Active rehabilitation is a modern approach to rehabilitation that many doctors have become fond of for the treatment of soft-tissue injuries. With active rehabilitation you are actively involved in your recovery. This may mean developing a stretching program to help loosen your tight muscles, it may also mean exercising in a pool for more acute injuries, or it may mean … Read More
I can use a much heavier weight on bench press if I do not go all the way down, is this beneficial?
Exercises should be performed through a full range of motion in order to develop strength through the full range and to maintain flexibility. Do not sacrifice technique to use heavier weight. If your goal is to improve your strength, try lowering your repetitions and increasing your sets on each exercise. Strength improvements are best seen with low repetitions of 4-8. … Read More
I am going on holidays and there is no fitness facility where I am staying, what kind of strengthening workout can I do so I do not come back feeling out of shape?
Exercising tubing provides a great workout and you can easily throw it into your suitcase and take it on holidays with you. Exercise tubing is very popular because it is easy to use, produces great results and is inexpensive. Exercise tubing can be found in most sports stores. It comes in different strengths that are easily differentiated by color. Gray … Read More
I am a 37-year-old male and I would like to improve my chest development. I currently do bench press and incline dumbbell press, what would be a good addition?
Dips would be a great exercise to add to your routine, as they are an excellent exercise to isolate the lower and outer pectorals. Start by finding the dipping bars in your gym. Grasp the bars so your palms are facing each other. Jump up to support yourself at straight arms’ length above the bars, your torso hanging down from … Read More
I am a 35 year old female and I have been doing cardio but not strength training. I want to start strength training but I do not want to get bulky, what should I do?
It is common for women to think that if they gain muscle they will look bulky and less esthetic. This is a misconception. Muscle is very difficult to gain and moderate muscle gains will improve the shape of your physique. Take a look at some of the beach volleyball players such as Gabrielle Rice or female tennis players such as … Read More
I am a 29-year-old female and I just started working out, how can I avoid bulking up?
There are three simple rules that you can follow to ensure that you tone up rather than bulk up. The first and most important rule is to concentrate on a healthy eating plan. Without a balanced diet, you can exercise all you want and not lower your body-fat. A good starting point is to eliminate foods that are high in … Read More
I am a 29 year old female and I want to start lifting weights, but I do not want to bulk up, what should I do?
Women frequently ask me how they can achieve a toned look without gaining too much muscle. Despite this fear, it is very unusual for women to pack on muscle. Women have different hormone levels than men, which makes gaining muscle very difficult. The key to ensure that you tone up rather than bulk up is not to avoid strength training, … Read More
: I am a 26-year-old male and I am trying to build my arms. I have been using heavier weights but they still look the same. Is there a good exercise that I should be doing?
Question: I am a 26-year-old male and I am trying to build my arms. I have been using heavier weights but they still look the same. Is there a good exercise that I should be doing? Answer: My favorite exercise for building the biceps is incline dumbbell curls. This exercise is extremely effective because it doesn’t allow you to swing … Read More
How should I breath when I am working-out with weights?
Q: How should I breath when I am working-out with weights? A: Breathing is an important part of your workout as it is important to supply your muscles with oxygen. Strengthening exercises have a concentric contraction(shortening) and an eccentric contraction(lengthening). For example, when performing barbell curls the concentric contraction is when you are curling the barbell up to your chest … Read More
How long should I warm up for before my workout and should I stretch before or after I warm up?
Q: How long should I warm up for before my workout and should I stretch before or after I warm up? A: Your warm up should consist of 5-10 minutes on the stationary bike, treadmill, or any other piece of cardio equipment. The goal of your warm up is to slightly elevate your body temperature and to increase the blood … Read More
How do I avoid golf injuries?
Q: I golf three times each week and want to avoid getting an injury this year, what do you suggest? A: Every sport is unique so it is important to have a fitness routine that concentrates on developing your muscles with a sport specific approach. Golfers must concentrate on the muscles of the shoulders, the stabilizers of the trunk, and … Read More
How can I avoid the muscle soreness the day after snowboarding?
Q: How can I avoid the muscle soreness the day after snowboarding? A: Performing specific exercises, such as squats and crunches, for these body parts will help decrease the severity of that all too common “day after†abdominal and leg muscle soreness while also improving your strength and performance. You should also be sure to perform stretches for each body … Read More
How can I avoid the muscle soreness that I always feel at the start of the snowboarding season?
When you ski and snowboard your leg muscles are put to the test as your knees continuously bend and straighten with each turn made on your way down the hill. Also, when you carve those awesome turns your trunk muscles are called into play. Performing specific exercises, such as squats and crunches, for these body parts will help decrease the … Read More
Every year my weight goes up three or four pounds and it seems that my metabolism just gets slower and slower, how can I reverse this process?
Q: Every year my weight goes up three or four pounds and it seems that my metabolism just gets slower and slower, how can I reverse this process? A: Muscle is the bodies most efficient calorie burner and after the age of 30 we lose approximately a half a pound of muscle per year. The more muscle you have, the … Read More
Can a workout partner help me get motivated?
Q: I have had a difficult time motivating myself to exercise, do you think having a workout partner may help? A: If you want to get in shape but never find the time or the energy, a workout partner may provide the motivation that you need. A workout partner may not only help you get out of a workout slump … Read More