Why Run Specific Strength Matters

Poor strength + poor neuromuscular control = poor performance no matter how perfect the training plan.
— Coach Amy

Running puts the body under a tremendous load. Your ability to attenuate those forces and propel yourself forward safely and efficiently requires strength and control over the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and nerves).

Isolating and strengthening individual muscles is essential, but putting it all together in functional movements that are sport specific is critical to success and prevention of injury.

For example, strengthening glutes with lunges and squats is effective, but we need to enhance those with exercises that require balance on one leg while incorporating trunk rotation. After all, you are not holding onto anything when you run, and your trunk better rotate while your glutes push!

CoachAmyPT strength workouts are developed and led by Coach Amy, a physical therapist, and incorporate a combination of isolated strength moves and complex movement patterns specific to daily function and running.

Strength classes are held at the CoachAmyPT clinic and are ongoing.

How to Fire Up Your Glutes Part One: Wake Up Sleepy Glutes

How to Fire Up Your Glutes Part One: Wake Up Sleepy Glutes

Strong, healthy glutes are essential for running; they are the primary driver and power source. Yet, sometimes despite their good health and adequate strength, they fail to perform. The main culprits are sleepy glute muscles and an unstable platform. In a two-part series, How to Fire Up Your Glutes, Coach Amy provides a guide to overcoming these issues and getting the most out of your running glutes. In Part I, she explains how glutes can fall asleep on the job and how to wake them up.

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Streak Runners Beware

Streak Runners Beware

Streaking is risky. I'm not referring to running naked in public - that is illegal but safer than a recent trend with the same name where runners run one or more miles per day for 365 days or more, regardless of injury or illness. Running when weakened by fever, the stomach flu, or exhaustion seems an impossible task, yet I'm confident that with the right mindset, anyone can do it. But the question is not whether we can. It is whether we should.

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Training Habits and Injury Rates in Masters Female Runners

Training Habits and Injury Rates in Masters Female Runners

Coach Amy collaborated with professor Janice Loudon to study the training habits and running-related injury rates in female runners over age 40. We are excited to announce the recent publication of their manuscript in the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy: Loudon J, Parkerson-Mitchell A. Training Habits and Injury Rate in Masters Female Runners. IJSPT. 2022;17(3):501-507.

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