All Posts in Category

Blog

Corrective Exercise Approaches: A Client Case

Client Details: This author’s client is a 27-year old male, Karate (black belt), and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) (purple belt) competitor. He sustained a motor vehicle accident, is currently avoiding competitions, and has restricted himself to solely instructing students due to pain and discomfort along his upper back and low back. Additionally, he scored 1/1…

Low Carbohydrate Diets, Grain Diets, and Biomarkers

Low carbohydrate diets (LCDs) have demonstrated favorable effects on biomarkers such as reduced triglycerides, total cholesterol, and improved insulin sensitivity (Ballard et al., 2013). However, do LCDs improve biomarkers as well as performance outcomes compared to grain-based diets (GBDs)? A case study by Rosenkranz, Cook, and Haub (2007) explored this question by placing an elite…

Resistance Exercise and External Cueing

Program design and coaching requires the culmination of evidence-based research (EBR) and experience. Clients are individualistic, with proclivities and behaviors distinct from other people. Each person progresses at different rates, perceives pain and discomfort uniquely, while holding attitudes towards exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle changes that may also differ. All of the aforementioned constituents play an…

Cardiovascular Exercise: An Evidence-Based Approach

Hypertension is a significant public health concern, in which its reach extends internationally (RamBihariLal Shrivastava, Saurabh Shrivastava, & Ramasamy, 2014). Considered the most common cardiovascular disease risk factor, more than 23 million cardiovascular deaths are estimated to occur by the year 2030, due to hypertension (RamBihariLal Shrivastava et al., 2014). Complications related to hypertension include…

Cardiovascular Exercise: Determining Intensity

Roberg and Landwehr (2002) indicated the ambiguous history, poor predictability, and misuse of the maximum heart rate prediction equation (HRmax=220-age) commonly taught and used in academic institutions. Unveiling the aforementioned truths is a reminder that dogmatic practices can insidiously permeate throughout a field in an unknown, and undetected fashion. Considering the lack of scientific merit…

Prevention and Management of Osteopenia/Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis can be defined as decreased bone mass and a shift in the structure of bone, resulting in a reduced quality of bone (Tufts, 2011). The quality of bone cannot be assessed, however, bone mineral density (BMD) can be screened using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans to determine mineral content of bone (Tufts, 2011)….

Exercise Prescription

Exercise prescription, and who should recommend it, is a highly relevant and pertinent question. Although any individual can assist someone else when engaging in exercise and physical activity, there is not always a guarantee that such recommendations are derived from a qualified and experienced individual, or that exercise prescriptions are appropriate, effective, and safe. The…

Adolescents, Nutrition, and Physical Activity

Brown (2014) stated that overweight and obesity (OO) has doubled over the last two decades. Although genetics play a role in the outcome of such conditions, it would be fallacious to conclude genetic predispositions as a singular impetus behind OO. Environmental factors, specifically the interplay between environment and genetics, are a more likely cause of…

Childhood Overweight and Obesity

Brown (2014) indicated that overweight and obesity (OO) are conditions among children that are mounting at an accelerated rate. Moreover, approximately 18% of children aged 6-11 are obese with BMIs greater than or equal to the 95th percentile (Brown, 2014). Conditions of overweight and obesity set a foundation for other physiological aberrations such as cardiovascular…

Celiac Disease

Celiac disease (CD) is a common digestive disorder that affects approximately 1% of European and North American populations (Chang, Burke, & Golub, 2011; Zimmer, 2011). Infants with CD are genetically susceptible and are reactive to foods containing a particular form of protein known as gluten. Such reactions from gluten cause an immune-mediated inflammatory response, damaging…