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Sports Medicine: Most Popular Articles

These articles are the most popular over the last month.
Best Abdominal Exercises
Try these great abdominal exercises in the ab exercise list. These are some of the best and most effective ab and core workouts for strengthening and firming your abdominal muscles.
Best and Worst Ab Exercises
These are the best ab exercises, according to the research. Experts explain which ab exercises are the best and worst. Don't waste your time doing abdominal exercises. The Best and Worst Ab Exercises.
Core Training
Building a strong core takes more than ab exercises. Learn why you need to exercise muscles of the torso, spine, hip and pelvis in order to develop a strong core.
Bicycle Crunch Exercise
The Bicycle Crunch Exercise was ranked the number one exercise for strengthening the rectus abdominus.
Workout Routine
The Body Weight Workout is an exercise routine you can do any time with no equipment. Perfect for budget exercise, traveling, home workouts or adding a bit of variety to your regular exercise routine.
Calf Pain - Calf Pull
Pain that occurs in the calf muscle on the lower part of the leg often is the result of a pulled or torn calf muscle. This is called a calf strain.
Groin Pain - Pull or Strain
Groin pain is common with a groin muscle pull or strain. The injury should be treated as quickly as possible.
Fast and Slow Twitch Muscle
Are you a better sprinter or distance runner? Fast and slow twitch muscle fibers (or Type I and Type II fiber types) may determine what sports athletes excel at or how they respond to training.
Captain's Chair Exercise
The Captain's Chair exercise came in second on the list of best exercises for the rectus abdominus.
Muscle Pain - Muscle Soreness
Muscle pain and muscle soreness after exercise, also called delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), describes the feeling of muscle pain a day or two after you exercise.
Body Fat vs. Body Weight
Do you know the difference between body composition, body fat and body weight?
Sports Watches
Top Picks for sports watches. Every athlete needs a great sports watch to stand up to extreme conditions and still give you features you need. Here are some recommendations for watches athletes can use.
Vertical Leg Crunch
How to do the Vertical Leg Crunch abdominal exercise for abdominal strength
Plank - Hover - Exercise
Learn how to perform the plank with leg lift: an abdominal exercise that builds core strength. Add this and other core strengthening exercises to your ab workout for a new way to build strength and stability.
Abdominal Exercises - Tips
How develop a stronger, flatter abdominal muscles and core strength
Crunch on an Exercise Ball
Abdominal Crunch on an Exercise Ball - One of the Top Three Ab Exercises
How to Exercise Your Abs
The most well-known and prominent abdominal muscle is the rectus abdominis.
Reverse Crunch
How to do the Reverse Crunch Ab Exercise
Long Arm Crunch
How to do the Long Arm Crunch ab exercise for abdominal strength
Injury Treatment with Ice
RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation and is the best method for the immediate treatment of most sports injuries.
Eating Before Exercise
What should you eat before exercise? Whether you are eating before an athletic competition, or a basic training workout, what you eat can make a difference in both your performance and recovery.
Muscle Spasms and Cramps
A muscle spasms or cramp is an involuntary and forcibly contracted muscle that does not relax.
Best Home Fitness Equipment
Best Home Fitness Equipment Choices. Here are the top picks for home gym equipment. If you are looking for a convenient and efficient way to get exercise without leaving home, or thinking of building a home gym, these products may be the place to start.
Sprain and Strain
Do you know the difference between a sprain and a strain? In this article you'll learn the difference in severity, symptoms and treatments for sprains and strains, and when you should see a physician for treatment.
Plyometrics - Jumping
Plyometric jumping exercises can build power and speed if done properly
OTC Pain Relievers
What pain medication should you take for sports injuries? Choosing between NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories), aspirin, ibuprofen, or Acetaminophen is confusing at best. Learn how these drugs work, if they are safe and what to take for moderate pain relief.
V-Sit Abdominal Exercise
How to do the V-Sit abdominal exercise for abdominal strength.
Anabolic - Androgenic Steroids
Anabolic steroids, more properly called anabolic-androgenic steroids, are synthetic versions of the male hormone testosterone. Anabolic steroids are a class of drugs that are legally available only by prescription. They are prescribed to treat a variety of conditions or diseases that cause a loss of lean muscle mass.
Interval Training
Interval training helps boost your athletic performance. Here's how to do it.
Iliotibial Band Syndrome
Iliotibial band syndrome, also called IT band syndrome often causes pain on the outside of the knee.
Muscular Endurance Definition
Muscular Endurance - Definition
What Causes Muscle Fatigue
Learn why your muscles fatigue during high intensity exercise, and why you can go longer at a slower pace.
Lower Leg Anatomy
Description of lower leg anatomy, including muscles and tendons.
Proper Hydration for Exercise
Adequate fluid intake is essential for athletes before, during, and after exercise. Whether to use sports drinks or just water depends upon your duration and intensity of exercise.
Knee Pain and Injury Causes
Knee pain and injury is extremely common in athletes. Here are some of the more common reasons for knee pain in athletes.
Foam Roller Massage
If you have tight muscles, get a great sports massage by doing foam roller exercises. Learn how to soothe tight muscles by using your own body weight to release tight fascia.
hip pointer
What is a Hip Pointer injury and how do you treat it?
Stress Fracture of the Foot
A stress fracture of the foot is usually the result of repeated trauma or overuse that occurs when muscles become fatigued or overloaded and can not absorb the stress and shock and repeated impact.
Alternating Superman Exercise
How to Do the Alternating Superman Core Exercise
Back Pain Stretching Exercise
Back pain can be caused by many reasons including tight, weak back, abdominal and core muscles or muscle pulls or strains. This back pain stretching exercise program can help reduce back pain and prevent some back injuries.
Navy SEALs Workout
Sample workout routine - the Navy SEALs Workout routine progresses you quickly to get results fast. Are you up to the challenge?
Basic Abdominal Crunch
How to do the Basic Abdominal Crunch Ab Exercise.
Foot Anatomy and Physiology
Overview of Foot Anatomy and Physiology
Prevent Overtraining
Overtraining syndrome occurs in athletes who train beyond the body's ability to recover and results in decreased performance.
Post-Exercise Meal
While the pre-exercise meals can ensure that adequate glycogen stores are available for optimal performance, the post-exercise meal is critical to recovery and improves your ability to train consistently.
Crossover Crunch
How to do the crossover crunch abdominal strengthening exercise
The Warm Up
A proper warm up can increase the blood flow to the working muscle which results in decreased muscle stiffness, less risk of injury and improved performance. Additional benefits of warming up include physiological and psychological preparation.
Hamstring Pain | Pull | Strain
Hamstring Pull, Tear, or Strain - the most common injury among runners.
Ice or Heat on an Injury
Confused about when to use ice and when to use heat on your injuries, aches and pains? Here are the guidelines for deciding on ice or heat for injuries.
Torn Rotator Cuff
Symptoms include pain in the shoulder when the arm is raised or extended out from the side of the body.
Meniscus Tear
Meniscus Tears often require arthroscopic surgery. Learn about the cause and treatment of a meniscus cartilage.
Cardio Before Weights?
What should I do first weight lifting or aerobic exercise? Learn what the experts say about the benefit of doing cardio exercise before weights or weights before cardio.
Oblique Crunch
How to do the oblique crunch for abdominal strength.
What Is VO2 Max?
VO2 max or maximal oxygen uptake is one factor that can determine an athlete’s capacity to perform sustained aerobic efforts. It refers to the maximum amount of oxygen that an athlete can use during maximal or exhaustive exercise.
Careers in Sports Medicine
Careers in Sports Medicine
The Best Time to Exercise
Is there a best time to exercise? Many athletes debate the pros and cons of morning, afternoon or evening exercise and athletic performance. But what does the research say? The simple answer is that the "best" time to exercise might be the time that is most convenient for you.
The Push Up Exercise
The push-up exercise is a great upper body and core strength exercise that when done properly uses muscles in the chest, shoulders, triceps, back, abs and even the legs.
30 Second Sprint Workouts
Want more endurance? Do some sprints! Just six workouts of 30-second sprints may be more effective in improving cardiovascular fitness than an hour of daily moderate activity.
Core Muscle Strength Test
The Core Muscle Strength and Stability Test is one way to assess your current core strength and gauge your progress over time.
Strength Training Nutrition
Sports nutrition tips for strength training and muscle building. Learn what the experts say about protein, fat and carbohydrate when it comes to building muscles and strength.
Speed Training
A sample workout for improving sprint performance that can be applied to any sport.
Seated Oblique Twists
How to do the seated oblique twist with a medicine ball
Carbohydrates for Sports
All the energy we need for life as well as for exercise comes from the food we eat and beverages we drink. These nutrients are commonly broken into three classes: carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Each category of food is important for health and we should all consume foods from each category. The ratios in which we need to consume these foods, however, is often the topic of a debate.
Exercise Science Basics
Experts who study exercise science have developed some fundamental principles that tend to apply across the board to the way the human body responds and adapts to physical activity. These rules are often referred to as the principles of conditioning.
Half Curl
The half curl is a modified crunch that works the abdominal muscles.
Running Injuries
Running Injury - A list of the most common pains and injuries in Runners: cause, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
After Exercise
After Exercise - 10 Ways To Recover Quickly After Exercise - Post Workout Tips For a Faster Recovery
Meniscus Tear Surgery
Arthroscopic surgery is the standard outpatient treatment to repair a torn meniscus. Meniscus tears typically occur in sports that require fast starts, stops, cuts and pivots.
The Side Stitch
The Side Stitch: explanation and treatment tips
How to Stretch - Stretching
Stretching Basics to improve flexibility and range of motion
Exercise Program Design
How to Design a Personal Exercise Program
Gift Ideas for Runners
Gift Ideas for Runners.
Advanced IT Band Stretch
Learn an advanced IT band stretch to improve flexibility and reduce knee pain.
Aerobic - Anaerobic Metabolism
There are three main pathways to convert nutrients to energy (ATP) for exercise and it is the intensity and duration of the exercise that determines which method gets used.
Simple Sports Nutrition Tips
Sports nutrition can be complicated, but there are some basic principles that apply to nearly every athlete. If you aren't interested in the details or the science of sports nutrition, but still want to get the most from your diet, the follow recommendations are for you.
Medications for Pain Relief
Most soft-tissue sports injuries are painful because of swelling and inflammation. This inflammation can often be treated with the use of over the counter anti-inflammatory medications.
Rest Recovery After Exercise
Most athletes know that adequate rest after exercise is essential to high level performance. The body repairs and strengthens itself in the time between workouts, and continuous training can actually weaken the strongest athletes. Follow these tips to get the most from your rest and recovery days.
Should I Exercise With a Cold?
Should I Exercise With a Cold?
10 Questions About Your Abs
Question: Can You Work the Upper and Lower Abs Separately? Get answers to your questions about abdominal exercise in this Ab Exercise FAQ. You'll learn the best way to strengthen and tone your abs.
Explosive Exercise Training
Explosive exercise training builds power, strength and fitness fast . Learn how to safely use maximal effort training to improve your sports performance.
Neck Sprain
Neck Sprain - diagnosis and treatment tips.
Ice Bath for Recovery
Many elite athletes use an ice water bath as a standard way to recover from intense workouts. What does a dip in an ice water bath do and can it improve exercise recovery and performance?
Abrasions and 'Road Rash'
Information about abrasions, cuts, lacerations, 'road rash,' and scrapes -- from About.com Sports Medicine.
How to Buy Running Shoes
Before your buy running shoes you'll need to determine your foot type and find the best shoe for your foot type.
Shoulder Tendinitis, Bursitis,
These conditions are closely related and may occur alone or in combination.
Use It or Lose It
We've all heard the saying "Use It or Lose It." And while it's true that you will lose fitness, when you stop exercising, how quickly you lose fitness depends on several factors, including how fit you are, how long you have been exercising, and on how long you stop.
Shin Splints
Shin splints are a common running injury. Learn what causes the pain in the front of the shin and how you can treat or prevent it.
Shoe Inserts Insoles Orthotics
Not every athlete needs an insert, but if you are prone to overuse injuries, or have foot, knee or back pain or instability, you may benefit from one.
IT Band Stretch
Learn how to safely perform a simple IT band standing stretch.
Principle of Specificity - Def
Principle of Specificity - Definition
How to Get Fit Fast
Tips for athletes who want to improve the effectiveness of their training programs and exercise sessions.
Bruce Treadmill Test
The Bruce Treadmill Test Protocol is a common fitness assessment used by athletes and coaches to measure VO2 max, and aerobic endurance.
Golf Conditioning Tips
Golfers need to focus on technique to see improvement, but two basic components of conditioning can improve your golf fitness and reduce your risk of injury.
ACL Rehab Exercises
Rehabilitation Exercises for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Knee Injuries
Stationary - Spin - Biking
Good bicycle positioning, even on a stationary or spin bicycle, is critical to cycling comfort and efficiency. Here are tips for adjusting your bicycle to avoid pain or injury.
Endurance Training for Sports
Endurance training in sport refers to an athlete�s ability to sustain prolonged exercise for minutes to hours. Endurance training improves the circulatory and respiratory system's ability to supply energy to the working muscles in order to support sustained physical activity.
Kerri Walsh -Athlete
Kerri Walsh is a volleyball player who will represent the United States in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Joint Popping
Joint Noise -- Popping and Cracking
Strength Over Age 50
Strength Training Over Age 50
Lactic acid
Lactic acid does more than cause fatigue
RPE
The Perceived Exertion Scale is a simple way to determine exercise intensity.
Soccer Injuries
Soccer Pain and Injury: Recognizing, treating and preventing the most common soccer pain and injuries.
Best Butt Exercises (Glutes)
The American Council on Exercise and exercise scientists at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, recently studied the most effective way to work the gluteus (butt) muscles. Here are the results.
Full Squat Lift Technique
How to Safely Perform a Full Squat Lift. A detailed description of the full squat lift.
Advanced Piriformis Stretch
Tight piriformis muscles can lead to knee pain and lower back pain. Use this simple piriformis stretch to open your hips and keep the piriformis limber.
Motion Control
Motion control running shoe reviews
Achilles Tendonitis
Achilles Tendonitis is a chronic injury that occurs primarily from overuse.
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Cross Training
Cross Training - How Varying your workouts can improve performance and reduce burn-out.
Concussion and Head Injury
Concussions are traumatic head injuries that occur from both mild and severe blows to the head. Some head injuries may appear to be mild but research is finding that concussions can have serious, long-term effects.
Belts During Weight Training
The Proper Use of Belts During Weight Training
How to Use the Rowing Machine
Rowing is a great cardiovascular and strength-building exercise. With proper technique, rowing will work all the major muscle groups of the core, arms and legs in a balanced manner.
Ligament Injuries of the Knee
Information about Ligament Injuries of the knee: ACL, PCL, MCL and LCL Anterior and Posterior Cruciate Ligament and Medial and Lateral Collateral ligament injuries.
What is Sports Medicine?
Sports medicine is the study and practice of medical principles related to the science of sports, particularly in the areas of sports injury - diagnosis, treatment and prevention - and sports training and athletic performance.
Tendinitis
Tendonitis is a common sports injury that often occurs from overuse. Tendonitis can cause deep, nagging pain that is caused by inflammation of tendons. Treating tendonitis consists of rest, medication, physical therapy or changes to equipment or technique.
Stress Fracture
Stress fractures in the leg are often the result of overuse or repeated impacts on a hard surface.
Lactic Acid
Lactic Acid and Performance How lactic acid affects performance
Dizziness with Exercise
If you exercise often and are in good shape you might occasionally experience dizziness and lightheadedness when you stand up quickly. This is generally nothing serious, and occurs due to a slow heart rate.
Stationary Bikes
Stationary bicycles provide low-impact cardiovascular exercise, are generally quiet in operation, and are efficient with their use of space. Here are tips for selecting and using a stationary bike.
PAR-Q
The Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire is a self-screening tool that can be used by anyone who is planning to start an exercise program.
Common Sports Injuries
A list of the most common sports injuries, treatment and prevention
Tuck Jumps
Tuck jumps are simple drills that improve vertical jumps while building dynamic strength and power.
The Pull Up Exercise
The pull up exercise, also called a chin up, is one of the most overlooked exercises for building upper body, back and core strength. Learn how to use a chin up bar and other exercise equipment.
Alphabetical Injury List
Alphabetical List of Common Sports Injuries and Pain
Compound or Isolation Exercise
Compound exercises are multi-joint movements that work several muscles at one time. For most people compound exercises provide better results than isolation exercises and should be the core of any weight training routine.
Protein
Athletes need protein primarily to repair and rebuild muscle that is broken down during exercise and to help optimizes carbohydrate storage in the form of glycogen.
Skinfold Test for Body Fat
The skinfold measurement test is one common method of determining a person's percentage of body fat or body composition.
Strength Training Principles
There are many different ways to build muscle strength, but they all boil down to some very basic principles. These four principles are the foundation upon which to build an efficient and productive strength training routine.
High Protein Diets
Are high protein diets, like south beach and atkins, right for athletes?
Golfer's Elbow
Golfer's Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis)
Balance and Proprioception
How a few simple balance training and proprioception exercises can improve performance and reduce injuries.
Groin Pain Stretching Exercise
Groin pain can be caused by many reasons including tight, weak groin muscles or groin pulls or strains. This stretching program can help reduce groin pain and prevent groin pulls.
Hyponatremia
Can athletes get too much water? Hyponatremia has become more prevalent as more people are participating in endurance sports.
Replace Running Shoes
How long do running shoes last? Tips and recommendations for deciding if you need to buy new running shoes.
Sprain and Strain
Immediate treatment of muscle sprains and muscle strains can make a difference in how long it takes to recover and heal. In this article you'll learn the best way to treat and prevent muscle sprains and strains and when you should see a physician for a diagnosis and treatment plan.
ACL Injury Prevention Tips
Athletes can reduce their risk of ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries by adding training drills that require balance, and combined strength and speed.
Lactate Threshold Training
Do you know your LT? Learn how athletes can increase high intensity endurance performance with lactate threshold training.
Tennis Elbow
The cause, symptoms, and treatment of Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis).
When to Stretch
Stretching - What the Research Shows
Achilles Tendon Rupture
Achilles Tendon Rupture
Proper Bicycle Position
A good bike fit is critical to cycling comfort and efficiency. Here are tips for adjusting your bicycle to avoid pain or injury.
Clavicle Fracture Rehab
A clavicle fracture (broken collarbone) is a common sports injury that requires a comprehensive rehab exercise program to return to sports quickly. Here is a general rehab exercise program for a fractured clavicle.
Overload - Definition
The Principle of Overload - Definition
Quadriceps Pull or Tear
Quadriceps Pull or Tear - a pain in the front of the thigh
Bursitis of the Elbow
Bursitis of the Elbow - Pain behind the elbow
Kettlebells - Weight Lifting
Kettlebells have been around for decades but only recently have they started to replace traditional strength training routines.
Plyometric Exercises
ACL Injury Prevention Program Plyometrics is a highly specific training session to decrease the number of ACL injuries incurred by female soccer players.
Wrist Sprains
Wrist sprains are a common injury that often occurs from a fall on and outstretched hand. Information about wrist injuries such as sprains and strains including diagnosis and treatment.
Motivation and Goal-Setting
How to set realistic fitness goals that will help you stay motivated and keep you exercising consistently through the years.
Sports Injury Warning Signs
There are several warning signs that you may have a sports-related injury. While some sports injuries are immediately evident, others can creep up slowly and progressively get worse. If you don't pay attention to both types of injuries, chronic problems can develop.
Explore Sports Medicine
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