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By Martin Dwyer, M.S., CFT Practical applications of periodization in training. In many parts of North America, Memorial Day Weekend is the time public pools, water parks and beaches open for the summer.  Those are the days when the affects of Fall, Winter, and Spring will be brought to bear in the light of the sun. For many of us, it is the first week of March that we get serious about hitting beach season in form, checking the scales more closely, and properly aligning our diet and exercise to remove excess fat and inches. Coming to this seasonal training… read more

The dead lift has been considered for decades the grandfather of all weightlifting. It works nearly every muscle in the body from shoulders to toes. Frederic Delavier, in his class exercise handbook Strength Training Anatomy, put it this way: “[The dead lift] works nearly every muscle in the body and is effective for developing the lumbosacral and trapezius muscles. It also works the gluteal muscles and quadriceps intensely.” While it is a terrific overall exercise, it is one that requires good form. I have searched over and over for articles on good form, which are hard to find for many… read more

Recently, I was asked to provide an informed perspective on exercise and cancer treatment and recover.  Exercise has been broadly demonstrated to have positive impact on physical strength, capacity, recuperation, and mortality in cancer patients. Moreover, this positive impact takes place both during and after cancer treatment. This blog offers the reader summaries of credible research, and additional references to discuss with their medical professionals.  A summary of the key research used here follows; Summary of Findings Puetz (2012) reaches the conclusion that that exercise reduces cancer-related fatigue and “has a palliative effect in patients during treatment and a recuperative… read more

In a recent certification exam, when asked to explain the three energy, two exercises that utilize each pathway, and specific advice related to energy for marathon training, I gave the following response.  It is shared here as a resource to be put to use for others.  Should questions arise as you review the information, please contact me. Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) provides the foundation for energy used in muscle contraction (Hatfield, Fitness: Complete Guide, p. 529). While critical for muscle contraction, a challenge arises in supply as the average individual possesses only 80-100 grams of ATP stored in their entire body,… read more