A Philosophy of Strength and Health

Vern's blog post today touched a nerve. He's right on target. I've written a bit about pushing athletes in weightlifting, but let me relate a story to you all about the power of club sports vs high school sports in my world. In this case, the club sport is swimming. Back in 2003, a group of influential St. Louis parents lobbied the Missouri legislature to pass House Bill 920. This bill would bypass the Missouri State High School Activities Association and force high school swimming/diving programs to allow athletes to participate (practice and compete) for both their USS club AND high school teams during the high school competitive season. Missouri was one of a handful of states that did not allow dual participation in swimming, or any other sport for that matter. These parents argued that the MSHSAA had no right to bar their kids from practicing as much as possible, in order to aspire to athletic--possibly Olympic--greatness. That, they said, was the decision of the paren...

To the Editor: I would like to voice my strong opposition to HB 920 currently under discussion in the Missouri House Judiciary Committee. Having been an elite level swimmer in high school and college, and a swimming coach for 19 years (the last 9 at De Smet Jesuit High School), I feel that the public and the legislators of Missouri should look at this issue from a perspective other than a small minority of club swimmers and their parents. For several reasons, this bill is a bad idea and sends the wrong message to our young student athletes. First, under the current situation, an elite level athlete and his or her parents have complete freedom to choose between either high school or club competition. Nothing in the Missouri State High School Activities Association by-laws prevents that athlete from training and competing seven days a week for five hours per day for twelve months a year if that is what they choose. Nothing in the MSHSAA by-laws prevents that athlete from seeking the fine...

Nestled in the midst of northern Missouri farmland, Truman State University (formerly Northeast Missouri State) is a gem of liberal arts education for the citizens of Missouri. Despite the liberal arts label, Truman is also a powerhouse of applied exercise science research. Not the R1 research that drives the dog-eat-dog ivory towers of Washington University or St. Louis University, but the type of research that allows undergraduates--not graduate students or post-docs--to explore the foundations of scientific inquiry in an atmosphere of enthusiasm. Applied exercise science is not a common feature on today's American university campuses. Most institutions go toward the money; and the money is in high-powered, sub-cellular or genetic research. These institutions and the people trapped in them, live and die by the NIH or NSF grant. Not so at Truman. Research is applied; it is directed at the human level. This type of work is challenging to do well. And although it is not directed at...

As athletes, Melanie Roach and Brendan Brazier don't have much in common. Melanie is an elite 53 kg (116 lb) US weightlifter and Brendan is a 76 kg (165 lb) Canadian triathlete and ultra-marathoner. Melanie is a petite (former gymnast) powerhouse, with several children, making a fabulous return to international competition after 6 years off. Brendan is a lanky, endurance machine, making waves in the health and fitness industry with his whole food philosophy (and products) for athletes. In my world, these individuals are terrific role models for life and health. Melanie is a fabulous example for all women and girls that strong, powerful woman can be smart, feminine and even a mom! She just captured the bronze medal for the US at the 2006 Pan American Championships--after 6 years away from her sport! Melanie is one of the few women in this country who has clean and jerked over twice her bodyweight; she can squat almost three times her bodyweight. Her bone density is off the scales. ...

I have a new patient with a history of back and hip issues. As part of his recovery, he is taking Pilates lessons. At the request of the MD and the patient, I met with this man and his physician at his last appointment and we decided it would be a good idea if I observed the Pilates lesson, so everyone was on the same track and no one was doing anything counter-productive. Lesson #1: It is optimal if the physical therapist and treating physician can meet with the patient together. This rarely or never happens in traditional orthopedic cases. The Pilates lesson and instructor were fantastic! This woman used manual and verbal cues, in gravity-lessened situations, to teach this man body awareness and generate improved mobility and posture. My job, as physical therapist, is to build on this foundation she is creating by teaching him use his body more effectively in weight-bearing situations. Our last PT session focused on simply engaging his R hip extensors during a sit-to-stand activity. ...

Took a little detour, but now back on track after a little ride to clear the mind on the Penrose Park Velodrome. It was a little cold today, but good to get on the bike after two years of road riding. Track bike: no brakes, one gear, keep pedaling and turn left.

Beware, all you high protein diet friends of mine.... If you haven't read about The Fatmanwalking yet, you should check out his website . Steve Vaught's May 3 journal entry has some good advice for you exercisers out there looking eat well, exercise and lose weight in a healthy manner. To bad Dr. Atkins couldn't stick around to see the results of this n=1 case study. Maybe I'll send him a link to Dr. Joel Fuhrman's DiseaseProof blog : "After all the talk about not going in for crazy fad diets I wound up doing exactly that and I am paying the price. The following stuff is creepy and has to do with body functions, so if that is gross then skip to the next paragraph. About eight weeks ago I was really unhappy that the weight loss slowed down since returning to the road. To compensate for that I decided that I would change my diet a bit to help move things along and it worked. I reduced my carbohydrate intake significantly and increased protein. This was really he...

I enjoyed Vern's posts today and will have to pick up the book on Natalie Coughlin and the Outside Magazine. One thing that caught my attention was Vern's reference to his "high tech garage training center." I am almost ready to begin research on a book dedicated to the wonderful work and knowledge generated by the numerous, legendary garage training centers and mentors in this country. It is my contention that the foundations of training technique and wisdom is generated in these humble facilities by those who prefer to be independent of the big gyms/sports performance companies. The gurus with the fancy, turf-laden sports performance emporiums simply repackage and resell that which has been developed in the trenches. They sell, sell, sell; they do not teach, teach, teach. I'll admit is surprised me a bit to learn that Vern has a garage facility, but it makes total sense now. The weightlifting community is rife with such facilities, as commercial gyms tend to ha...

I really enjoy Frank Deford's commentary on NPR every Wednesday, and today was no exception. But did anyone catch the musical interlude just after it? I kept thinking "I know that song, but it is out of context." And then I figured it out: it was a jazz instrumental rendition of the Beastie Boys' "Brass Monkey." What does it all mean, Mr. Natural?

Hi. My name is Tracy. I’m a recovering physical therapist. I used to teach people to draw in their lower abs; then I keyed in on the transverse abdominis. But now I know “core strength” is all about motor control, context, gravity and being upright. This is my story. In 1995, I was accepted into Washington University Program in Physical Therapy, the number one program in the country at the time. I studied with some very bright, wonderful people. I took classes from and worked for Shirley Sahrmann. (She’s a great person and one of the sharpest people I’ve ever met. Her ideas continue to influence my practice every day.) I knew the lower ab progression like nobody’s business. I thought I knew it all. Then I graduated and went out into the real world. Derrick Crass, (a PT and an ‘84 and ’88 Olympian) gave me the opportunity to put my Wash U smarty-pants self to work. I must’ve driven him crazy with my arrogant attitude. He persevered in spite of me. He even sent me to this ...