What happens when guys train with other guys? Often, the weight starts to pile on the bar, and form gets thrown out the window! “It’s all you, Bro. I’m barely touching it!” says your training partner while he deadlifts the bar off your chest. Out of a set of ten on the bench press, you…
Common Weight Training Injuries JP: What are the most common weight training injuries you see in your practice? Dr. S: The biggest issues I see stem from muscular imbalances—particularly between the superficial front and back lines (for more on this, check out Anatomy Trains). Tight hamstrings are a major culprit, but just as often, injuries…
An offset grip, sometimes referred to as an “off-center” grip, is often used during arm curls to increase activation of the short (medial) head of the biceps. The same concept can be applied to lateral raises. By using an offset grip—where the thumb and index finger are positioned against the front plate of the dumbbell—you…
An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure The best way to deal with an injury is to prevent one from happening in the first place. Here are some suggestions to help keep you injury-free in the gym: The same logic applies to performing your favorite exercises every program… you know, the ones…
The Inevitable Truth Whether it’s during competition or training, injuries are bound to happen. It’s part of the game. If you play with any form of intensity for long enough, you’ll be nursing something eventually. Let’s take a look at the top injury in sports and in the gym. The #1 Athletic Injury I’m sure…
If an exercise doesn’t work for you or a client, then change it! No one is forcing you to stick with it. There are many ways to achieve the same goal. Modify the exercise, and if that variation still doesn’t work, choose a completely different movement that accomplishes the objective. Remember, if something doesn’t feel…
Many lifters struggle with an imbalance between the internal and external rotators of the shoulder. Most of the time, the internal rotators (pecs, lats, and anterior delts) are overactive and tight, while the external rotators (infraspinatus and teres minor) are weak and underdeveloped. The ShoulderHorn is a well-known tool for targeting the external rotators in…
Earlier this week, a colleague sent me a very disturbing video. Here it is… One of his clients had been asking about a so-called “revolutionary training technique” that was apparently all the rage. The method? CrossFit. His client was eager to try it. Now, this particular client had a history of jumping on the latest…