• What is the ‘Fit Responder’ Program?

    An easy to follow biomechanical based self movement screen to detect faulty movement patterns and areas of weakness. Simple corrective actions and exercises that can be easily performed right in the station or throughout your shift that will correct postural dysfunction, lower risk of injury, and reduce or eliminate chronic aches and pains. A comprehensive and easy to follow 10 week strength training program designed to build true strength that will allow your body to perform at the highest level while withstanding the rigors of your profession. An incredibly effective and time efficient conditioning program that will have you in the absolute best shape of your career. Surprisingly simple and effective strategies to de-stress, optimize health and feel great. Specific information on what foods to eat to energize and build your body, boost brain power and get you looking, feeling and performing great And much more....
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    • Machines VS Free Weights II
      Machines are bad in sports and life for that matter. If you are sitting on your butt or laying flat on your back you lost, so why do we insist on exercising that way? Life moves so we better learn to exercise that way. Try performing your current exercise routine standing.
    • Public Safety Fitness
      In the profession of public safety, Fire-Police-EMS, there lies a strange disparity between fitness/ wellness and proactive injury prevention. In my 8 plus years on the street as a Paramedic and 14 plus years of clinical sports medicine / Athletic Training I have seen countless friends and co-workers injured from activities that should have never caused inju […]
    • Not All Personal Trainers Are Created Equal
      In the medical / scientific world we test and evaluate. If we can not test all we are doing is guessing, I personally do not like to guess, and I would assume that you would rather not pay for a guess. The unfortunate fact is that most 'professional' trainers never test, they sure get you money in a hurry though!
    • 5 Fitness Truths
      Over the past 15 years I have seen a lot of gimmicks and tricks in the fitness industry. The amount of misinformation that floats around out there is scary. The flashy concepts, that have no roots in exercise science, are market to us by the pretty people.
    • Is Your Facility Ready for an Emergency?
      Is your gym or health club ready for a fitness emergency? It will happen, will you be prepared to act and follow your pre-planed emergency action plan? Is your staff current in CPR/First Aid, do they know what advice to give, or not give, when confronted with a common fitness club medical emergency?
    • The Greatest Myths in Fitness
      In every industry there lie deep dark secrets. Some are minor and inconsequential while others are scary and have wide ranging consequences. I have said in many of my past articles that the most dangerous thing possible is knowing what you know, but that you know wrong. The fitness and rehabilitation industry is no different.
    • The Do's and Do Not's of Exercise
      There are many ways to exercise safely and efficiently in the gym and at home. Yet many people continue to make the same common errors in technique, approach application of science.
    • Neck Pain: A Bowling Ball on Your Shoulders
      Many people that enter our facilities have at some time or currently are experiencing neck pain and or headaches. Todays sedentary lifestyle, computers, phones, travel all force the head and shoulders forward of the bodies center of gravity.
    • New Years Resolution Fitness Emergency
      As the fitness centers and gyms fill up this time of year with folks eager to meet their New Year goals there lurks an ominous foe. Many people jump into exercise with gusto and never take into account existing medical issues, medication side effects, and 'old injuries.'
    • "Back" to Basics-Healthy Spine
      What causes such a prevalence of lower back conditions? The answer may surprise you. Continuing research shows that most people do not have weak backs, but share in the same problems: 1) weak or inhibited lower abdominals 2) over-dominant hip flexors (too strong) 3) tight and weak lateral hip muscles 4) weak and inhibited gluteal muscles. Weak abdominal, pel […]
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Advanced Abdominal and Oblique Exercise

Step up!

Exercise of the week-Ball Plank

Responders this weeks exercise is a great abdominal, spine, glute and core co-contraction movement.  The stability ball plank.  Position yourself as shown, lock your knees, chin tucked and back flat/neutral.  ONLY hold the position as long as you can keep your glutes squeezed.  Do not let your heels roll in and don not shrug!  Do 3 to 5 times.  If ya are the stud roll to ball away a few inches.Ball Plank

Misconceptions

Responders, it has dawned upon me that there are still a lot of misconceptions regarding fitness and injury prevention in EMS.  I just gave 3 presentations at EMS Expo in Atlanta, GA.  It was a great trade show with a group of fantastic speakers and presenters.  What stands out from my experience at EMS Expo are the misconceptions surrounding injury prevention and our profession.  As I spoke about, at any one time up to 10% of our workforce is out of work, having suffered an injury.  But when surveyed 46% of you have reported a back injury in the past 6 months(Studneck, J. Crawford, J. December 08, American Journal of sports medicine).  So as a profession do we underreport our injuries or are we self treating?  I presented some data showing that once you are injured that your chance of having a more severe re-injury increases 31%.

The misconception that I am alluding to is that all the responders I spoke to assumed that fitness comes before health, wellness and injury prevention.  What I tried to teach everyone, and what I have been writing about for a long time now, is that we need to focus on prevention of injury first.  By focusing our efforts on injury prevention we will enable ourselves to become fit and healthy.  As I am fond of saying ‘Athletes do not train for their sport after the game is over.’  Why should be any different?  More to come…

EMS Expo Pre-conference

Just finished my long 3 hour talk on fitness testing and injury prevention. Sadly only had 5-6 folks attend. We gotta get the word out responders, chance needs to occur in our profession, we need to be fit and well and not get hurt so often. Tomorrow has 2 90 min. talks, which are much more fun to give and the expo will be open to all attendees!

Progress in Iowa

Responders, I write this sitting in a hotel room in Ames Iowa.  I spent the day testing and then teaching corrective exercises to a great group of hospital based Paramedics.  It never ceases to amaze me that we can test for, determine and correct an injurious pattern before it becomes an injury.  We can also significantly reduce the chances of a second injury through the same tests.  In just 90 min. per group I screened, taught on duty/in uniform stretching, self massage and injury prevention techniques.  Each medic left with their own copy of the Fit Responder book and they have a set of posters in their squad room to reinforce and remind of all the techniques I taught them.

Short Attention Span

Sorry for my lack of posts lately.  I am preparing for a consulting job with a hospital based EMS agency in Iowa and then 3 lectures and meetings in Atlanta for the EMS Expo / FireHouse World / Enforcement Expo.

Fitness/Wellness Trends in Public Safety is approved for Law Enforcement Professional training credits through the Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina and Georgia.

This is a pre-conference lecture on Tuesday.  If anyone has friends in Law enforcement or EMS/Fire this will be an exciting and very informative lecture.  and participation is mandatory, so do not plan on sitting on your tush all 3 hours.

EMS Expo / Fire House World / Enforcement Expo

Responders, please sound out if anyone will be at the expo in Atlanta.  I am giving 3 lectures, one a 3 hour pre-conference and 2 90 min conference talks.  I promise they will be very informative and fun.  If you read the blog please stop by and say HI.  I will be wandering the trade show floor Wed. afternoon before my last talk and then off to sunny Florida for a few days of R & R.

Pay more for Insurance if you are Obese!

Exercise Of the Week

Short and simple this week.  A great total body exercise that focuses on ‘extensor chain’ strength and endurance along with active flexibility and balance.  Remember to go slow, avoid momentum and do not use your back to stand up, use your leg and Hip.  As always 3 sets of 10-15.

Squat reach to a Row

Squat reach to a Row

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