by: Lawrence Biscontini, MA
One of the most exciting trends in balance training today occurs by combining the versatile BOSU® Balance Trainer (BT) with barefoot mind-body disciplines. While wearing shoes for traditional core and upright conditioning applications still proves popular and appropriate, barefoot movement on the BT challenges the lower body extremities in new ways (Kavounoudias). Among the mind-body disciplines that easily lend the..
0 comments
righting, protective and equilibrium reactions
The antigravity, balance and power producing capacity of the body can be simply thought of, in terms of physical skills, as righting, protective and equilibrium reactions.
Automatic righting reactions maintain or restore body alignment as it relates to the position of the head, trunk and limbs. Muscle spindles monitor the rate at which muscles lengthen and play a big role in maintaining balance at rest. Spindle feedback..
0 comments
muscle spindles
Proporioceptive sense, and consequently balance, is available largely because of muscle spindles and other sensory organs or proprioceptive receptors. Sensory organs relay information via the central nervous system, and provide a sense of body or limb position in space. This is also referred to as kinesthetic awareness. Sensory organs, located in muscles, tendons or joints, for example, allow a person to predict the degree of elbow flexion or extension even if t..
0 comments
Balance represents an ability to stabilize and maintain a desired body position. Balance can also be thought of as correct, or efficient, positioning of a body part or the entire body.
Natural and functional movement is directly related to the harmonious work of joints, muscles and the neurological system. The neurological system interacts with the musculoskeletal system in a coordinated and complex manner. Using stability or balance training, and CCE, is the perfect way to..
0 comments
Secondary fitness traits can be represented by the acronym CARBS = P. With a base of cardiovascular, strength and flexibility fitness established, an important training goal becomes one of transitioning this less functional health/ fitness/aesthetically oriented fitness foundation into integrated movement ability. It must be noted that some secondary fitness traits can be trained simultaneously with primary components, but regardless, it is important to “changeup” your program at ..
0 comments
7. Challenge joint motions in a manner that acknowledges the degree to which sport and daily life movements are similar. Developing general movement capabilities that have a high transfer and relevance to sport and daily life provides a clue that functional training approaches are generally not trying to create sport specific movement. This generalist approach views most activities as more similar than different and focuses on commonalities of daily activity and..
0 comments
The BOSU® Balance Trainer is a piece of fitness equipment that facilitates functional balance training. Thus, it is important to understand what functional training is and how it fits into a total fitness program.
functional training defined
Functional training is purpose driven or intentional training. One can begin to think of functional training (FT) or functional fitness as a methodology and form of movement that is used to expose an individual to integrat..
0 comments
By: Amanda Vogel, MA human kinetics
Thinking about trying barefoot running or barefoot walking? Start training with these exercises for creating stronger feet, whether you plan to go completely barefoot or wear barefoot running shoes.
If you already enjoy running and walking, you might have heard..
0 comments
By: Amanda Vogel, MA human kinetics
Imagine stepping out for a run without any shoes on—it’s called barefoot running, and it’s an emerging trend in the running and fitness industries.
For most people, running barefoot goes against conventional wisdom. Besides the “freeing” feeling of kicking off your shoes, what’s so compelling about running barefoot?
It turns out that despite advances in shoe technology meant to make run..
0 comments
by: Douglas S. Brooks, MS, ACE, TSCC-L3, Exercise Physiologist & Peter Twist, MSc, BPE, CSCS, TSCC-L3 PTS
The systems, strategies and tactics in tennis are best described as organized chaos. During a match, no competitor—even those with great on-court intuition—knows exactly what will happen in the next second. Multi-directional sports are a read-and-react game where success hinges on individual tactics, conditioning and game play experience. A well-rounded tennis player ne..
0 comments
