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Shoulder Post-Rehabilitation

In the author’s practice as a Kinesiologist, the terminal goal of each client’s program is to improve the strength and quality of functional/everyday motions: pushing, pulling, squatting, lifting, carrying, and locomotion. After a client has been cleared by a medical professional to engage in exercise, a key step in the client’s post-rehabilitation (PR) program is…

Pregnancy and Core Training

Evidence-based, periodized exercise programs have the capacity to improve several biomarkers such as cardiovascular adaptations, higher bone mineral density, improved blood profiles, and muscular strength (Piper, Jacobs, Haiduke, Waller, & McMillan, 2012). Considered universally favorable adaptations for all people, what remains unique however, is how such improvements are sought for each individual, and special populations. The following…

Low-Back Pain and Program Design

Clients recovering from motor vehicle injuries that are ready and approved for strength training (i.e., post-rehabilitation) require well-developed programs, which maximize effectiveness while minimizing risk of re-injury. Extensive weakness and deconditioning are common traits among the aforementioned populace, dominated by middle-aged (40-65 years) clientele in the author’s practice. Clients are often seeing a medical professional…

Exercise-Induced Inflammation VS. Food-Induced Inflammation

In my last post, characteristics of exercise-induced inflammation (EII) were explored. Topics included how brief and moderately intense exercise initiated an immune response, as well as the central physiological and biochemical processes required to achieve adaptation to the same stimuli of equal magnitude. In the following sections, food-induced inflammation (FII) will be reviewed, as well…

Inflammation: Defining Its Time and Place

Inflammation is a natural immune response to neutralize and clear foreign bodies and damaged cells in a biological organism (Ilich, Kelly, Kim, & Spicer, 2014). The immune response can have several etiologies such as overconsumption of omega-6 rich foods, food sensitivities, poor sleep, stress, toxic environments, and intense physical activity (Ruiz-Nunez, Pruimboom, Dijck-Brouwer, & Muskiet,…

Protein for Athletes: How Much is Enough?

There exists controversy between scientific literature and popular opinion regarding protein requirements for athletes (Phillips, Moore, & Tang, 2007). Some authorities recommend 0.8g/kg of bodyweight while others recommend as high as 1.7g/kg of bodyweight (Phillips et al., 2007). As a means of reconciling the aforementioned disparity, the following sections will explore the effects of ingesting…

Omega-3 Supplementation: Supporting Resistance Training and Recovery

Inflammation is a natural immune response to neutralize and clear foreign bodies and damaged cells in the body (Ilich, Kelly, Kim, & Spicer, 2014). However, prolonged states of inflammation, as seen by the frequent overconsumption of foods (i.e., refined sugars, processed foods, grain fed meats) rich in omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (a pro-inflammatory fatty acid)…

Vitamin D and Hidden Hunger

In my last post, I covered a brief history of Scotland and how they circumvented vitamin D deficiencies. The intent of providing a brief history of the Scots and vitamin D intake was to show the complex interplay of environment, physiology, cultural proclivities, and economics on the effects of health. It was also my intent…

Vitamin D Supplementation; When, How, and Why?

Vitamin deficiencies can, and do, occur on a global scale. It is also true that several factors contribute to deficiencies; populations with complex social and economic circumstances can have insufficient nutrient intakes, due to poor consumption of nutrient rich foods (Shergill-Bonner, 2013). However, environmental factors also play a significant role in the acquisition of nutrients,…

Carbohydrate Restriction and Diabetes Management: A Specific Application

Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes are characterized by an impaired ability to metabolize glucose (Paoli, Rubini, Volek, & Grimaldi, 2013). However, the severity of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes has been mitigated and/or eradicated by very low carbohydrate diets (Paoli et al., 2013). Considering the potential side effects of drug therapy interventions, nutritional…