Many people ask me what the number one reason is for clients who discontinue their training. There are many answers that spring to mind, reasons such as not having enough time, money, or commitment. However, I believe the most avoidable reason is musculoskeletal imbalances or injuries. After working with people to achieve their health and fitness goals for over 5 years, it is clear to me that postural instabilities are a major barrier to continuing exercise in the long term. In most cases, it is a barrier to exercise which is largely avoidable. At Inspire Fitness, our initial screening process includes a thorough documentation of your past and present injuries. We identify weaknesses or imbalances that may exist, and consider how they will affect your movement patterns. From there, we devise a plan to not only help you reach your goals, but to do so in a safe and effective manner given your unique movement patterns. Most clients have health and fitness goals which revolve around losing weight, improving cardiovascular fitness, and increasing strength, all of which are important components when structuring a training program. With that said, we believe it is imperative to guide a client through a program which will enable them to achieve their goals but avoid one of the most common barriers to continuing exercise: injuries. I’m sure we are all aware of training horror stories where an individual has been injured while training with someone who is under-qualified or perhaps in a group exercise scenario. Injuries can quickly trigger a sequence of negative lifestyle changes. For example, a person sustains an injury, which makes basic activities difficult such as walking. More advanced movements like gym-based exercises seem near impossible in the short-term. Then, a decrease in exercise results in loss of fitness and weight gain. This subsequently decreases motivation, and if this continues for a sustained period of time, substantial long-term health issues can arise. THIS IS A COMPLETELY PREVENTABLE SEQUENCE! BUT HOW? Prevention starts with having the guidance of a trained practitioner who has a sound scientific knowledge of the human body, complemented by practical experience, and informed by a thorough screening process. I believe that it is essential to incorporate an element of corrective exercise in every program, and to resist the temptation to compromise your technique just to increase the loads you are using. It is also important to train the muscles to work together rather than in isolation. For example, most people with low back pain note that they feel weak in their abdominal muscles and point to their upper abdominals (rectus abdominis). The rectus abdominis is primarily responsible for flexing the spine or bringing your rib cage forwards toward your hips. However, the solution is NOT to over-strengthen this muscle in isolated movements, such as crunches! Isolation exercises can cause imbalances that will result in a negative postural shift, in this case potentially creating an excessively rounded lumbar spine. So when you are training, remember you are not only training for improved strength, increased fitness, and weight loss, but also to address any postural imbalances or injuries that you have. In doing, so you will avoid your own training horror story, and in the process, you'll achieve training consistency and longevity…the guaranteed path to achieving long-term results. Written by Rory Scott, Accredited Exercise Physiologist.
0 Comments
Stress is sometimes thought of as a mild form of anxiety. Unfortunately for many, it has become an accepted part of their daily existence. During one-on-one sessions, it is common for my clients to tell me about the pressures they feel at work, at home, within the community…not to mention the pressures they have put on themselves. It can become a cycle of unease which can become a downward spiral that negatively impacts all domains of health and wellbeing. To better understand how you get stressed, think about what typically triggers your stress response. Sometimes stress comes about because we are faced with a situation of high personal importance, and we may feel unable to cope with the pressure and unable to perform at our best. The biological response is to increase our preparedness to deal with the stressor, what’s known as the “fight or flight” response. An increased release of stress hormones occurs, which then increases sweat rate, heart rate, muscle tension, and alertness. When we are constantly exposed to stressors, we find ourselves functioning like an army…constantly preparing for battle and seeing threats everywhere! I’m sure you’ve heard that exercise is a great stress reliever, but do you know why? Let’s look at 5 ways that exercise reduces stress. EXERCISE IS A GREAT FORM OF DISTRACTION Whether it be a 5 km run, several laps of the pool, or undertaking personal training or exercise physiology sessions, the day’s pressures can dissipate when you shift your focus to your body’s movements and physical tasks completed at moderate to vigorous intensity. While you cannot run away from your stress, you can give your brain and body the chance to “reset”, so that you can address the source of your stress with a clearer and calmer mind set. Exercise triggers endorphin release Exercise releases “happy hormones” known as endorphins, which lead to feelings of euphoria and contentedness. These “feel good” neurotransmitters can help to combat the negative effects of stress. EXERCISE IMPROVES SELF-CONFIDENCE Regular exercise can boost our self-esteem and decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression. Exercise can also help to build our stress tolerance, which can change our view of what constitutes a stressful experience. EXERCISE CAN IMPROVE SLEEP QUALITY Exercise can help maintain or improve sleep quality and healthy sleep patterns, which can become disrupted by stress, anxiety, and depression. EXERCISE ALLEVIATES PHYSICAL TENSION Stress can contribute to aches and pains developing in the neck, shoulder, and back. By engaging in appropriate exercise that is tailored for your body, exercise can actually alleviate physical tension. If you are feeling the pressures of life and are interested in undertaking physical activity, feel free to have a chat with one of our friendly Exercise Physiologists. We’ll teach you how exercise can help you get you back on track. Remember, it’s about feeling good! Written by Jessica Luke, Accredited Exercise Physiologist.
|
exercise physiologist Categories
All
Exercise Physiologist Blog Archives
June 2021
What is an Exercise Physiologist? |