Health Tips for Extreme Race Conditions
by Tim Allardyce
01 November 2011
Endurance sports, such as marathon running or bicycle racing, are physically, mentally and physiologically demanding on the body and psyche. Individuals participating in endurance sports must be certain to maintain temperature homeostasis, as well as, minimise strain and psychological stressors during prolonged exercise.
The hypothalamus in the brain controls the body’s temperature regulators. The body’s natural thermoregulatory system will work constantly to maintain a normal body temperature, 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, during exercise. It’s important to equip yourself for extreme race conditions – especially when tackling a physical challenge in an environment that you’re not used to.
Accentuated Eccentric Training
by Matt Hodges
26 October 2011
The subject of accentuated eccentric training has been a grey area of personal training for a number of years. Trainers should all know the basics but how many people actively use the different techniques with either themselves or their clients?
So let’s start by explaining what ‘Accentuated Eccentric Training’ actually is……
When performing an exercise there are three main areas of ‘concentration’. The ‘concentric’ phase (lifting a resistance against gravity), the isometric phase (holding a resistance without moving the joint angle or changing muscle length) and the eccentric phase (controlling a resistance going with gravity). Using ‘squats’ as a good example, the most important area of the exercise is when you are coming down to the deepest point – this is your eccentric phase. In the same example the concentric phase occurs when you are pushing the weight upwards (more important with powerlifters).
Strength Training – Beating The Plateau
by Matt Hodges
14 June 2011
The subject of strength training is as diverse as any other area of fitness, with numerous protocols and regimes that claim to make you stronger.
Most trainers have their preferred way of getting their clients strong and most certified Strength & Conditioning coaches have a set method in which they use. This is all well and said but in my opinion only a handful of these ‘strength and conditioning coaches’ actually practice what they preach. Here’s how to undertake strength training and make sure you’re beating the plateau.
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