IN BRIEF: Bio-Banding and Developmental Age

You’ve probably heard of the Relative Age Effect – the concept that when children are placed into groups such as school classes or sports based on their chronological age, those born early in the cohort may have physical or intellectual advantages compared to those born late, leading to selection for enriched opportunities that tend to…

Periodization: Planned Peaks and Targeted Training

Periodization is a systematic approach to training that involves varying training variables, like volume and intensity, over time. The objective of this planning is for the athlete to reach his or her peak at a specific, pre-determined time, while optimizing recovery to avoid overtraining and injury. Periodization is based on Hans Selye’s theory of biological…

Moisture-Wicking Athletic Apparel: A Matter of Style or Performance?

Moisture-wicking clothes act to keep athletes cool and dry. Because exercising in the heat can have a severe impact on physical fatigue, companies promote their moisture-wicking products as the difference-maker in these conditions. However, there has yet to be an independent, peer-reviewed study that conclusively demonstrates that performance apparel improves our thermoregulation and performance. How…

Getting to the Core of Athlete Performance

Core strength and stability training is performed by most if not all competitive athletes these days. In fact it is one of the few training forms that is effective for all sport disciplines. The core is central to all athletic movement, whether it is generated from the area or passes through it. It is the…

Don’t Get Tied Up In Knots – Try Rope Training

Perfecting a good workout routine that balances aerobic, anaerobic and strength training is a great goal for all around fitness. However, sometimes your body settles into a rhythm and fewer gains are seen. Changing up your routine and incorporating different styles of workout are a great way to stimulate your systems. Unconventional workouts add a…

Rolling out the benefits of Foam Rollers

Foam rollers have become pretty mainstream over the last few years. Athletes swear by this piece of equipment to help keep muscles loose and limber, and to help in muscle recovery and increased performance. Every day fitness goers are also picking up this piece of equipment to help ease muscle soreness. So what is it…

Fall Foods for the Athlete

With the miracle of growing techniques available these days, many foods are available all year ‘round. But most foods usually taste better when they are in season and are a great source of vitamin and nutrients that will keep your body in good working order. So take advantage of the Fall season and see what…

Lift like a Girl – Weightlifting for Women

With the ever increasing popularity of Crossfit, obstacle course racing (Spartan, Warrior Dash and mud runs) and a few great marketing campaigns – check out #liftlikeagirl and This Girl Can – women are heading to their local gym and hitting the weight room more than ever before. Weightlifting is one of the best ways to…

Minimizing Jet Lag, Maximizing Performance

Athletes are travelling more than ever, flying across the world for competition and training. Even competing in the same country can require travelling through multiple time zones. At a time when athletes want to be in peak form, jet lag can interfere with mood and performance. Understanding of the body’s natural clock, however, can help…

The Greater Incidence of ACL Injuries in Females: Risk Factors and Prevention

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the ligaments inside the knee joint. Connecting the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shinbone), it limits the forward translation of the tibia to prevent it from sliding too far forward, and contributes to the rotational stability of the knee. ACL sprains and tears are one of…