Elbow, Wrist & Hand Corrections: Stay Tuned Therapeutics

Geoffrey Bisop of Stay Tuned Therapeutics in Flagstaff, Arizona goes over some easy corrective exercises for computer abusers…I mean users:

Red Bull® And Reaction Time

Image by bubble dumpster via Flickr

by Mathew H. Gendle, Darren M. Smucker, Jason A. Stafstrom, Melanie C. Helterbran and Kimberly
S. Glazer

In the past ten years, energy drink consumption has steadily increased amongst university students,  who ingest beverages like Red Bull® (RB) in an attempt to enhance mental performance.  Energy drinks like RB (which are usually carbonated and contain significant quantities of sugar and caffeine as well as blends of herbal extracts,  B vitamins,  and amino acids) are popular with university students because their consumption is typically assumed to provide increased energy and noticeable improvements in cognition.

Continue Reading >>  Red Bull® And Reaction Time.

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Getting in the Zone (The flow series)

So many people underestimate just how much getting strong is a mental challenge. They certainly underestimate how you head affects your results.

Or, when they do recognize it, as some strength coaches claim too, they simply latch on to the most convenient dogmatic views and think that it is all about “motivation”.  Which, quite frankly, when repeated over and over becomes just a word at best, and simple noise at worst.

When I started writing the Getting in the Zone series my blog at GUS, I didn’t know exactly how I would approach it. Now, five posts and five associated articles later, it’s still not finished but I finally feel that I have it to a point where readers can really do something with it. I also think, in all, it’s the most useful work I’ve ever done.

So far, I am practicing a bit of amateur psychology.  But let me point out that all psychology is amateur psychology. Because for any person to claim that they are an “expert” on the human mind…well that would be hubris.

Suffice it to say I am not qualified in psychology, despite a lot of knowledge. But I AM qualified when it comes to getting the mind in a good place for the best performance. What that ultimately means is getting the self in a good place. Mind and body. This is called being in the “zone”. Or, as I prefer to say being in “flow” or “flowing”.

From the first post:

During athletic events you’ve probably heard people say things like “he’s in the zone”. That is when an athlete is completely centered and everything seems focused and effortless. Many times there is a sense of quietness and calmness about them even though they are in the midst of a highly charged situation.

You know what I’m talking about, probably, and when you are at the gym trying to get that big PR, feeling all anxious about it, you’ve probably wondered how to get in that ZONE and if it’s possible to learn.

The purpose of all the posts and articles is therefore to help you achieve that. However, I believe that each individual entry is useful in it’s own right. I hope it helps you succeed in your lifting, or whatever you hope to achieve:

Ground Up Strength: Getting in the Zone (FLOW) Series.

Does long-term coffee intake decrease the risk of diabetes mellitus type 2?

Image via Wikipedia

by Gustavo D Pimentel, Juliane CS Zemdegs, João F Mota and Joyce A Theodoro

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) is characterized by insulin resistance and/or abnormal insulin secretion, resulting in a decrease in whole-body glucose disposal. Individuals with chronic hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and/or DM2 are at greater risk for hypertension, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular disease.

Although genetic factors may play a role in the etiology of DM2, there is now convincing evidence that DM2 is strongly associated with modifiable factors, such as diet. Interestingly, among the several factors present in diet, coffee, one of the most widely consumed non-alcoholic beverages in Western society, is highlighted as a potent dietary-component associated with reduced risk of several chronic diseases, including DM2 and its complications. Coffee is a complex mixture of more than a thousand substances, including caffeine (primary source), phenolic compounds (chlorogenic acid and quinides – primary source), minerals and vitamins (magnesium, potassium, manganese, chromium, niacin), and fibers  and several of these coffee constituents have a possible role in glucose metabolism.

The article  provides an overview of the role of long-term coffee intake on the risks of glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and DM2.

Continue Reading >>  Ground Up Strength: Does long-term coffee intake reduce type 2 diabetes mellitus risk?.

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Anti-inflammatory management for tendon injuries?

Sporting injuries, including both acute trauma and chronic overuse,  are usually presented with clinical signs of swelling and pain.  Most sport medicine physicians prescribe anti-inflammatory managements, such as NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammotory drugs) and corticosteroids, to control the pain.  However, there are increasing evidences about the unfavorable side effects of the use of various anti-inflammatory agents for tendon injuries.

Continue Reading >>  Ground Up Strength: Anti-inflammatory management for tendon injuries – friend or foe?.

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Ground Up Strength: Why Programs Work

I’ve never seen a strength training or bodybuilding program developed for a mass audience that didn’t  “work”.  No matter how ridiculous the program is and how unfounded it’s principles all such programs tend to be seen as largely successful.

Once upon a time the world did not need specialists to the degree it does now.  Most every human being had the basic skills of survival.  Sure there were still “roles” that certain members of a group would be given by convention but the roles were simple and there weren’t so many of them….

Continue Reading >> Ground Up Strength: Why Programs Work.

Alan Aragon’s Blog

Mr. Aragon has a blog and my first thought is…’bout time.  My second thought is….that is wicked cool.  You know, I wouldn’t even have known about it if someone hadn’t found their way to this blog from his blog (good old stats) and I’m pretty honored that he quoted me over there.

I’ll be keeping up and talking about interesting things that develop there but in the meantime get yourself on over Alan Aragon’s Blog.

Dead Bug Track (Using Posterior Pelvic Tilt)

The dead bug exercise  track  was conceived to to incorporate movement of the extremities while keeping the transverse abdominus and the muscles of the pelvic floor contracted.

There is a lack of consensus on whether the TVA can be isolated in this fashion but despite that, the dead bug exercise, when combined with pelvic tilt, is a good intervention for cases of anterior pelvic tilt. It is also a great core movement in general and the traditional dead bug, which uses a neutral spine can be practised to learn good control of spinal position and to maintain that position while also challenging the core.

Continue Reading >>  Ground Up Strength: Dead Bug Track (Using Posterior Pelvic Tilt).

Attitudes, Personality, and Balance

Attitudes is probably the most recurring subject in this blog.  I tend to just harp on it again and again.

For instance these two posts, as well as many others:

Attitudes about health and fitness

More on attitudes about health and fitness

Sometimes I don’t even know myself why I do the things I do and I cannot be sure in this case.  I do know,  however,  that one reason I revisit this subject so often is because it is so vital and so misunderstood.

The most learned, logical, and scientifically oriented individuals are influenced by their particular attitudes, which themselves are influenced by a myriad of other complicated psychological processes.  Nobody is immune to attitude and nobody can escape it without turning into a drone.

Grip Strength Training Tips

Joe Weir has started a grip strength training tip sheet at TipDrop.com…a subject that is near and dear to his heart.  Grip strength I mean. There is also a little help from me.

Check it out: Strength Training and a Strong Grip

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