I was recently asked about my thoughts on the Functional Movement Screen (FMS). While I believe the FMS has some value, I don’t see it as the ultimate method for assessing movement patterns. Every individual and situation is different, and any functional assessment should be appropriate for the specific case—if it’s performed at all. In…
If someone watches you while you train, your performance will improve. This is known as the Hawthorne effect (also referred to as the observer effect), and it’s one of the key benefits of personal training. The Science Behind Supervised Training A study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise examined the impact of…
My eldest client is 87 years young, and I’ve had the privilege of training her twice a week since 1998. When we first met, she was showing early signs of osteopenia, and her doctor recommended weight-bearing exercise. I got the call, and since then, bone health has never been an issue for her. She’s thriving…
Psychology plays a big role when working with clients. Men and women often respond differently to feedback—your approach should reflect that. Women tend to be more sensitive than men, so it’s important to be delicate when delivering a “negative” message. If their body mass index or waist girth is high, frame it as a potential…
The push-up is one of the most poorly executed exercises. One major issue is core stability—many people resemble a dolphin “swimming” through their reps. The core must remain tight and stable with a neutral spine throughout every repetition. If form breaks down, the set should be terminated. Another common mistake is inadequate depth. Every rep…
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…
To lift a weight, muscular force must exceed the downward force of the load. The opposite occurs when lowering a weight—motor units deactivate until the downward force surpasses the muscular force resisting it. With fewer motor units engaged, greater tension is placed on the remaining muscle fibers, leading to hypertrophy but often resulting in soreness….
Here’s part of my presentation at the 2012 Conference of the Ontario Kinesiology Association.
Here’s part of my presentation at the 2012 Conference of the Ontario Kinesiology Association.
Here’s part of my presentation at the 2012 Conference of the Ontario Kinesiology Association.