Blog

Reviewed by John Baur, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, FAAOMPTThis narrative review explains how the 3‑minute all‑out exercise test (3MT) operationalizes the critical speed (CS) and critical power (CP) framework so coaches can prescribe precisely targeted high‑intensity interval...

Reviewed by John Baur, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, FAAOMPTThis article examines whether cooling the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet between sets (“interset distal cooling”) enhances resistance‑training (RT) performance. The authors focus on both mechanistic...

Reviewed by John Baur, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, FAAOMPTWhy train the breathing muscles?The authors argue that conventional sport training does not sufficiently stress the respiratory musculature to drive meaningful adaptation. In elite endurance athletes, the respiratory...

Reviewed by John Baur, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, FAAOMPTWhat the session is about.Ashley Hodge’s talk (part of the 2023 NSCA Personal Trainers Virtual Conference) aims to replace “random glute work” with a repeatable framework that coaches can plug into any program. The...

Reviewed by John Baur, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, FAAOMPTThis systematic review asks a practical game‑day question: which short, exercise‑based “priming” activities meaningfully sharpen performance for track‑and‑field athletes? The authors searched PubMed and Scopus (to May...

Reviewed by John Baur, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, FAAOMPTGuppy, Kendall, and Haff review the strengths, limitations, and best‑use cases of velocity‑based training (VBT) for strength and conditioning. They focus on three core programming strategies that use barbell velocity:...

Reviewed by John Baur, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, FAAOMPT This article explains why and how to use “flywheel eccentric training” to deliberately create eccentric overload—loads greater than what the athlete can produce concentrically—and provides practical programming,...

Reviewed by John Baur, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, FAAOMPTWhy focus on trips and forward falls?Falls are the leading cause of injurious deaths and nonfatal injuries in adults over 65. From 2007–2016, U.S. fall‑related death rates rose ~3% per year, and 20–30% of falls in this...

Reviewed by John Baur, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, FAAOMPT Conor Heffernan traces the barbell back squat from a 19th‑century bodyweight drill to a loaded, multi‑purpose exercise central to strength training. He frames this evolution around three drivers: “equipment changes”,...

Reviewed by Tyler Tice, PT, DPT, OCS, ATCIntroduction/BackgroundLumbar hypermobility is characterized by excessive movement in the spinal segments, often leading to instability and chronic low back pain. These patients frequently display central sensitization, a...