Sports & Fitness: Performance Training, Rules & Recovery

Elite athletic performance and general fitness are sustained through structured hypertrophy strategies, sport-specific conditioning, and rigorous adherence to injury prevention protocols.

Swimming

How to Build Muscle Swimming

With the added resistance of the water, swimming laps of any type is going to help you build muscle faster than the cardio workouts you may currently be doing on dry land.

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Perfecting the punch

How to Hang a Heavy Bag in a Basement

For those who are serious about getting or staying in shape, having equipment at home -- including weights and punching bags -- is the way to keep up a certain level of fitness. Punching bags are one thing, but installing a heavy bag in your home is a more serious matter.

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Walking in nature

The Best Sneakers for Long-Distance Walking

Walking is a simple, low-impact exercise you can do nearly anywhere -- but even with its relative simplicity, there's always the risk of injury. To keep from getting hurt or experiencing persistent pain, it's important to get a pair of shoes that are designed for walking and which you'll use just for that purpose.

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Muscular man workout out on bars

How Do I Build Dip Bars at Home?

Dips can be a challenging and beneficial upper-body exercise, helping to strengthen the pectorals and triceps. Most gyms have some type of dip bar or parallel bars, but they're also a relatively inexpensive and simple thing to make at your own home.

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Man smiling and exercising on the exercise bike

How Fast Should I Ride a Stationary Bike?

There's no doubt that using a stationary bicycle can help you get in shape, lose weight and even build muscle. When it comes to the speed at which you should be riding, though, that's all going to depend on your level of fitness and how hard you're willing to work.

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Mothers getting in shape

How Many Calories Do You Burn With Leslie Sansone?

Asking how many calories you're going to burn during any workout is a very loaded question indeed. Instructors for specific fitness programs don't tend to provide an exact number of calories you'll burn, because calorie burn is so dependent on factors including your age, weight, gender and intensity level.

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Tire flip in a gym

Can You Strain Something in Your Head by Lifting Weights?

You're probably aware that weight lifting can result in sore muscles -- but you may be surprised to discover that your training session resulted in a sore, stiff neck and head. While it might seem odd, it's a typical response to poor form, and in most cases it's not cause for serious concern.

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Jumping Cheerleader Performing Cheer in Mid-Air

Ways to Train for Higher Cheerleading Jumps

All those pikes, herkies and split jumps may look easy when you see them on TV, but cheerleaders actually have to work pretty hard to pull off those feats with ease. If you're struggling to gain height in your jumps, spend a few days each week working on several types of training.

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Trainees Hang Ten At California Surfing School

How to Build Your Own Indo Board

Balance is essential for skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding. When yours is lacking, one way to train your muscles to better stabilize your body is to use a balance board, a brand of which is called an "Indo Board."

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Man fastening bikes on car rack

How to Mount Bikes on Car Racks

Unless you have a large station wagon or SUV, it's inconvenient to stash your bikes in your vehicle when you want to go for a ride somewhere away from home.

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Portrait of a young woman exercising in a gym

Why Does Stretching Relieve Sore Muscles?

When you've pushed your body harder, exercised longer or performed some type of new resistance training, you'll probably feel at least a bit of soreness in the following days. You may be tempted to stretch those muscles to ease some of that pain, but that could be a waste of time.

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Carriage with chain rear wheel sports mountain bike

How to Make Your Bike a Stationary Bike

When the weather turns cold and stormy, your bicycle doesn't have to go on sabbatical in the garage. Instead, turn it into a stationary bicycle that you can ride from the comfort of your living room.

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Father Helping His Daughter Ride a Bicycle

Proper Seat Height for Bikes for Kids

Whether your kids are using their bikes to cruise to the park on the weekends or for daily transportation to school, the right fit means they'll be ready to ride safely. Among the adjustments you'll need to make is ensuring that the seat is at the proper height.

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woman fitness resistance bands exercises silhouette

Can You Get Bigger Muscles with Resistance Bands?

For good health, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that all adults do strength training exercises two times a week. That exercise can take many forms, including using resistance tubing or bands.

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Three Friends Are In A Spinning Class At Gym

What Can Stationary Biking Do for a Body?

Stationary bicycles are simple and inexpensive and allow you to get in a vigorous workout even when the weather outside is cold and snowy. Like other forms of exercise, the main reason for using a stationary bike is to enjoy a number of health benefits.

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