Back and Spinal Fitness at PUSH as Rx leads the field with a laser focus on supporting our youth sports programs. The PUSH-as-Rx System is a sport-specific athletic program designed by a strength-agility coach and physiology doctor with a combined 40 years of experience working with extreme athletes.
The program is the multidisciplinary study of reactive agility, body mechanics, and extreme motion dynamics at its core. A clear quantitative picture of body dynamics emerges through continuous and detailed assessments of the athletes in motion and under directly supervised stress loads.
Exposure to the biomechanical vulnerabilities is presented to our team. Immediately, we adjust our methods for our athletes to optimize performance. This highly adaptive system with continual dynamic adjustments has helped many of our athletes return faster, stronger, and ready post injury while safely minimizing recovery times.
Results demonstrate clear improved agility, speed, decreased reaction time with greatly improved postural-torque mechanics. PUSH-as-Rx offers specialized extreme performance enhancements to our athletes no matter the age.
For individuals trying to build muscle but are not seeing results, can knowing factors like what foods to eat, how to work out, and genetics help achieve meaningful muscle gains?
Muscle Growth Nutritional Mistakes
Muscle growth is an important element of overall fitness and health. Individuals can make nutritional mistakes like not eating enough protein or carbohydrates and not properly hydrating themselves which can prevent them from gaining muscle. Factors that contribute to muscle building, include:
Nutrition
Genetics
Training
Individuals who want to increase muscle mass more efficiently can rework these issues to maintain consistency and commitment to exercise and nutrition. Benefits include:
Building muscle helps strengthen bones
Improves balance
Decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Experts point out some common mistakes that can hinder muscle growth, like not eating enough protein, not consuming enough calories, overtraining, or practicing improper form and technique. As everybody is different there is no one-size-fits-all approach to building muscle or hypertrophy. These include:
Genetics
An individual’s genes contribute to how easy or difficult it can be to build muscle.
Some individuals have a higher proportion of fast-twitch muscle fibers, which increases growth potential.
The natural distribution of muscle and body fat also varies and can affect the rate and location of muscle growth.
There are also differences in individual recovery capabilities that can influence the frequency and intensity of training sessions.
Nutrition
Nutrition matters when trying to build muscle. Individuals need to eat enough protein for muscle repair and growth.
Individuals may need to consume more calories than they burn to create energy stores.
At the same time, individuals need to consume enough carbohydrates and healthy fats to fuel workouts and recovery.
Training
Gaining muscle requires regular resistance or strength training exercises.
These exercises cause micro tears in muscle fibers, which then repair and grow back stronger and larger.
Effective resistance training includes – consistency, intensity, recovery, and progressive overload.
Progressive overload means gradually increasing the weight, frequency, or number of repetitions in an exercise routine to challenge the muscles.
Muscle Strength for Healthy Aging
Research shows that performing exercises that build muscle mass can slow age-related cognitive decline and decrease the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. (Joseph Michael Northey, et al., 2018)
Muscle-building exercise can also improve heart health and lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases. (Johns Hopkins Medicine. 2023)
Nutritional Mistakes
When trying to gain muscle, challenges can affect progress. Some of the most common mistakes that can delay or set back muscle growth and recommendations include.
Not Enough Protein
Eating protein like lean meats, dairy products, and seafood, is crucial for muscle repair and growth.
Not consuming enough protein makes the body unable to grow muscles, and you’ll see suboptimal improvements.
Get enough protein from various sources like beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, fish, eggs, dairy, legumes, and plant-based proteins.
However, there is a limit to how much protein the body can use effectively at one time for muscle protein synthesis.
It is recommended to distribute protein intake evenly throughout the day, aiming for about 20 to 30 grams of high-quality protein in each meal.
If the body is in a caloric deficit, the ability to grow muscle is limited.
Insufficient calorie intake can create energy deficits, making the body use muscle for energy instead of growing.
To fix this, individuals need to consume more calories than calories burned.
It can be helpful to track calorie intake with an application to make adjustments as needed.
Individuals having trouble increasing their calorie intake or there are questions about what the body needs, consult with a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
Not Enough Carbs
Carbohydrates are the body’s main energy source during high-intensity workouts.
Not consuming enough can lead to decreased performance and slower recovery.
Recommendations include consuming a variety of whole grains and minimally processed carbohydrates, such as brown rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, oats, and quinoa.
For individuals doing regular, moderate-to-intense training, carbohydrate recommendations can range from 3 to 7 grams per kilogram of body weight per day.
For individuals doing endurance or intense frequency training routines may need to increase this range.
Not Hydrating Enough
Water is necessary for all bodily functions, including muscle contraction and repair.
For individuals who are not sure how much water they need? Recommendations include using half of an individual’s body weight as a starting point to figure out how many ounces to drink per day.
For example, individuals who weigh 140 pounds can set a baseline hydration goal of 70 ounces of water/8 cups per day which can be adjusted according to activities.
Water Intake Recommendations
The recommended total fluid intake from food and drink varies by age and sex. The general recommendations are around:
11.5 cups per day for women
15.5 cups for adult men
For just water, women need around 9 cups of fluid per day, and men need around 13 cups to replace fluids that are lost throughout the day.
However, the exact amount of water needed to stay properly hydrated also depends on an individual’s activity level and overall health. (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2022)
To prevent dehydration, sip water consistently throughout the day, especially before, during, and after workouts.
Foods with a high water content like certain fruits can help achieve daily hydration goals.
Not Enough Healthy Fats
Not consuming enough healthy fats can cause the body to not be able to produce enough hormones that support muscle growth.
Relying on supplements instead of getting nutrients from whole foods can also lead to nutritional deficiencies and imbalances.
Recommendations are to add more healthy fats, like avocados, nuts, seeds, fatty fish, and olive oil.
Forgetting Post-Workout Nutrition
After working out, the body is ready to absorb nutrients and start the process of muscle repair and growth.
The body needs nutrients to activate the recovery post-exercise
When the body lacks nutrition after a workout it can slow muscle growth and cause fatigue.
Recommendations are to pack a balance of protein and carbohydrates to refuel right after a workout.
Training Mistakes
Undertraining or performing low-intensity workouts can also slow down muscle growth.
Individuals who are not overloading their muscles – for example, using weights that are too light – will not break them down so they can grow bigger and stronger.
A lack of microdamage means muscle growth will be slower.
Muscle overload also requires rest.
Recommendations are to take at least one day of rest per week and avoid strength training in the same muscle group two days in a row.
When creating a lifting plan, be sure to include compound exercises like squats, deadlifts, and bench presses.
These exercises work with multiple muscle groups and are recommended for building strength and muscle.
A training routine should include a variety of compound movements, like lunges, split squats, leg presses, pull-downs, upright rows, and push-ups.
If unsure of which compound exercises to include, consult a personal trainer, physical therapist, or sports chiropractor.
Northey, J. M., Cherbuin, N., Pumpa, K. L., Smee, D. J., & Rattray, B. (2018). Exercise interventions for cognitive function in adults older than 50: a systematic review with meta-analysis. British journal of sports medicine, 52(3), 154–160. doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2016-096587
For individuals trying to get into a regular fitness regimen, could using the FITT Principle help structure exercise, track progress, and achieve fitness goals?
FITT Principle
The FITT principle is a set of guidelines for adjusting, revising, and improving exercise workouts. FITT is an acronym for:
Frequency
Intensity
Time
Type of exercise
Individuals take these elements to create and adjust workouts that fit their goals and fitness levels.
For example, this could be a workout of 3 to 5 days combined with low, medium, and high-intensity exercises for 30 to 60 minutes each session that incorporates cardio and strength training. Focusing on these details and progressing over time helps create an effective program.
Frequency
Workout frequency and how often the individual is going to exercise is the first thing to look at.
Frequency depends on various factors, including the type of workout being done, how hard the workout is, fitness levels, and exercise goals.
General exercise guidelines developed by the American College of Sports Medicine offer recommendations. (Carol Ewing Garber, et al., 2011)
Cardiovascular Workouts
Cardio workouts are usually scheduled more often.
Depending on goals, guidelines recommend moderate cardio exercise five or more days a week or intense cardio three days a week to improve health.
Individuals can adjust the exercise intensity level easily on a treadmill to provide excellent and convenient cardiovascular workouts.
Individuals who want to lose weight may want to work up to more workouts gradually.
However, more is not always better, and recovery time is essential. (Pete McCall. 2018)
For individuals following a split routine, like upper body one day and lower body the next, workouts can be more frequent than total body workouts.
Intensity
Workout intensity involves how hard the individual is pushing themselves during exercise. How it is increased or decreased depends on the type of workout. (Carol Ewing Garber, et al., 2011)
Cardiovascular Workouts
For cardio, individuals will monitor workout intensity by:
The general recommendation is to work at a moderate intensity for steady workouts.
Interval training is done at a higher intensity for a shorter period.
It’s recommended to mix up low, medium, and high-intensity cardio exercises to stimulate different energy systems and prevent overtraining. (Nathan Cardoos. 2015)
Strength Training
Individual intensity comprises the amount of weight being lifted and the number of reps and sets done.
The intensity can change based on health goals.
Beginners looking to build stability, endurance, and muscle are recommended to use a lighter weight and do fewer sets with high repetitions – for example, two or three sets of 12 to 20 reps.
Individuals wanting to grow muscle are recommended to do more sets with a moderate amount of reps – for example, four sets of 10 to 12 reps each.
Individuals who want to build strength are recommended to use heavy weights and do more sets with fewer reps – for example, five sets of three reps each.
The next element of the plan is how long the exercise will be during each session. Exercise length depends on individual fitness level and the type of workout being done.
Cardiovascular Workouts
The exercise guidelines suggest 30 to 60 minutes of cardio, but workout duration will depend on fitness level and type of exercise. ((Carol Ewing Garber, et al., 2011)
Beginners are recommended to start with a 15- to 20-minute workout.
Individuals with some workout experience and are doing steady-state cardio, like jogging or using a cardio machine, might exercise for 30 to 60 minutes.
For individuals doing interval training and working at very high intensity, the workout will be shorter, around 10 to 15 minutes of high-intensity interval training.
Having a variety of workouts of different intensities and durations will provide a solid, balanced cardiovascular program.
Strength Training
How long an individual strength trains will depend on the type of workout and schedule.
A total body workout can take over an hour.
A split routine can take less time by working fewer muscle groups in one session.
Type
The type of exercise you do is the last part of the FIIT principle.
It is easy to manipulate to avoid overuse injuries or weight loss plateaus.
Cardiovascular Workouts
Cardio is easy to adjust and change because any activity that increases heart rate counts.
Walking, dancing, running, cycling, swimming, and using an elliptical trainer are a few activities that can be incorporated.
Having multiple cardio activities is recommended to reduce burnout and keep workouts fresh.
Strength Training
Strength training workouts can also be varied.
They include any exercise where some type of resistance – bands, dumbbells, machines, etc. are used to work the muscles.
Bodyweight exercises can also be considered a form of strength training.
Strength workouts can be changed from total body training to adding, for example, supersets or pyramid training.
Incorporating new exercises for each body area is another way to vary the type of workouts.
Spending a few weeks working on functional strength movements, then switching to hypertrophy or strength-based training.
Each modality includes various alternative types of strength-based exercises.
Using FITT
The FITT principle outlines how to adjust workout programs to achieve better results. It also helps figure out how to change workouts to avoid burnout, overuse injuries, and plateaus.
For example, walking three times a week for 30 minutes at a moderate pace is recommended for a beginner to start out with. After a few weeks, the body adapts to the workout. This results in burning fewer calories, burnout, or weight management efforts, and goals are put on hold. This is where the FITT principles come in. For example, a change-up could include:
Changing frequency by adding another day of walking or jogging.
Changing intensity by walking faster, adding more challenging terrain like a hill, or jogging at certain intervals.
Walking for a longer time each workout day.
Changing the type of workout by swapping one or more of the walk sessions for cycling or aerobics.
Even just changing one element can make a big difference in the workout and how the body responds to exercise.
It’s important to change things up regularly to keep the body healthy and mind engaged.
Injury Prevention
One of the best things about using FITT is that it allows individuals to monitor the length and intensity of their workouts. When individuals work out too frequently or don’t get enough rest, they run the risk of overuse injuries, burnout, and muscle strains. The FITT principle encourages adding variety to workouts. When following this practice, it allows the body to rest and recover properly. Because individuals are not working the same muscle groups over and over again, better results are achieved.
Fighting Inflammation Naturally
References
Garber, C. E., Blissmer, B., Deschenes, M. R., Franklin, B. A., Lamonte, M. J., Lee, I. M., Nieman, D. C., Swain, D. P., & American College of Sports Medicine (2011). American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy adults: guidance for prescribing exercise. Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 43(7), 1334–1359. doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e318213fefb
McCall Pete. 8 reasons to take a rest day. (2018) American Council on Exercise.
National Strength and Conditioning Association. (2017) Determination of resistance training frequency.
Schoenfeld, B. J., Ogborn, D., & Krieger, J. W. (2016). Effects of Resistance Training Frequency on Measures of Muscle Hypertrophy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 46(11), 1689–1697. doi.org/10.1007/s40279-016-0543-8
Cardoos, Nathan MD. Overtraining Syndrome. (May/June 2015). Current Sports Medicine Reports 14(3):p 157-158. DOI: 10.1249/JSR.0000000000000145
Individuals dealing with chronic knee discomfort, hip tightness, and lower back pain could be experiencing dormant gluteal-butt syndrome. Can recognizing the symptoms and signs and incorporating lower body and core fitness help prevent and treat the condition?
Dormant Gluteal Butt Syndrome
Knee, hip, and lower back problems could be traced back to weakened buttocks. Some scientists call the condition “dormant butt syndrome” (Ohio State University, .2023). However, researchers are learning about the important role the gluteal muscles provide in maintaining the lower body strong and healthy. (Hal David Martin, Manoj Reddy, Juan Gómez-Hoyos. 2015)
What Is It?
The syndrome is defined as weak buttock muscles and tight hip flexors. Experts from the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center have worked with individuals dealing with knee, hip, or back injuries and believe many of these issues are linked to weakened gluteal muscles. (Ohio State University.2023) The glutes are the muscles of the hips and buttocks. Weakened muscles fail to absorb the shock they’re supposed to during activities, which results in overloading the surrounding muscles and joints and increases the risk of injury. (Ohio State University, .2023)
Dormant gluteal-butt syndrome can result from a sedentary lifestyle and prolonged inactivity, like sitting for long periods.
The condition also occurs in runners and other physically active individuals who forget about these muscles with targeted exercises.
Exercises
Exercises to target the gluteals and prevent dormant gluteal-butt syndrome include activities/exercises that work the hips and core.
When walking properly, the gluteals should execute hip extension naturally.
Unhealthy postures, excessive sitting, and continued dysfunctional biomechanics mean walking without achieving optimal hip extension. (Hadi Daneshmandi. 2017)
When this happens, the gluteal muscles never get to fully function work, ending up with a series of aches and pains.
Pilates exercises can be adjusted to address order, repetition, and variation to strengthen the gluteals. (Laís Campos de Oliveira, 2015)
Hamstring Curls
Lie face down on an exercise mat.
Use your hands to create a cushion for the forehead.
Bend both knees so the feet point up towards the ceiling.
Let the knees be slightly apart, but keep the heels together.
Squeeze the heels together and tighten the gluteal muscles.
Hold for 3 seconds, then release the buttocks.
Repeat 10 times and then rest.
Hamstring curls can also be done using a weight machine.
Place the hands just behind the backside with the fingers pointing forward if possible.
Raise the body up.
Keep your head up and look straight ahead.
Raise one leg as high as possible.
Hold for as long as possible.
Lower and raise the other leg.
Repeat for a total of 3 reps.
Lining Up With A Wall Posture Helper
Standing posture is important to proper buttock function. Lining the body up with a wall can help train the body to maintain proper posture.
Find a wall and stand against it from the heels to the back of the head.
Work the backs of the legs and spine as firmly as possible into the wall.
Work to get the back of the skull into the wall as well.
Add some abdominal work by working the waistline inward and upward.
Hold for up to one minute.
The alignment is how you want to hold your body.
As you move off the wall, learn to maintain that posture throughout the day and night.
Repeat the wall exercise several times for reinforcement.
If aching of the hip, back, or knee is part of daily struggles, working out the gluteal muscles may be the solution. Contact the Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic for a full consultation.
Martin, H. D., Reddy, M., & Gómez-Hoyos, J. (2015). Deep gluteal syndrome. Journal of hip preservation surgery, 2(2), 99–107. doi.org/10.1093/jhps/hnv029
Daneshmandi, H., Choobineh, A., Ghaem, H., & Karimi, M. (2017). Adverse Effects of Prolonged Sitting Behavior on the General Health of Office Workers. Journal of lifestyle medicine, 7(2), 69–75. doi.org/10.15280/jlm.2017.7.2.69
Campos de Oliveira, L., Gonçalves de Oliveira, R., & Pires-Oliveira, D. A. (2015). Effects of Pilates on muscle strength, postural balance and quality of life of older adults: a randomized, controlled, clinical trial. Journal of physical therapy science, 27(3), 871–876. doi.org/10.1589/jpts.27.871
Individuals trying to get and stay in shape can find it difficult to get a regular workout. Can jumping rope help when there is no time?
Jumping Rope
Jumping rope can be a highly cost-effective exercise to incorporate high-intensity cardiovascular fitness into a workout routine. It is inexpensive, efficient, and done properly can improve cardiovascular health, improve balance and agility, increase muscular strength and endurance, and burn calories. (Athos Trecroci, et al., 2015)
Jumping rope can be utilized in interval training to keep the heart rate elevated and allow the muscles to rest in between weight lifting and other intense exercises.
A jump rope can be used when traveling as its portability makes it a top piece of workout gear.
It can be combined with bodyweight exercises for a dependable and portable exercise routine.
Benefits
Jumping rope is a medium-impact exercise with benefits that include:
Improves balance, agility, and coordination
Builds stamina and foot speed for coordination, agility, and quick reflexes.
Variations include one-leg jumping and double unders or with each jump, the rope goes around twice to add difficulty.
Builds Fitness Fast
Burns calories
Depending on skill level and jumping rate, individuals can burn 10 to 15 calories a minute by jumping rope.
Faster rope jumping can burn calories similar to running.
Precautions
For individuals who have high blood pressure, jumping rope may not be recommended. The downward arm position can reduce blood circulation back to the heart which can further increase blood pressure. Studies have shown that jumping at a moderate intensity is beneficial for individuals who are pre-hypertensive. (Lisa Baumgartner, et al., 2020) Individuals with hypertension and/or a heart condition, are recommended to discuss the potential risks with their doctor before beginning a new exercise routine.
Choosing a Rope
Jump ropes are available and made from various materials and come with different handles.
Some of these materials help jump ropes spin faster with a smooth motion.
Some options have a swivel action between the cords and handles.
The rope you buy should be comfortable to hold and have a smooth spin.
Weighted jump ropes can help develop upper body muscle tone and endurance. (D. Ozer, et al., 2011) These ropes are not for beginners and are not necessary for an agility workout.
For individuals who want a weighted rope, be sure the weight is in the rope and not the handles to prevent straining the wrists, elbows, and/or shoulders.
Size the rope by standing on the center of the rope
Pull the handles up along the sides of the body.
For beginners, the handles should just reach the armpits.
As the individual’s skills and fitness develop, the rope can be shortened.
A shorter rope spins faster, forcing more jumps.
Technique
Following proper technique will ensure a more safe and effective workout.
Start slowly.
The proper jumping form keeps the shoulders relaxed, elbows in, and slightly bent.
There should be very few upper-body movements.
The majority of the turning power and motion come from the wrists, not the arms.
During jumping, keep the knees slightly bent.
Bounce softly.
The feet should leave the floor just enough to allow the rope to pass.
Land softly on the balls of the feet to avoid knee injuries.
It is not recommended to jump high and/or land hard.
Jump on a surface that is smooth and free of obstacles.
Wood, a sports court, or a rubberized mat are recommended.
Warming Up
Before beginning jumping rope, do a light, 5 to 10-minute warm-up.
This can include walking or jogging in place, or slow-paced jumping.
Increase Time and Intensity Gradually
The exercise can be relatively intense and high-level.
Start slowly and increase gradually.
An individual might try three 30-second sets at the end of a routine workout for the first week.
Depending upon fitness level, individuals may feel nothing or some slight soreness in the calf muscles.
This can help determine how much to do for the next jump rope session.
Gradually increase the number of sets, or the duration, over several weeks until the body can go for about ten minutes of continuous jumping.
One way is to jump after each weight-lifting set or other circuit exercise – like adding jumping for 30 to 90 seconds in between exercise sets.
Both feet slightly lift off from the ground and land together.
Alternate foot jump
This uses a skipping step.
This allows landing more prominently on one foot after each spin.
Running step
A slight jog is incorporated while jumping.
High step
A moderate pace with a high knee raise increases intensity.
Rope jumping is a great addition to an interval training or cross-training routine that creates an efficient whole-body workout that incorporates both cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength.
Overcoming ACL Injury
References
Trecroci, A., Cavaggioni, L., Caccia, R., & Alberti, G. (2015). Jump Rope Training: Balance and Motor Coordination in Preadolescent Soccer Players. Journal of sports science & medicine, 14(4), 792–798.
Baumgartner, L., Weberruß, H., Oberhoffer-Fritz, R., & Schulz, T. (2020). Vascular Structure and Function in Children and Adolescents: What Impact Do Physical Activity, Health-Related Physical Fitness, and Exercise Have?. Frontiers in pediatrics, 8, 103. doi.org/10.3389/fped.2020.00103
Ozer, D., Duzgun, I., Baltaci, G., Karacan, S., & Colakoglu, F. (2011). The effects of rope or weighted rope jump training on strength, coordination and proprioception in adolescent female volleyball players. The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness, 51(2), 211–219.
Van Hooren, B., & Peake, J. M. (2018). Do We Need a Cool-Down After Exercise? A Narrative Review of the Psychophysiological Effects and the Effects on Performance, Injuries and the Long-Term Adaptive Response. Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 48(7), 1575–1595. doi.org/10.1007/s40279-018-0916-2
Can adding calisthenics resistance training to a fitness routine provide health benefits like flexibility, balance, and coordination?
Calisthenics Resistance Training
Calisthenics resistance training requires no equipment, they can be done with minimal space, and are a great way to get a quick burn.
They are a form of resistance training using your own body weight that is low-impact, which makes it accessible to individuals of all ages and fitness levels.
They effectively help build agility, and cardiovascular health, and improve balance, coordination, and flexibility.
Benefits
Muscle Strength
Because calisthenics are easily adaptable to any fitness level, require minimal or no equipment, and are great for beginners and experienced exercise enthusiasts it is a fantastic full-body workout and an excellent way to build strength and muscle. Research supports that calisthenics resistance training can improve muscle strength in various ways.
One study found that eight weeks of calisthenics not only improved posture and body mass index/BMI but can impact strength, even with exercises not routinely performed. (Thomas E, et al., 2017)
During the study, one group did calisthenics and the other maintained regular training routines.
The researchers discovered that the group that did calisthenics increased their repetitions of exercises that were not included.
The group who continued with their regular training routines did not improve on what they could do before the eight-week study. (Thomas E, et al., 2017)
Cardiovascular Fitness
Regular participation in calisthenic resistance training can lead to improved cardiovascular health, including increased endurance and a healthier heart.
Certain calisthenic exercises, like burpees and mountain climbers, are high-intensity movements that can increase heart rate and blood circulation just from the movements.
Gradually performing these exercises at a faster pace, research indicates could potentially experience the same cardiovascular benefits from interval or treadmill running. (Bellissimo GF, et al., 2022) – (Lavie CJ, et al., 2015)
Balance, Coordination, and Flexibility
The movements require a full range of motion that stretches and strengthens the muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
These exercises can help decrease the risk of injury and make daily physical activities easier to perform without over-exertion.
Incorporating calisthenics resistance training on a regular basis can help improve posture, balance, and flexibility, depending on which exercises are recommended.
Exercises like stretches, lunges, and squats help to improve flexibility and mobility.
Exercises like single-leg squats and one-arm push-ups can work the balance, coordination, and proprioception of the body.
Mental Health
Exercise, in general, is known to improve mood, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being.
Calisthenic resistance training can have additional impacts on mental well-being.
For example, the discipline and focus required to perform the movements can help concentration and mental clarity.
One study found that calisthenics can reduce cognitive decline and may be useful for dementia prevention. (Osuka Y, et al., 2020)
Another study found that calisthenics helped mental well-being in individuals with diseases like ankylosing spondylitis and multiple sclerosis. (Taspinar O, et al., 2015)
Types
Bodyweight exercises that use an individual’s own body weight as resistance are the foundation. Common examples include push-ups, squats, and lunges. An overview of some of the types of exercises.
Pulling
These exercises focus on training the muscles for pulling movements, which include the back, shoulders, and arms.
Examples include pull-ups, chin-ups, and rows.
Pushing
These exercises focus on training the muscles for pushing movements, like the chest, shoulders, and triceps.
Examples include dips, push-ups, and handstand push-ups.
Core
Core exercises focus on training the abdominal and lower back muscles, which are responsible for maintaining stability and balance.
Examples of core exercises include planks, sit-ups, and leg raises.
Single-Leg
Single-leg exercises focus on training one leg at a time.
These target the muscles of the legs, hips, and core.
Examples of single-leg exercises include single-leg squats, lunges, and step-ups.
Plyometric
Calisthenics resistance training focuses on powerful explosive movements.
Plyometric exercises challenge the muscles to work quickly and forcefully.
Examples include jump squats, clap push-ups, and box jumps.
Getting Started
Start by making sure calisthenics is an appropriate workout option, especially if you are a beginner or have pre-existing medical conditions.
Once cleared to exercise start with familiar movements that can be done with the correct form.
Pushups, bodyweight squats, planks, lunges, and other basic movements are a good place to start.
Make sure to warm up with light and easy motions that mimic the workout movements.
Aim to work each body part during the workout.
Try for at least two workouts a week.
It is recommended to split the movement patterns.
Reps can be counted or set a timer to switch exercises every minute. This is called EMOM-style or every minute on the minute.
Pick four to five exercises that target various areas.
For example, sit-ups can be done for the core, lunges for the glutes and thighs, planks can be done for the shoulders and core, and jumping jacks or jumping rope for cardiovascular.
Calisthenic resistance training is easily modifiable and can be adjusted to individual needs.
Core Strength
References
Thomas, E., Bianco, A., Mancuso, E. P., Patti, A., Tabacchi, G., Paoli, A., … & Palma, A. (2017). The effects of a calisthenics training intervention on posture, strength, and body composition. Isokinetics and exercise science, 25(3), 215-222.
Bellissimo, G. F., Ducharme, J., Mang, Z., Millender, D., Smith, J., Stork, M. J., Little, J. P., Deyhle, M. R., Gibson, A. L., de Castro Magalhaes, F., & Amorim, F. (2022). The Acute Physiological and Perceptual Responses Between Bodyweight and Treadmill Running High-Intensity Interval Exercises. Frontiers in physiology, 13, 824154. doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.824154
Osuka, Y., Kojima, N., Sasai, H., Ohara, Y., Watanabe, Y., Hirano, H., & Kim, H. (2020). Exercise Types and the Risk of Developing Cognitive Decline in Older Women: A Prospective Study. Journal of Alzheimer’s disease: JAD, 77(4), 1733–1742. doi.org/10.3233/JAD-200867
Taspinar, O., Aydın, T., Celebi, A., Keskin, Y., Yavuz, S., Guneser, M., Camli, A., Tosun, M., Canbaz, N., & Gok, M. (2015). Psychological effects of calisthenic exercises on neuroinflammatory and rheumatic diseases. Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie, 74(8), 722–727. doi.org/10.1007/s00393-015-1570-9
Lavie, C. J., Lee, D. C., Sui, X., Arena, R., O’Keefe, J. H., Church, T. S., Milani, R. V., & Blair, S. N. (2015). Effects of Running on Chronic Diseases and Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 90(11), 1541–1552. doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2015.08.001
Hiking is a form of exercise accessible to a wide range of physical abilities, which makes it a great outdoor activity for all. The health benefits include improved blood pressure, sleep, and reduced stress and anxiety. However, being out in the elements without conditioning the body can lead to serious injuries and other health issues. Many trails are rough, uneven, and have elevation gain, so even the easiest courses require balance and strength to avoid injury. Hiking training that includes strength, cardio, and practice will help condition the body to allow the trip to be more enjoyable and safe.
Hiking Training
Two of the most common hiking injuries are rolling the ankle and ankle sprains. Individuals that are out of shape or haven’t been active for some time are recommended to start with basic movements and exercises to warm up the muscles and increase heart rate.
Walk/Run Through Sand
This builds the muscles that protect the knees and ankles.
Increase Range of Motion
Using a resistance band will strengthen muscles through their full extension.
Standing on a tennis ball or balance disc is great as it builds the small stabilizer muscles around the ankles and knees.
Crunches
Building core strength will help maintain balance on uneven surfaces.
Squats and Lunges
Keep the back straight and take each squat and lunge slowly to strengthen the core muscles.
Push-ups
Sufficient upper body strength, especially the back muscles will help on long trips and when carrying a heavy pack.
Cardiovascular
Walking around the neighborhood, on a treadmill, or stationary bike will work to increase cardiovascular ability.
The objective is to get the heart rate up to build lung capacity.
Step-ups
Before a backpacking trip, weigh the pack – try 20 lbs. – and step up onto a park bench 16 to 18 inches high.
Add 5 pounds a week until the pack is as heavy as it will be on the hike.
Strength Hiking Training for Backpacking
Carrying a heavy pack activates many muscles, including those of the arms and shoulders, and back. Hiking for an extended period with a backpack requires getting used to the weight and feel of it. Nothing conditions the body for a pack better than actually experiencing it.
Shoulder and Neck
The trapezius muscles radiate out from the base of the neck.
This is where the shoulder harness of the pack sits.
Strong traps help prevent soreness.
Most of the pack’s weight should be on and around the hips, but it doesn’t always happen due to pack design and body shape.
Shoulder and Arm
The shoulder of the arm used to put on and take off the pack does a lot of work at awkward angles.
The rotator cuff of the shoulder is vulnerable to these loads.
Upper Back
The muscles of the upper and mid back contract to stabilize the pack, especially with heavy loads.
Beginning hikers and backpackers tend to get a dull pain right in the center of the shoulder blades.
Lower Back
The lower back takes the brunt of the force from lifting and twisting the posterior chain of muscles.
Abdominal Muscles
The abdominal muscles work to stabilize the pack when twisting and turning.
Legs
Walking, squatting, and standing with the pack requires strong support from the legs.
Strong legs, especially thighs, make a difference.
Start small and go slow until you feel comfortable in the surroundings. Start off with lightweight and short distances and gradually extend to heavier weights and longer distances. Remember to go at your own pace and don’t try to be an expert.
Hikers Strength Training
References
Chrusch, Adam, and Michelle Kavin. “Survey of Musculoskeletal Injuries, Prehike Conditioning, and On-Trail Injury Prevention Strategies Self-Reported by Long-Distance Hikers on the Appalachian Trail.” Wilderness & environmental medicine vol. 32,3 (2021): 322-331. doi:10.1016/j.wem.2021.04.004
Fleg, Jerome L. “Aerobic exercise in the elderly: a key to successful aging.” Discovery Medicine vol. 13,70 (2012): 223-8.
Gatterer, H et al. “Effect of weekly hiking on cardiovascular risk factors in the elderly.” Zeitschrift fur Gerontologie und Geriatrie vol. 48,2 (2015): 150-3. doi:10.1007/s00391-014-0622-0
Huber, Daniela, et al. “Sustainability of Hiking in Combination with Coaching in Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Quality of Life.” International journal of environmental research and public health vol. 19,7 3848. 24 Mar. 2022, doi:10.3390/ijerph19073848
Liew, Bernard, et al. “The Effect of Backpack Carriage on the Biomechanics of Walking: A Systematic Review and Preliminary Meta-Analysis.” Journal of applied biomechanics vol. 32,6 (2016): 614-629. doi:10.1123/jab.2015-0339
Li, Simon S W, et al. “Effects of a backpack and double pack loads on postural stability.” Ergonomics vol. 62,4 (2019): 537-547. doi:10.1080/00140139.2018.1552764
Li KW, Chu JC, Chen CC. Strength decrease, perceived physical exertion, and endurance time for backpacking tasks. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(7):1296. doi:10.3390/ijerph16071296
Mitten, Denise, et al. “Hiking: A Low-Cost, Accessible Intervention to Promote Health Benefits.” American Journal of lifestyle medicine vol. 12,4 302-310. 9 Jul. 2016, doi:10.1177/1559827616658229
Fitness, exercising, weight, and strength training programs use terms like sets, reps, and rest intervals. Knowing what they mean and how to use them for optimal results is important to achieve health goals. An individual’s training program will differ in the weights, reps, sets, rest intervals, and execution speed depending on whether the training is for fitness, muscle growth, strength, power, or endurance. Here we offer a strength training guide on understanding these terms and how they apply to a workout program.
Strength Training Guide
Reps
Rep means repetition.
A rep is one completion of an exercise, such as one bench press, or one bicep curl.
So, one bicep curl equals one rep, and 10 bicep curls equals 10 reps.
Reps make up a set, which is typically the total number of reps done before taking a break.
A repetition maximum – 1RM is an individual’s personal best or the most they can lift once in a single repetition.
A 10RM would be the most an individual could lift and successfully perform 10 reps with proper form.
Sets
A set is a series of repetitions performed sequentially.
For example, one set of bench presses could be eight reps
Sets are designed according to the individual’s workout program.
Rest
The rest interval is the time of resting between sets that allow the muscles to recover.
The rest period between sets can range from 30 seconds to two minutes.
Exercises can have short or long rests between reps.
The ideal rest period depends on the objective of the workout and health goals.
Not resting long enough and starting with another set too soon can fatigue the muscles too soon, increasing the risk of injury.
Resting too long between reps can cool the muscles down and release tension before starting again.
Execution Speed
The speed at which one rep of an exercise is performed is contraction velocity.
Concentric – shortening of the muscle is often the lifting part of a rep.
Eccentric – lengthening of the muscle, often the lowering part of a rep helps to build muscle mass.
Strength: 1 to 2 seconds concentric and eccentric
Hypertrophy: 2 to 5 seconds concentric and eccentric
Endurance: 1 to 2 seconds concentric and eccentric
Power: Less than 1 second concentric and 1 to 2 seconds eccentric
Choosing Weights
The distribution of repetitions against a percentage of 1RM maximum lift is as follows. This example uses a bench press where 1RM is 160 pounds.
100% of 1RM: 160 pounds, 1 repetition
60% of 1RM: 96 pounds, warm-up reps
85% of 1RM: 136 pounds, 6 repetitions
67% of 1RM: 107 pounds, 12 repetitions
65% of 1RM: 104 pounds, 15 repetitions
An individual should be able to do one lift at 1RM, six reps at 85%, 15 reps at 65%, and so on.
Goals to Build a Program
A training program is a schedule of exercise types, frequency, intensity, and volume, for weight training or any other type of fitness training. Individuals can devise various combinations of sets, reps, rest, and exercise types to find what works best for them. A qualified strength and conditioning trainer can help develop a program. The variables can be adjusted and include:
Exercise selection
Weights or resistance used
Number of reps
Number of sets
Execution speed
Rest time between sets
Rest time between training sessions and days of the week
General Fitness
A basic strength training fitness program targets strength and muscle-building.
Between eight and 15 repetitions for two to four sets will help achieve both.
Choose eight to 12 exercises, making sure to hit the lower and upper body and core.
Strength
Building strength uses the most weight, the least number of reps, and the longest rest periods.
The neuromuscular system responds to heavy weights by increasing the body’s ability to lift heavy loads.
For example, individuals with a strength goal could use a 5×5 system.
This means five sets of five repetitions.
Muscle Growth
Muscle growth and bodybuilding training use lighter weights, more reps, and less rest periods.
Muscle requires metabolic stress to increase in size.
This means working the muscles to the point where lactate builds and the muscle suffers internal damage, sometimes called “training to failure.”
Then resting and proper nutrition help muscle repair and the muscle grows larger in the process.
A program could be three sets of 8 to 12 reps, with loads that reach or near the failure point on the last few reps.
Power
Power training uses slightly lighter weights, takes longer rest periods, and focuses on execution speed.
Power is the ability to move an object at high speed.
Each push, pull, squat, or lunge is done at a quick tempo.
This type of training requires practicing the acceleration of a lift, resting properly, and repeating.
Muscular Endurance
Endurance weight training requires more reps in each set, up to 20 or 30, with lighter weights.
Individuals should ask themselves what is the day-to-day physical activity that requires the most muscular endurance?
For example, runners will want to concentrate on increasing endurance in their legs.
Swimmers may shift and focus on their arms one day then legs another.
Movement as Medicine
References
Liu, Chiung-Ju, and Nancy K Latham. “Progressive resistance strength training for improving physical function in older adults.” The Cochrane Database of systematic reviews vol. 2009,3 CD002759. 8 Jul. 2009, doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002759.pub2
Loturco, Irineu, et al. “Muscle Contraction Velocity: A Suitable Approach to Analyze the Functional Adaptations in Elite Soccer Players.” Journal of sports science & medicine vol. 15,3 483-491. 5 Aug. 2016
Rønnestad, B R, and I Mujika. “Optimizing strength training for running and cycling endurance performance: A review.” Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports vol. 24,4 (2014): 603-12. doi:10.1111/sms.12104
Suchomel, Timothy J et al. “The Importance of Muscular Strength: Training Considerations.” Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) vol. 48,4 (2018): 765-785. doi:10.1007/s40279-018-0862-z
Tøien, Tiril, et al. “Maximal strength training: the impact of eccentric overload.” Journal of Neurophysiology vol. 120,6 (2018): 2868-2876. doi:10.1152/jn.00609.2018
Westcott, Wayne L. “Resistance training is medicine: effects of strength training on health.” Current sports medicine reports vol. 11,4 (2012): 209-16. doi:10.1249/JSR.0b013e31825dabb8
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