Sports Specific Training – Chapel Hill News April Article
Remember to check my wite for the May Chapel Hill News Article!!!
Sports Specific Training
David Hansey
NASM Certified Performance Enhancement Specialist
NASM Certified Sports Fitness Specialist
NASM Certified Personal Trainer
I have talked a lot about Sports Specific training. Over the next two months, I will highlight why it is important to train specifically for your sport and how to accomplish this.
Every day I see people performing strength and cardio exercises improperly. Many to the degree that they are risking injury. Most to the degree that the exercise is not as effective as it could be. Any athlete (and this even means the weekend warrior such as tennis or golf players) needs to review their fitness level. Is there something lacking? Are you carrying more weight than you should? Has the quality of your game hit a plateau or diminished? Does the quality of your game get worse the longer you play? Do you feel pain or weakness while playing or for any time after? These are all signs that your fitness level is lacking for the level of sport you want to be able to perform at. And you should consider a few things in order to fix them.
First, any pain or discomfort needs to be accessed by a physician. He is the only person that can tell you if there is a serious problem going on. For example, pain in your lower back on the golf course could just be weak or tight muscles. But it could also be a herniated disc that you are damaging even further every time you play. Only a physician can tell you for sure.
After your doctor visit, you need to review your weight and conditioning level. Getting winded or tired or watching your game drop off are all signs that you are lacking cardiovascular conditioning. For example, if you miss more shots halfway into your tennis match than at the beginning, you need to review your cardiovascular conditioning. You may be “in shape†but you may not be performing the moves to help you with your game. Some sports specific training such as agility training may be all you need or you may need a comprehensive cardio, strength and agility program specifically designed for you. Just as your doctor is the only person who can determine the best course of action to deal with pain, a CERTIFIED personal trainer is the only person who can determine the best course of action to improve your conditioning. Ideally this person has training and experience in dealing with athletes. I stress certification above because it is important to check the credentials and qualifications of anyone that you are trusting with your body or the bodies of your children. Any trainer should be happy to provide you with all of these details when you are considering them for training.
Next month, I will go into detail on how Sports Specific Strength Training can have a dramatic impact on the quality of your game as well as reduce your injury chances. I will also highlight how it can be an important part of the recovery process if you have already been injured. Regardless of your sport, training specifically for it will not only prevent injury but allow you the opportunity to become stronger, faster and more accurate. For more information on Sports Specific Training, call me at 404-514-1896 or visit my website at www.4fitbodies.com.
