much as we encourage personal trainers not to be too “bridge gappy,” the same goes for physical therapists.

The major point of this post is not to bash either side of the health and performance spectrum.  The point is that we need to coexist and develop connections with various healthcare and performance disciplines so that we are in the position to help the most important person in this process:  the client or patient.

About the Author

 

Andrew Millett is a Metro-West (Boston) based physical therapist

Facebook: From The Ground Up

Twitter: @andrewmillettpt

Instagram: andrewmillettpt
CategoriesStuff to Read While You're Pretending to Work

Stuff to Read While You’re Pretending to Work – 7/15/16

I’m off to Providence, RI today to attend the Perform Better Summit.

So no foreplay this week. Lets jump straight to the good stuff…

Dealing With Hamstring Injury – Mike Boyle

This may be an older article written by Mike; I can’t tell, he’s written so many!

Either way the take home message is clear: it’s NOT about the hamstrings.

And while you’re at it, do yourself a favor and pick up Mike’s latest book New Functional Training For Sport.

I Lifted Weights with the Man Who Helps Victoria Secret Models Get Toned – Amy Rushlow

Excellent article featuring my good friend, Ben Bruno. Ben’s like, THE “go to” guy now for celebrities and models out in Hollywood.

On one hand I’m super happy for him and how well he’s doing out there. On the other hand I fucking hate his guts….;o)

But for real: I can speak for the masses and say it’s finally nice to see “one of us” getting the right information out in the mainstream media. The message is clear: ladies, getting strong (in the right areas) is a good thing.

Next Level Jump Training – Bobby Smith & Adam Feit

In anticipation of the release of their Elite Athletic Development 3.0 resource coming out NEXT week, Mike Robertson and Joe Kenn have been providing FREE access to this video series all this week.

Here’s what it includes:

  • An Incredibly Simple (Yet Effective) Way to Prescribe Sets and Reps for Jump Training,,
  • What “Jump Zones” Are (And Why YOU Should Use Them), and
  • How Jump Training Should Fit into a Complete Training Program!

It’s a very refreshing break from most jump training systems that have athletes using speed ladders, weighted shoes, and setting unrealistic expectations.

Categoriescoaching Exercise Technique Strength Training

Big Rock Cues That Work For Pretty Much Everyone

As I’ve gotten older I’ve learned to be more succinct in many facets of my life.

– When I was 25 I’d consider it a travesty if I didn’t spend at least two hours in the gym. Now? A few “top sets” of my main movement, followed by an accessory movement to compliment that movement, and 45 minutes later I’m good.

– I’ve learned to trim my prose over the years, too. One of the best pieces of advice I ever learned on the topic came from my good friend (and my former editor at T-Nation.com), Bryan Krahn.

“Write your first draft, and then cut 20% of it, no matter what. Get rid of the fillers, fluff, and extraneous jargon4 that doesn’t do anything to support your message.”

– When I first met my wife and was wooing her I was all about impressing her with my collection of vintage Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles t-shirts culinary skills. I remember a time or two5 attempting to drum up a four-course meal without burning down my apartment.

Now? “Babe, how about some tacos?”

The same can be said about my coaching career.

In a presentation I did last weekend at Iron Village Strength & Conditioning in Beverly, MA titled The Art of Coaching I discussed how, early in my career, I made the mistake of trying too hard to win-over my clients with big words like reciprocal inhibition, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, post activation potentiation, and plethora (<— because, you know, that word is a boss).

Moreover, I made another huge mistake: Peppering my clients with too many coaching cues.

A set of squats would sound like this:

“Okay, squeeze the bar.”

“Push your knees out.”

“Don’t forget to spread the floor with your feet.”

“Big air!”

“Chest up.”

“Drive out of the hole.”

“Finish with your hips.”

“Stay tight, stay tight, I said STAY TIGHT!”

It was a juxtaposition on how not to coach clients. More often than not, they would end up feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, and thiiiiiiis close to wanting to drop kick me in the kidneys.

So today I’d like to share some succinct, BIG ROCK cues I feel work for pretty much everyone. At the expense of sounding like a fitness cliche, less coaching is more.

The Deadlift: Place Shoulder Blades in Your Back Pocket/Squeeze the Orange in the Armpit

Anything we can do to ensure (and maintain) upper back tightness throughout a set is going to be money. I could wax poetic and quote Dr. Stuart McGill here and all the work he’s done over the past 10-15 years to demonstrate how counteracting sheer force is kind of important for spinal stability and reducing the likelihood of back injury.

Instead, go read Ultimate Back Fitness and Performance.

“Place shoulder blades in your back pocket” or “squeeze the orange in your armpit” do an amazing job at engaging the lats, which are a big player in spinal stability.

 

The Squat: Sit Down, Not Back

Like many young, impressionable coaches at the time, back in 2002-2005 I read many, many articles written by Dave Tate and the crew over at Westside Barbell.

And why wouldn’t I? If you were (and still are) remotely interested in getting yourself or your clients strong, you’d be hard pressed to find better information. More to the point, if you were/are a powerlifter or training powerlifters those were the guys to read.

There’s no question there’s validity in using the cue “sit back” when coaching the squat. We can break down the biomechanics and draw lever arms…but at the end of the day, if the goal is to lift as much weight as humanly possible it makes sense to target the hips and posterior chain more by sitting back.

However, as the years passed and as I coached the squat more, I started to see a trend where people’s lower backs started flipping them the middle finger. They didn’t feel good.

This is when I started putting two and two together and understanding that the cues that work very well for powerlifters – specifically, geared powerlifters, where squat suits help with providing more stability – don’t necessarily jive well with un-geared lifters.

The cue “sit back” (and subsequently: arch!) places a lot of people in a compromising position where they fall into excessive anterior pelvic tilt, which can promote a more unstable position…to the point where they’re relying more on their “passive restraints” (ligaments) and bone(s) to stabilize their spine and not their “active restraints” (muscles).

“Sit Down, Not Back” (bracing abs, moving through the hips (not initiating with lower back), and pushing knees forward/out) works very well here. The squat is equal parts knees coming forward and hips going back

You know, a squat.

NOTE: Yes, there is still a forward lean in the torso. Relax. Deep breaths, internet.

Individual differences need to be taken into consideration, of course, in terms of injury history6 mobility restrictions, anthropometry, stance width, depth, etc, but I’d encourage you to give this cue a try and see if it feels better.

The Bench Press: Wrapping the Barbell

The bench press is a much more nuanced lift than some people give it credit for. As far as technique is concerned, I find it’s a black hole for many lifters – myself included.

There are many things to consider here.

For starters: is it Monday?

Secondly, cues like “meet the bar with the chest,” “shoulder blades together and down” and “put force into the ground with your feet” (leg drive) all have merit.

However, one cue that has resonated with me (and that of my clients) is the idea of wrapping the barbell. It’s a great way of ensuring lat activation/upper back stiffness without having to cue someone to “turn your lats on” when they have no idea what the fuck that even means.

Cressey Sports Performance coach, Miguel Aragoncillo, explains it better than I:

 

These Cues Don’t Mean I’m Right7

My objective here was not to insinuate these are the best cues for everyone. Only “pretty much everyone.” (<— It’s a fact. A true, fact).

Rather, the idea was to demonstrate various cues that have worked for me and my athletes/clients throughout my time as a coach. They may not be a good fit for you and your clients, and that’s cool. I’d be honored if you’d consider them nonetheless.

If not, “I HATE YOU. YOU’RE RUINING MY LIFE!!!”

[Slams door]

CategoriesInterview podcast Product Review

Podcast, Cats, and Jump Training, Oh My

It’s a beautiful, sunny day here in Boston so this one is going to be quick.

1. Here’s a Picture of My Cat.

This was taken ten minutes ago, which demonstrates three things:

  • I’m 100% certain I was a crazy cat woman in a past life. Who’s the beautiful, beautiful Princess?
  • It is, in fact, a sunny day today.
  • My cat is like WTF!?!

2. Listen to My Latest Podcast Appearance

I made another appearance on the DeLeo Training Podcast recently. It’s always an honor to be invited onto any show, let alone for a second time in a matter of a few months.

This time around Joe and I discuss the importance of coaches having their own coach, the advantages of percentage based training, and why strength is the foundation for pretty much everything.

Except for being able to slay on a guitar. You don’t need a big deadlift to be able to do that.

 

3. Jump Training 101

In anticipation of the release of their Elite Athletic Development 3.0 resource next week, Mike Robertson and Joe Kenn are sharing some killer FREE content this week.

During the seminar itself they filmed strength coaches Bobby Smith and Adam Feit (<– a featured guest poster on this site) discuss their approach to jump training.

You can watch PART I of their presentation on Vertical Jump Training by going HERE. All you need to do is enter your name and email and you’re all set.

Trust me: Bobby and Adam cover a ton of material that is sure to help you and/or your athletes leap over boxes, cars, volacanos, but probably just boxes.

Don’t worry, Mike and Ken won’t spam you. Because, you know, they’re not a-holes.

CategoriesAssessment coaching Corrective Exercise Exercise Technique

A Common Mistake People Make With Thoracic Extension

Thoracic (mid-back) extension is kind of a big deal.

Without turning this into an anatomy lesson, t-spine extension is important for a variety of reasons. In no particular order:

  • It’s what the mid-back (T1-T12) is designed to do.  However, due to the long hours many of us tend to accumulate at work and at home in excessive flexion (hunched over, rounded upper back), we lose the ability to get into and maintain extension.
  • In short: “good” posture can become compromised.
  • T-spine extension allows us to get into proper positions to lift things – it’s crucial for overhead activities (or elevating the arms overhead in general), deadlifting, squatting, and helping to offset “sheer forces” on the spine.
  • Lack of t-spine extension means you can never be Batman.8
  • Our scapulae (shoulder blades) are more or mess at the mercy of thorax position. For those who present with a more kyphotic/computer guy posture, the “resting” position of our scapulae can be affected (abducted, anteriorly tilted) which can (not always) lead to shoulder ouchies in addition to scapular dyskinesis.

There are numerous ways to address lack of thoracic extension, the most common being foam rolling the mid-back followed by corrective modalities such as:

Bench T-Spine Mobilizations

 

Rocked Back Extension-Rotations

 

Side Lying Windmill

 

We’d then follow all of that with strength-based exercises – cued well – to help “cement” things. Front squats, for example, would be a great fit here. The anterior placement of the barbell forces the upper back musculature to counteract the forward pull to keep the torso upright; in effect nudging trainees into more t-spine extension.

Another popular approach is to use the foam roller in a different way and pepper in some additional t-spine extension patterning.

You all know the drill: take a foam roller, lie on it, and lean back, waaaaaaay back.

Like this:

While intentions are good in this scenario and there is some mid-back extension happening, it arrives at the expense of movement coming from elsewhere…the lumbar spine (often times with the hips coming off the ground) in conjunction with a massive rib flair.

Thoracic movement is much more subtle than people think. I fear this is one of those cases where many people – fitness industry pros included – have grown infatuated with the notion more ROM (Range of Motion) is better ROM.

Not the case.

What T-Spine Extension on Foam Roller Really Looks Like