TRAINING TIME: TIM RUDD    While coaching exercises that involve the prone plank position, I utilize a five-point checklist to ensure spinal health and appropriate strengthening of posture.   The plank is a great beginner level exercise to teach spinal stability as an anti-extension and flexion exercise of the... Read more

HEAD/NECK SAFETY: Dr. Clement K. Jones     Here we are in mid-August and football season has started.    Athletes at every level “” from Pop Warner and Pee-Wee leagues to high school, college and professional teams “” are gearing up to play a game notorious for causing serious neck... Read more

TRAINING TIME: TIM RUDD FOR IYCA     Without sound recovery practices its only a matter of time before you find your performance suffering, yourself injured or suffering from over-training.    Maybe you hate stretching, don’t have time to foam roll or sleep eight hours. My response to all those... Read more

POWERED BY TRUCKS: ANTHONY TRUCKS     When it comes to the weight room, many people don’t realize there is usually more strength being displayed by people training than just the weights they’re moving.    My girlfriend is about to partake in her second fitness competition and it’s amazing to... Read more

GET METAL: ERIKA CARLSON     I am often asked by parents, “How hard should I push my kids to succeed in sports?” You want them to enjoy their experience, work hard and of course, play their best. But where is the line? How much is too much? As it... Read more

HEALTH WATCH: DR. NIRAV K. PANDYA    Not a week goes by in sports without the public hearing on ESPN about a profes- sional athlete who undergoes micro-fracture surgery. But what exactly is micro-fracture surgery?    In order to understand the surgery, you first have to understand what dissipates... Read more

DR. ANDREW L. NASH     One of the hottest topics in the world of both professional and amateur sports is the diagnosis and management of concussions in athletes. How these injuries are managed has changed substantially over the past 10-15 years.    The approximately 3 million sports-related concussions annually... Read more

ANKLE SPRAINS: SEAN DOUGHERTY     Ankle sprains commonly occur when participating in sports while wearing inappropriate shoes, or running on uneven surfaces. They are one of the most common injuries an athlete must recover from.    Ankle sprains are not the same as strains, which affect muscles rather than... Read more

GET MENTALL: ERIKA CARLSON     Curious what the most common reason is that athletes seek mental training services?     Pre-game nerves.     That’s right, the same thing you have felt so many times. The jittery feeling in your body (part excitement, part fear), tense muscles, excessive thinking about “what if…”... Read more

TRAINING TIME: TIM RUDD       Here is one very simple thing trainers can have athletes implement to instantly increase the player’s athleticism.    Get the athletes butt in gear!    What do I mean? Simple. Get their glutes (butt) contributing more in all activities. One simple thing they... Read more

HEALTH WATCH: DANIEL KAMENETZKY     The analysis of the interaction between the foot and the ground during running is critical in understanding many of the injuries associated with this activity and its efficiency during competition.    How does the first contact occur during landing? What is the total area... Read more

SCAPULA STRENGTHENING: JUSTIN DUDLEY     It is common to hear coaches, athletes, therapists and trainers refer to “scapula strengthening.” What does this really mean and why is it important? In order to understand the importance of scapula function, we need to quickly review the basic anatomy of the scapula and... Read more