I read research papers on a regular basis. It helps me stay current in the field, but my approach to personal training is based first and foremost on observations made in the trenches—not in the lab. Often, it can take a while for science to catch up.
Case in point: yesterday I received the latest issue of the Journal of Applied Physiology, and these two studies caught my attention:
- Roller massage decreases spinal excitability to the soleus
- Prior acetaminophen consumption impacts the early adaptive cellular response of human skeletal muscle to resistance exercise
The abstracts may be a bit technical, and you might not fully understand the terminology, but take a look at what I had to say a couple of years ago about foam rolling and pain. I think you’ll get the point.
And for well over a decade, I’ve been warning people that acetaminophen may negatively impact their results in the gym. In Heal Like Wolverine, I discuss some of the detrimental effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs). While acetaminophen is not technically an NSAID, its effect on skeletal muscle may be similar—as we’re starting to discover.
Jim Rohn once said:
“There are some things you don’t have to know how it works—only that it works. While some people are studying the roots, others are picking the fruit. It just depends on which end of this you want to get in on.”
Bottom Line: Next time someone says, “Show me the research study on that because I haven’t seen one,” tell them to wait a few years for it!
