Elite athletic performance and general fitness are sustained through structured hypertrophy strategies, sport-specific conditioning, and rigorous adherence to injury prevention protocols.
The tilt of your pelvis can affect the health of your spine. An excessive anterior, or front, tilting pelvis pulls on lower back muscles, possibly leading to lower back pain and hamstring strain. Tight hamstring muscles can also cause postural misalignment, but in the opposite direction.
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Symptoms of nausea after exercising can stem from a variety of causes. Nausea can be influenced by diet, dehydration or overhydration, and exercising beyond endurance capacity. If each of these potential causes is addressed and nausea persists, seek medical advice.
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Strong core muscles help to support your posture, keeping your spine aligned correctly. As you age, the muscles in your abdomen and back weaken, potentially causing postural problems and back pain.
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Cold weather doesn't cause illness but can play a role in contracting a cold or flu virus. The real causes of illness involve staying inside and close contact with infected people. Running in the winter can keep your immune system strong, but hypothermia and dry air can leave you susceptible to infection.
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Winter weather conditions need not hinder you from getting in a quality run. You need the right clothing as well as some common sense to tackle the elements. If you have a lung condition like asthma, or if the air is particularly cold and dry, your doctor may recommend running with a face mask.
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Blood vessels become more prominent during and after exercising as a result of normal physiological processes; swelling decreases after you're done working out. If swelling does not subside, you may have varicose veins, which can cause pain and ulcers. In contrast, blood vessels that "pop"
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The first 24 to 48 hours after you receive stitches is critical to your healing process. Your doctor will typically recommend you rest and apply ice packs to the wound to reduce swelling. Exercise must wait an appropriate amount of time to allow the healing process to begin.
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Dizziness and loss of balance are associated with vertigo, a condition triggered by certain or abrupt head movements. Intense exercise can also lead to feeling dizzy or lightheaded. Long runs or sprints deplete your water and nutrients -- leading to dehydration and low blood sugar -- and can stress body systems.
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Synovial joints offer the widest range of motion for your body, making them an essential part of exercise. These joints provide lubrication and cushioning to bones and tissues as you exercise. In return, exercising has the potential to maintain synovial joint health.
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Meniscal tears are a fairly common knee injury, one that some athletes choose to play through. While cycling strengthens the leg muscles surrounding the knee, your ability to continue cycling depends on the type of tear you sustain.
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Tightness in your shins can make walking and running difficult or painful. Though tight shin muscles are not considered "shin splints," they can eventually lead to this condition. Beginner runners and those with weak leg muscles are at greater risk for muscle fatigue and subsequent cramping.
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Pronator teres syndrome can cause compression of your median nerve, leading to pain and disability in your arm. Some careers require constant use of specific muscle groups, like the pronator teres in the forearm, which can lead to injury over time.
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When it comes to foot placement, your hips and your vision play an influential role in where your foot lands. Because walking is a repetitive activity that puts stress on the joints in your feet and legs, proper form is essential for preventing injury.
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Your shoulder is actually made up of three separate joints -- the acromioclavicular, glenohumeral and sternoclavicular joints -- of which your collar bone, or clavicle, is an intricate part. These joints provide movement for a bench press, which typically strengthens your chest, shoulders and triceps muscles.
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Cooling off after a workout is fairly normal, as your body's processes are attempting to maintain your core temperature. As a warm-blooded mammal, your internal temperature remains relatively constant — at approximately 98.6 degrees.
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If you have experienced a sharp, shooting pain in the lower back and down the back or side of the leg, you may have had sciatica. Certain activities and postures can trigger or aggravate sciatica. Cycling is a sport that often requires intense activity while hunched over and seated for long periods of time.
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Your knee is one of the largest working joints in your body, with several bones, ligaments and muscles moving together to allow you to walk, run and perform other tasks. Swelling in the knee often occurs with injury, such as in the ligaments, which hold the bones in place.
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Joint swelling occurs typically after an injury to ligaments, and is a way for your body to protect your joint. Ankle sprains that lead to swelling are fairly common sports injuries. Once care has been given -- rest, ice, compression and elevation -- rehabilitation can begin.
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Riding a bike is an excellent cardiovascular workout, targeting large muscle groups with minimal impact on your joints. If you are overweight, cycling might be recommended to help you lose weight. If you weigh more than 300 pounds, consider a hybrid or mountain bike.
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Step counters, or pedometers, are small devices that you wear on your belt or waistband that count how many steps you take. Motion sensors within the device pick up on movements like walking, running and jumping. Pedometers range from very basic to technologically advanced versions that can upload to your computer.
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