Gain a thorough understanding of thoracic spine anatomy, the causes and effects of limited thoracic mobility, and the diverse strategies that may enhance thoracic mobility from the Arizona Diamondbacks Major League Baseball (MLB) Strength and Conditioning Team.
The effects of alcohol on athletic performance vary depending on quantity, demographics, and type of exercise, making it difficult to determine specific recommendations. From an athletic performance standpoint, the acute use of alcohol can influence motor skills, hydration status, aerobic performance, as well as aspects of the recovery process.
CoachesNutritionalcoholsports nutritiondietary recommendationsstrength and conditioningNSCA Coach
Athletes have sought out intermittent fasting as a strategy to optimize performance. However, it is important to critically evaluate the research available in order to establish specific recommendations and determine if intermittent fasting is safe or effective.
CoachesNutritionstrength and conditioningdietsport nutritionintermittent fasting
This TSAC Report article highlights the need for recovery strategies to support both physical readiness and psychological resilience in military training. Visit NSCA online to learn more about tactical athletes.
In this hands on session from the NSCA’s 2019 Coaches Conference, Performance Specialist from the Michael Johnson Performance Headquarters, Kelli Selman, defines the elements of an effective, efficient, and ethical dynamic warm-up. This session also provides practical and age-specific examples to target all elements of athleticism.
Learn about the hip rotators as they relate to performance training. In this session from the NSCA’s 2016 National Conference, Michael Griffith explains the limitations of the hip external rotators and how this can impede performance and lead to injury. This session will also provide eccentric drills and exercises for the hip rotators.
Personal trainersCoachesExercise ScienceProgram designhip external rotatorseccentricskinetic chain
"Pay attention to the details and the corrective exercises because they set the conditions for the success you're going to have executing the big lifts," Jose Cruz says in this hands-on lecture from the NSCA's 2014 TSAC Conference. Jose identifies and discusses missteps when executing and integrating performance and corrective strategies in the tactical athlete.
TSAC FacilitatorsExercise ScienceExercise TechniqueProgram designTesting and EvaluationProfessional DevelopmentArmy Combat Fitness TestMilitary PerformanceCombat SportInfantryStanding Long Jump (SLJ)Isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP)General Military TrainingSport Military Training
The countermovement jump (CMJ) is one of the most used performance assessments in strength and conditioning. Although numerous studies discuss the usability of different metrics in this test, this is often performed within the context of a specific aim. However, to our knowledge, no information currently exists providing practitioners with some over-arching recommendations on which metrics to choose when the purpose of using the test differs. This article discusses how the metrics selected to monitor during CMJ testing may differ when aiming to use it as a proxy for athletic performance, as part of neuromuscular fatigue monitoring, or as part of a test battery for return to performance in injured athletes.