Are you trying to improve your strength, speed, or endurance? If so, you might want to consider plyometric training. Plyometrics (also known as plyos or jump training) are exercises that use the speed and force of different movements to build muscle power with maximum levels of exertion over short periods of time. Plyometrics can include…
In this week’s episode of the Sports Medicine Weekly podcast, Dr. Brian Cole is joined Grete Eliassen. Grete is a six-time Winter X Games medalist, a four-time U.S. Open champion, a Winter Dew Tour silver medalist, and is the world record holder in the Women’s Hip Jump. She broke the record in 2010 when she…
In this week’s episode of the Sport’s Medicine Weekly Podcast, Dr. Brian Cole is joined by UCLA Beach Volleyball athlete Lindsey Sparks to discuss her comeback from a cartilage injury to the underside of her patella (knee cap), as well as a torn medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL). Lindsey is an academic senior, studying psychology, with…
In this week’s episode of the Sports Medicine Weekly podcast, Dr. Brian Cole, head team physician for the Chicago Bulls, and team physician for the Chicago White Sox shares the benefits of cross training. As a sports medicine doctor and team physician for professional athletes, Dr. Cole is often asked about the benefits of cross…
In this week’s episode of the Sports Medicine Weekly Podcast, Dr. Cole discusses five evidence-based strategies for losing weight. In the US, the market size of the weight loss services industry, measured by revenue, is a staggering $2.8 billion. That really should come as no surprise, considering the obesity epidemic in this country. On paper,…
Let’s face it. There are days when you just can’t fit a full-blown workout into your schedule. But no worries…mounting evidence shows that short duration workouts and small bursts of exercise can work wonders and still be very beneficial to overall fitness and health. Current exercise guidelines call for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or…
Over the years, our knees are subjected to a tremendous amount of wear and tear. With each step, your knees absorb pressure that’s equal to one-and-one-half times your body weight, and over time, that can take a toll. Weakening of the muscles and ligaments, degeneration of the knee’s shock absorbers (the menisci), as well as…
Breaking bad habits is difficult, and establishing healthy lifestyle habits on a long-term basis can be equally challenging. Achieving success requires a dedicated effort to make both physical and mental changes. Though many of us live stressful, demanding lives, with just a little tweaking here and there, we can develop habits that will help us…
Inflammation. It’s often blamed for a number of diseases, including long-haul Covid. But what exactly is it, and what can you do about it? Inflammation refers to the body’s process of fighting things that harm it in an attempt to heal itself. Basically, it’s the immune system’s response to stimuli that are perceived to be harmful. There…
In this week’s episode of the Sports Medicine Weekly podcast, Dr. Brian Cole is joined by a Rush physical therapist to discuss the best ways to manage and treat patellar tendonitis, more commonly known as jumper’s knee. The patellar tendon connects the patella (knee cap) to the tibia (shin bone) and assists in the extension…
Competitive athletics, at the youth, recreational, and elite levels alike, place incredible demands on the body. Longer, more frequent practices, along with demanding game schedules, can take a toll on the body. That’s why it’s critical to understand and practice recovery techniques throughout the season, as well as in the off season. Recovery techniques help…
So, what’s all the hype about matcha? You can find the trendy new superfood in teas, powders, shots, bars, lattes, and even desserts. But, does it live up to the buzz, and what exactly is it? Matcha comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, the same plant used to make green, black, white, and oolong teas, but…