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Updated thoughts on optimizing hypertrophy training
The ever-evolving nature of science creates a never-ending obligation to reevaluate our prior training practices and recommendations against recent developments in the field. This obligation only increases when you write about these opinions publicly. Before we head into the Canada Day long weekend, I thought I’d take a quick look at a few recent studies […]
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Complex Analysis, Simple Solutions
In mid 2018, I had the opportunity to speak to an audience of strength coaches and athletic therapists regarding optimizing nutritional and exercise strategies to enhance connective tissue adaptations. One component of this talk was to highlight a relatively complex analysis of the Achilles tendon structure and how this work produced an ultimately simplistic exercise […]
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New approaches in connective tissue rehab
I was a physiologist by training before I was a physiotherapist. I spend more time now managing patients with connective tissue injuries than I do looking down a microscope, but I haven’t lost sight of the influence that these types of experiments can have. While I may no longer be at the “bench” (at least […]
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Does maximizing EMG amplitude mean more muscle growth?
Our understanding of the relationship of training intensity (or load) and hypertrophy has changed significantly within the past ten years. While early recommendations suggested loads in excess of 70%-1RM were required to promote, or maximize, muscle growth, a growing amount of data suggests that when training is completed to failure, comparable muscle growth can occur […]
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2016 Review
At the start of 2016, I read a post by Nate Green using the “Start, Stop, Continue” framework to evaluate his progress over the past year, and create an action plan for the year ahead. Nate recounted his proclivity to focus on the future, and his struggle to reflect on the past, a problem I […]
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OMM12: Walking dead, testing the impossible, neck strength
With the holiday season coming to a close, here’s what’s on my mind right now: Testing the “impossible”: 17 questions that changed my life Whether or not you agree with Tim Ferriss’ methods, it’s always interesting to watch someone trace the steps they took leading to where they are today. With the new year just […]
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OMM 11 Patient satisfaction, messiness, email overload
My On My Mind (OMM) series takes a quick look at what’s caught my interest this week, products I’m using, and projects I’m working on. Strength Rebels Exercise Database Founded by physical therapist Dr Scotty Butcher and strength coach Chad Benko, the Strength Rebels’ growing exercise database is a great resource for high quality exercise […]
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OMM10 – New arrivals, decision making, Evernote
My On My Mind (OMM) series takes a quick look at what’s caught my interest this week, products I’m using, and projects I’m working on. Another Ogborn… While my intentions were to start posting more frequently on the site, with the OMM series happening every Friday, that plan was quickly derailed. We were expecting our second […]
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OMM#9 – Seated calf raises, emails, standing desks
It’s Friday again and you know what that means; Here’s what caught my eye this week: Don’t throw out your seated calf raise The seated calf raise seems like a relic of a long-forgotten bodybuilding age. Often relegated to collect dust in the corner, this recent post from Dr Peter Malliaras suggests it may be […]
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OMM #8 – Strength on dysfunction, group physio, enhanced clipboards
Here’s a short and sweet list of what’s on my mind heading into the October long weekend: Building strength on dysfunction I’ve been meaning to write a post on this concept for ages, but Greg Lehman beat me to it. Simple quotes like these spread like wildfire on twitter, but rarely reflect on the actual […]
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