Category: Exercise Science, Biology, and Research

hypertrophy

Understanding Hypertrophy: Why Do Muscles Get Bigger?

We know that muscle will grow when properly trained and when proper nutrients are supplied. But what biological system is responsible for this growth stimulus? Is it one or is it all of them? Is growth caused by the forces applied to the muscles through weight training , or on a more cerebral level, is resistance exercise merely a means by which we expose, through recruitment, as many muscle fibers as possible to some other stimulus responsible for growth?

READ MORE
bioenergetics

Bioenergetics: Aerobic versus Anaerobic Energy Production

While we are all familiar with aerobic activity, defined in the early 1970s by Dr. Kenneth Cooper as activity during which the cardiorespiratory system provides enough oxygen for muscular effort, most of us associate anaerobic activity with that very hard effort we do during intervals. The fact is that each non-sequential muscular effort, such as turning your head, entails some measure of energy production in the absence of oxygen, qualifying it as anaerobic.

READ MORE
Endorphins

The Power of Endorphins

Runner’s “high” is so-called because of the euphoria associated with the release of feel-good chemicals in the brain, of which endorphins are one category. From…

READ MORE
Increase Your Personal Training Client’s Vertical Jump

Increase Your Personal Training Client’s Vertical Jump

When the basketball off season is in full swing and I have been asked numerous times, "how do I increase my vertical?"  Most aspiring basketball players think about flying through the air "Like Mike".  As fitness professionals these people come to us for help in achieving that dream.  They see the value of having professional training to get them off the ground quicker and higher than their opponent. 

READ MORE
understanding hip flexion

Understanding Hip Flexion

Article compliments of Personal Training on the Net. A recent post on my web site forum made me realize that often a short answer to a complicated question doesn’t work. A few of my readers seemed to think that all of the recent talk about a weak psoas muscle or an under-active psoas muscle might just be people being trendy. I strongly disagree.

READ MORE
Get 35% off certification packages

Celebrating 35 years

We’re celebrating 35 years with 35% off!

Our biggest discount EVER!

Get 35% off certification packages.