Have you ever been frustrated over a lack of results from your workout routine?

If so, you are in good company. Even the most seasoned athletes experience times when their results plateau.
When you continue to put in the same effort day after day with little or no results it is safe to say that you’ve hit your own fitness plateau.
Your body adapts quickly to any repetitive routine. The definition of ‘insanity’ is to do the same thing over and over while expecting different results. This holds true for your workouts. When your results stop then it’s time to do something new.

There is good news – the following 4 tactics are guaranteed to crank your workouts up to the next level and to deliver the fast results you want.

1: Focus on Negatives
Each time that you do a weight lifting repetition you are utilizing three types of strength. These are:

1. Positive strength: the motion of lifting the weight.
2. Static strength: holding weight in a contracted position.
3. Negative strength: the motion of lowering the weight.

Most people completely miss the benefit of the negative in each repetition by allowing the weight to drop quickly with little control. It is understood that the negative portion of a repetition is just as important as the positive portion, and possibly more important.
Focus on the negative portion of each repetition by lowering the weight very slowly. Concentrate on the negative contraction, and make each repetition count.
If you are advanced, then use a training partner to assist you in moving heavier-than-normal weight into a contracted position, then lower it very slowly.
Another way to utilize negative repetitions on a machine is to lift the weight using two limbs but then lower it with just one. For example, use both legs to lift the weight on a leg extension machine, but then lower it back down slowly using only one leg.

2: Do a Drop Set
Drop sets have long been used to fight off exercise plateaus. This technique is great for adding muscle strength, endurance and for increasing the cardiovascular benefit of your workout – resulting in more fat burn.
Here, in a nutshell, is how to do a drop set: When you perform an exercise to exhaustion, don’t stop there. Drop the weight by 80% and do another set.
You could take it a step further by dropping the weight twice, making it a double drop. Or drop the weight three times for a descending drop set.
Use this technique only once or twice per workout, on the final set of the exercise.

3: Modify the Exercise
There are certain exercises that are considered ‘staples’ in the gym.
The squat. The lunge. The chest press. The shoulder press. The bicep curl, etc.

While you shouldn’t throw these exercises out the window, find creative ways to modify the familiar motion in order to challenge your muscles. Try these exercise modifications:

• Squat on a Bosu ball or balance board.
• Place a weighted bar across your shoulders and do walking lunges.
• Use an exercise ball for chest presses instead of the bench.
• Do a full squat between each repetition of shoulder presses.
• Do a shoulder press between each repetition of bicep curls.

4: Use Active Rest to turn each workout into High Intensity Interval Training
Every minute of your workout is an opportunity to increase intensity and to burn more fat. Don’t waste precious minutes with long rest periods between exercises.
While it is important to catch your breath if you feel winded, most of the time you would benefit more from an active rest than a passive one. Perform one of the following activities for 30 seconds between exercises and turn your regular workout into High Intensity Interval Training.

• High Knees with Alternating Punches: Alternately bring each knee high to your chest in a quick jumping movement while alternating forward punches at shoulder level.
• Burpees: Start in a sanding position and bend at the waist. Once your hands hit the floor, push your entire body back, extending your legs until they’re straight and you’re in the push-up position. Go down for a push-up, and when you push yourself up, jump slightly to bring your feet back near your hands. Finally, jump in the air with your arms fully extended over your head.
• Side-to-Side Jumps on Bench: Stand on one side of an exercise bench. Place the foot closest up onto the bench, jump up and switch feet, then land on the opposite side of the bench.
• Mountain Climbers: Place your hands wider than shoulder-width apart on the ground in a push-up position. Bring one knee to your chest and then back to the starting position, alternate each leg quickly.
• Side-to-Side Ab Twists: With feet close together, jump and twist your legs left to right – holding your abs tight. Keep a bend in your knees and swing your upper arms with each twist.
• Medicine Ball Squat Jumps: With feet wider than shoulder-width apart hold a medicine ball at chest level. Squat down until your knees are at a 90 degree angle. Explosively jump up, raising the medicine ball straight over your head.

Girls On The Run, has now become an international organization training 8 to 10 year old girls to run a 5k in a 10 week program while teaching them about good self esteem and life skills through fun activities.  Created by Molly Barker in 1996, Girls On The Run has grown from a group of thirteen girls to tens of thousands of girls in 150 cities across the US and went international in 2000.

At the first sound of elementary school girls running 3.1 miles, one might say, “That doesn’t sound like much fun?  Why would they want to do that?”  But Girls On The Run manages to disguise the running with games and activities that also teach the girls important life skills.  The girls learn about positive thinking, good self esteem, and healthy self image as well as saying no to drugs and alcohol, how to deal with bullies, and the harm of gossiping.  They learn of other ways to deal with stress, when some would choose to turn to food.  The girls also learn about giving back to their community by organizing and performing a community project.

“This is my second season coaching Girls On The Run and it’s so rewarding.  Watching all of these girls grow and excel is amazing and the best volunteer work I could ever do.  It’s priceless,” says Beth Mills.   To find out more about Girls On The Run, please visit www.girlsontherunofnova.org

Active Release Technique: Athletic Injuries & Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

What should you do if you think you have carpal tunnel syndrome? It is recommended that you identify a provider who is trained in Active Release Technique, ideally one who incorporates a functional rehabilitation program. In order to achieve long-term results, the patient must be instructed on home care and self-care exercises that address how to strengthen weakened muscles as well as how to release the overactive muscles as well.

To read this complete article, please click here.

A young athlete never wants to hear the coach say, “sit out,” or “you’re done for today.” It’s easy for teens to think they are being punished when asked to sit out of a game because of a fall during the last play…a fall that really didn’t seem so bad. But sometimes, it is far from punishment! In fact, sitting out could save your child’s life…when you’re dealing with concussions.
A concussion is a temporary disturbance of brain function, resulting in confusion, amnesia, loss of consciousness, or loss of vision. Other symptoms include headache, dizziness, impaired orientation and difficulty concentrating.
Many coaches, parents, and young players minimize athletic brain injuries. But listen up: IT IS NOT jus t a part of the game! Young athletes should not be encouraged to “be tough” and keep pushing to remain in the game if they have experienced a potential brain trauma. You should always keep in mind that it is very easy for what appears to be a minor injury, to become a very serious injury if a player returns to the game too soon. After sustaining one brain injury, the risk for a second injury is 3 times greater, while the risk for a third injury is 8 times greater. Always, always, always, encourage young athletes to SPEAK UP! Don’t be afraid to tell a coach or another adult about an injury during play.
Keep these steps in mind about how to recognize a concussion:
1) If an athlete loses consciousness, the first step is to remove him/her from the game
2) The level of consciousness is the single most important indicator of the severity of a brain injury
a. A mild concussion may not result in any loss of consciousness
b. A moderate concussion may result in loss of consciousness that lasts 5 minutes or less
c. A severe concussion may result in loss of consciousness that lasts 5 minutes or more
3) Test the memory of the injured player. Loss of memory of events just before the injury and just after the injury is a common occurrence. A loss of memory of anything preceding the injury could be a sign of a more serious concussion.
4) Seek profession medical attention.

http://www.teengrowth.com/index.cfm?action=info_article&ID_article=1213

Let’s talk teens and sports injuries! There are two main types of sports injuries: an acute traumatic injury, and an overuse or chronic injury. An acute traumatic injury involves a trauma from a single blow to an area of the body. They can include any of the following: fractures, strains, sprains, lacerations/cuts, abrasions/scrapes, head/neck/spinal cord injuries, or bruises/contusions. Chronic injuries are the result of repetitive training or overusing an area of the body over time. These can include: stress fractures, tendonitis, growth plate overload, and repetitive motion injuries. Although acute injuries are serious, overuse injuries should not be ignored. Overtime, untreated chronic injuries are sure to get worse.
Now that we know what a sports injury is, let’s discuss prevention. Here are some tips to keep your child safe in any sports season:
1) Insist on a pre-season physical. Make sure your child is in good physical condition before playing any sport.
2) Buy appropriate equipment. Make sure any protective gear fits properly.
3) Warm up. Make sure your child has a thorough 10-15 minute warm-up before beginning any activity. Don’t forget cool down stretches at the end of any activity.
4) Drink lots of water!
5) Don’t allow sick and/or recovering children to play. Keep them at home until he/she is fully recuperated.
6) Most of all, HAVE FUN!

https://www.akronchildrens.org/cms/tips/7af13d5c04c9c9cd/index.html