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Strength and Conditioning Articles
Check out these cutting-edge strength and conditioning articles by leading experts!
One of the hottest topics of discussion in the fitness industry recently has been centered on how to optimize glute function. The glutes are heavily involved in movements like the golf swing, throwing and striking actions along with running, jumping and direction changes. This huge posterior power center is in many ways the key to producing smooth and powerful movement.
Gray Cook definitely thinks that static stretching has its place. Scientifically, there may be better, quicker and faster ways to develop muscle length or change and maintain muscle length; however, they require a higher level of expertise, are more technique intensive, and usually have a more significant learning curve for the user than static stretching. Gray covers the benefits of static stretching for the user.

Past attempts at stretching devices have typically offered single plane stretching in a non-weight bearing position. Devices that are weight bearing typically stretch only in the sagittal plane (front to back motion). Mary Repking describes how the Tri-Stretch correctly stretches lower extremities in all three planes of motion.

By Juan Carlos Santana, MEd, CSCS, NASM-CPT

FITMOVES™ circuits are the most effective way to combine cardio conditioning with functional strength training. This unique approach to training is safe, fun, efficient and effective!

By Mike Boyle, MA, ATC

  • Are You Doing Your Abdominal Training Wrong?

    • How to teach athletes to "draw-in" their abs using the transverse abdominus, previously regarded as a little used, deep abdominal muscle. New research indicates that the transverse abdominus and the multifidus (another ignored muscle) are the keys to unlocking the cure for back pain.

  • My Ah-ha Moments

    • Mike provides a "smorgasbord" of nutrition, rehab and training pearls of wisdom.

  • Boxing Training for Improved Performance
    • by Juan Carlos Santana, MEd, CSCS

    Boxing training addresses the five most important components of optimum performance (balance, reaction, agility, acceleration, and deceleration). It also reinforces balance by using the fundamental athletic stance.

  • Purchase "Boxing Training for Improved Performance" Video
    • By Juan Carlos Santana

  • Pre-Season Conditioning for College Basketball
    • By Glenn Harris, Strength and Conditioning Coach, Boston University

    The main objective of pre-season conditioning is to get the basketball players ready for the middle of October and to help them maintain that level of conditioning throughout the season.

  • Condition with Purpose
    • By Scott Higgins, US Ski and Snowboard Assoc. Team Physiologist

    In conditioning US Olympic & World Cup mogul skiers the philosophy is not to produce a better freestyle skier, but a better freestyle skiing athlete by developing all components of the conditioning process in an environment of athleticism.

  • Periodization Breakdown?
    • By Mel C. Siff, Phd

    Western coaches have been fixated for years on only one periodization (PD) model, that of Dr. Leonid Matveyev. The model becomes too limited, however, when rigidly applied by coaches unfamiliar with Matveyev’s work.

  • Sports Prep: Pre-season Recreation and Exercises for Preteens
    • By Avery Faigenbaum, EdD

    Dr. Avery Faigenbaum is a leading researcher and practitioner in the field of youth fitness and has written two books and over 100 articles on fitness and conditioning. Here, he provides valuable insight on preteen sports preparation.

  • Strength Development: It's So Simple: Part I

  • Strength Development: It's So Simple: Part II

    • By Steven Scott Plisk, MS, CSCS,
    Director of Sports Conditioning, Yale University

    When looking for the best way to strength-train athletes, go back to your high school physics class!

  • Three Ways to Train for Strength
    • by Robb Rogers MEd, CSCS,
    Director of Strength and Conditioning, Middle Tennessee State University

    There are only three ways to train for strength - add load (resistance), add reps (volume), or add speed. Robb Rogers explains how to do all three within one training session using one exercise.

     

  • Overtraining Young Athletes - Part I
  • Overtraining Young Athletes - Part II

    • by Brian Grasso YCS, CMT

    Brian Grasso currently serves as Executive Director for the International Youth Conditioning Association and is a sought after expert in the realm of young athlete development and youth fitness worldwide. 

    Kevin Elsey provides expert advice on how to approach the training of endurance athletes.

    Almost all sports involve activity in three planes of motion. Isolation and nonspecific exercises usually involve one or two planes of motion. Gray Cook describes multi-planar exercises which require diagonal and spiral motions of the arms, shoulders, trunk, hips and legs.

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