Stronger Athletes
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Friday, September 20, 2024
Anatomy And Function: Terms
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." Bernard M. Baruch
by Dr. Ken E. Leistner
I have a strong belief in the appropriate and proper use of the language. This is the only way that true communication can occur among professionals. Having grown up with a street hardened background, more than most, I know the usefulness of a widely understood nod of the head, the shortened patois that allows each specialized group to communicate in a rapid and often effective manner, and the time and place for a mix of street slang and Eubonics.
However, in the specialized field of strength training and athletic enhancement, it is important to have a standardized "language" that allows those with different backgrounds, educational levels, and perspectives to communicate clearly.
Having grown up with the weights in the early 1960s, one could walk into any gym in the New York City area, not that there were many of them, and know that the exercise you referred to as a "seated dumb-bell lateral raise" was just that, it was not "shoulder flyes", "dumbbell side raise", or anything other than a seated dumbbell lateral raise. A "triceps pressdown" did not need a demonstration because it wasn't a "pushdown", or a "tricep pulley extension", that was a completely other exercise.
Anatomist have often disagreed and had to update their information in light of new findings. However, an inability to clearly communicate led to a number of agreements among the world's leaders in the field, that has allowed clear and concise communication of anatomical structures, terms, positions, and functions. The purpose of this ongoing feature, will be to present clearly, the most accepted forms of communication relative to the anatomy of the human organism, and enough information to allow either the professional or lay person, to speak confidently of a particular bodypart or muscular function. It will allow one to better understand just where.things begin and end and what they do. Structure dictates function in the body and a full understanding, an applicable understanding, will not only increase one's ability to literally figure out what an exercise or piece of equipment does, but greatly enhance one's enjoyment of the entire subject matter.
Terms, agreed upon terms, have long been the bane of anatomists. One may ask, "gee, the body is the body. Didn't they have it figured out after cutting into a few of them long ago?" Yes and no. Misunderstanding of many functions and misidentification of numerous structures became gospel for decades at a time, often with a less incorrect, but still incorrect, observation making its way into the textbooks of the world's leaders in the field. The new interpretation may have been closer to the truth, but not nearly the truth, compared to previous belief. In 1955, there was a complete revision of the Basle Nomina Anatomica, or B.N.A.
This was a standard nomenclature, first adopted in 1895 that was meant to give a definitive identification to all of the anatomical structures. The revision was needed to exclude synonyms, mistakes, and differences in interpretation between and among countries. The last major overhaul occurred in 1965 and the result is now known as the N.A. or Nomina Anatomica. This provides the official and accepted terminology among scientists in the field and with as many as ten names for the same structure, it was sorely needed!
Terms are needed for the parts of the body, for the position of the body, and for both the direction and movement of the body. With an understanding of basic terms, an understanding of human anatomy, with a subsequent understanding of the structures' functions, then becomes possible. It makes training a true experience once this is accomplished.
Latin of course formed the backbone of the anatomical language but has been greatly enhanced through the decades, especially for the body's parts. Location is done with the body in the ANATOMICAL POSITION. This is where much confusion occurs, even among professionals. The accepted anatomical position has the body standing erect, with the palms of the hands facing forward. This is the reference position when describing body location properly. Anything toward the belly is called VENTRAL. Anything toward the back is called DORSAL. These terms are interchangeable with respectively, ANTERIOR and POSTERIOR. Dorsal and ventral are the more commonly used terms and can also be applied to four legged creatures. The skull is called the CRANIUM, thus, CRANIAL refers to the skull or occurring with the skull. Cranial relative to location, refers to "toward the head". CAUDAL means "toward the tail". In the study of man, cranial can also be synonymous with "superior to" and caudal with "inferior to".
Body location is easily considered if one thinks in terms of making cuts through the body, a body in the standard anatomical position of course. The various terms describe the axes of the body, its planes. A SAGGITAL cut or plane is one that divides the body into right and left halves, or any plane parallel to that. A CORONAL cut or plane is one that divides the body into front and back parts. If something is internal or external to another part, this should be easy to visualize. If something is superficial to or deep relative to another part, this too should be easy to understand. PROXIMAL means that a part is "closer to" and as it is usually used, it means that a limb or appendage (limb is the presently used proper term) is nearer to the attachment at the trunk. DISTAL means that a part is "further from" and again, is usually used in terms of limb attachments. Thus the hand is more distal than the elbow on the upper extremity.
The head of the body is the "catput", thus the word CAPITUS refers to the head. We already noted that the skull is called the cranium. "CRANIAL" refers to the skull or occurring within the skull, such as the cranial nerves. CEPHALIC is used similarly to cranium. CERVIX is defined as "neck", thus CERVICAL refers to the neck region, as in cervical nerves for example.
We can divide the trunk into distinct regions: the DORSUM is the back (recall above, our use of the word dorsal) and think of the dorsal fin of the shark cutting through the water to remember its on the back! The THORAX is the chest while the ABDOMEN is the area that lies below the chest. It is not the "stomach", that's an organ that lies inside the abdominal cavity. The PELVIS is considered to be the region of the hip bones. The LIMBS are called, by anatomists, MEMBRA but that is a term I don't believe I have ever seen in any paper on exercise science or physiology.
In the next installment, we'll discuss body movement and the appropriate and accurate terms that should be used. Once body location and movement are understood, it is a short leap to the understanding of the use of specific exercises and the application of rehabilitative and strengthening techniques. Within the pages of this newsletter, among other places, I've complained about the improper use of anatomical terms. This is step one in preventing that among those who read this newsletter!
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Anatomy And Function: Location and Movement
"Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them." Dalai Lama. (almost as if he had today's strength and conditioning coaches in mind.
by Dr. Ken E. Leistner
Referring to Part One of this series, at all times recall that reference to the body anatomically, is made with the body in the accepted ANATOMICAL POSITION: erect with palms facing forward. The terms discussed with parts in relation to each other's position, such as superior, inferior, external, superficial, distal, and proximal should at this point, be clear. A good study aid is a model or drawing of the human figure, with time taken to relate body parts to one another based upon their position.
There are a few terms that are unique to the limbs. While location of parts is often made relative to the midline of the body, within the limbs, it is the habit of anatomists to make descriptions relative to the paired bones. In the upper extremity, there are radius and ulna bones in the forearm with the radius being the lateral of the two bones. The term RADIAL refers to the thumb or lateral side of the extremity while ULNA refer to the pinky or medial side. In the leg, the tibia resides towards the midline of the body or medial to the fibula. Thus, reference is made to the TIBIAL or big toe side and FIBULAR to a part toward the little toe side. The anterior surface of the hand, the part facing the viewer when the body is in the anatomical position, is the PALMAR SURFACE while similar refÂerence is made in the foot; the PLANTAR SURFACE is the sole of the foot. The opposite surface of both the hand and foot is the DORSUM or dorsal surface.
Description of movement of the different parts of the body are part of the lexicon. Unfortunately, some joint movements are complicated, or a combination of movements and have their own terminology but there are general (terms that are applicable and allow a very clear understanding of a part's function. FLEXJON is the ventral bending of a joint. While it usually refers to "bending" at a joint, because some joints can be "bent" in two directions, the distinction must be made. It is a decrease in the joint angle. It is best to think of flexion as bending towards the original ventral surÂface. If flexion occurs beyond the straight or anatomiÂcal position, it can be referred to as HYPERFLEXION. EXTENSION is the opposite of flexion. It is best thought of as a straightening of a part or an increase in the joint angle. It is also a movement or straightening toÂwards the original dorsal surface. If extension occurs beyond the straight or anatomical position, it can be referred to as HYPEREXTENSION. Some of the excepÂtions, or special cases immediately come to mind howÂever, as the movement of the foot and hand have their own terminology. If one moves the foot into ventral flexion, it is called DORSIFLEXION of the foot. ExtenÂsion of the foot is called PLANTAR FLEXION, the word flexion utilized even though it results in an increase in the joint angle and a straightening of the limb. TurnÂing the sole of the foot inward is termed INVERSION, outward, EVERSION. With the hand, turning the palm downward while the forearm is in the horizontal posiÂtion is termed PRONATION; turning it upward is termed SUPINATION.
ABDUCTION means to move away from the midÂline of the body. Abduction of the fingers is to move them apart, as abduction also means to separate. ADÂDUCTION means to move towards the midline of the body. ROTATION of a part means to have movement around its long axis. If this occurs in a way that the anterior surface turns laterally or to the outside, it is termed LATERAL or EXTERNAL ROTATION. If the anterior surface turns medially or it is termed MEÂDIAL or INTERNAL ROTATION. CIRCUMDUCTION is one of the compound or combination movements menÂtioned previously. The movement describes a cone with the distal part moving in a circle and the proximal or near part, serving as a pivot point. It is actually a comÂbination of flexion, abduction, extension, and adducÂtion.
Once location, direction, and movement of a body part are known, it is rather easy to determine what resistance exercise will provide benefit for a specific muscle. As the interested trainee or strength training professional will utilize these terms and need this knowledge on a daily basis, it is advised that some time be spent insuring that the terms related to proper anatomic description and movement are learned and then used in daily speech and writing.
Wednesday, July 5, 2023
Coach Asanovich on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Off-Season
Joey VanLaningham with Mark Asanovich
Asanovich was the strength and conditioning coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1996-2001 seasons, a total of six years. Asanovich's record as the team's strength and conditioning coach was 54-42-0, making him the second-most successful strength and conditioning coach in Tampa Bay Buccaneers history (up to that time).
Monday, July 3, 2023
Chet Fuhrman Sports Strength Training Philosophy
Worked for Bill Cohwer who garnered a Super Bowl win as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Sunday, July 2, 2023
The Mystique Associated With Russian/Eastern European Training Methodologies
Coach Asanovich gives us his take on the problems with ballistic resistance training.
Given the "Athletic Performance Equation," performance outcomes are dependent upon the sum interplay of a myriad of controllable, uncontrollable and somewhat controllable variables. Hence, to what extent does coaching, athletic talent, team 'chemistry,' nutritional status, psychological readiness, weather conditions, officiating, pharmacological status, luck, or for that matter, one's training protocols effect the sum athletic performance? Obviously, an attempt to conclusively quantify the effects of a single performance variable on overall performance outcomes becomes a matter of subjective speculation.
Nevertheless, by virtue of successful athletic performance, successful athletes, coaches, and teams are intuitively thought to possess successful training protocols. The unspoken assumption being that if one follows the training protocols of the champions, one will likewise evolve into a champion. Consequently, popular opinion has led many to believe that as a result of past International and/or Olympic success, it is logical that the Russians must implement the most effective training protocols. To compound this misguided perception, there are many who would also have one believe they also harbor numerous "training secrets."
Ironically, many athletes and teams have performed successfully without ever having employed these Eastern European regimens into their training programs. Truth be told, many athletes and teams have performed successfully without ever having been involved in a supervised/systematic strength and conditioning program! To this I would also add that many athletes and teams have performed successfully in spite of, rather than because of their training protocols.
However, most would assume that the end justifies the means, and if the Russians do it, that must be why they are successful. To blindly accept this position, one must naively support the belief that performance success (or lack of success) is solely dependent upon one particular training methodology. Unfortunately, this may not be the truth. Rather, as professionals, the issue is one of unbiased scientific proof, not empirically hyped innuendo.
Relative to muscle contractile velocity, there are four determining factors that determine the rate at which a muscle fiber can contract (i.e. explosiveness):
1. The degree of myosin ATPase activity.
2. The degree of sacroplasmic reticulum development.
3. The degree of troponin's affinity for calcium.
4. The degree of neural innervation size.
However, the fact is that any anecdotal gains resulting from Russian/Eastern European training are PERCIEVED gains -- and are therefore no more significant than doing absolutely nothing at all. The problem with "perceived results" (particularly when a monetary investment is involved), is that the subject's objectivity is biased as a result of their emotional attachment and vested interest in the attainment of the desired results. Unfortunately, well-intended (but not well-educated) athletes, coaches, and parents are easy targets for such commercially hyped hocus-pocus.
The fact of the matter is that ballistic resistance training is unproven and/or unproductive at best, and potentially dangerous at worst (especially in prepubescent athletes). Ballistic resistance training, like any momentum-assisted movement, violates the most fundamental principle of strength development, that being, the Overload Principle. The Overload Principle states that muscular development will only occur as a result of the application of a stressor that exceeds the muscles voluntary capabilities. As such, it follows that if the application of the stressor (or resistance) is "momentum-assisted," the amount of stress is lessened and muscular development is compromised. In other words, performing exercises at maximal speeds will result in minimal muscular effects.
To make matters worse, performing exercises at maximal speeds will also result in maximum muscular risks. Newton's second law of motion states that, "for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." Relative to an individual performing an accelerated exercise movement therefore, the magnitude of potential internal forces produced is directly proportional to the speed at which the exercise is performed. Orthopedic injuries are sustained when these forces exceed the structural integrity of the involved joint(s). If acute injuries are avoided, repeated trauma from such biomechanical loading can predispose the muscles, fascia, bones and connective tissue to chronic injuries that are sustained once an athlete enters competition. For this reason, Dr. Fred Allman, former American College of Sports Medicine president has warned, "It is even possible that many injuries...may be the result of weakened connective tissue caused by explosive training in the weight room."
Unfortunately, a joint's structural limits are unknown until the damage has already been done--and then is too late. Obviously, risk of injury is inherent (and accepted) in sports competition. However, to suggest that there be an inherent risk of injury in training for sports competition is certainly unacceptable, unprofessional, and unethical. After all, the primary objective of any training program is to enhance one's physical potential, not endanger it! Consequently, one should be encouraged to perform strength-training exercises in a controlled manner. To do otherwise, is to invite musculoskeletal injury.
Certainly many controversies exist relative to training methodologies, ballistic training and Olympic lifting being a major concern. Yet, regardless of which training protocols may be right or wrong, as health/fitness professionals our first responsibility is to the safety of those who have entrusted their health to us. By denying, ignoring, or overlooking the risks involved in training protocols/devices, we do a great disservice to the individuals we train. For these reasons, I would encourage coaches to be very discriminating in selecting training protocols.
After all, as with anything in life that sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Ballistic resistance training and Olympic lifting are no exception to the rule.
Sunday, June 25, 2023
Weights are a Vehicle
"Appreciation is a wonderful thing: it makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well." -Voltaire
When it comes to sport strength, it is best to consider weights a tool and not the end all be all. Every athlete needs strength to be sure, but they don't need to be power lifters or Olympic lifters or hold the phone, body builders for gawd sakes.
As a coach of a sport you need athletes with enough strength for the role they play on the team. You don't care if they squat double bodyweight or meet some other arbitrary bullshit metric. You care that they are strong enough for their role.
BTW, we wrote about strength coaches before, and even before that, even better, you may want to read that if you have not. It's not rocket science. A simple 1 or 2 set to failure program with the basic compound lifts either free weight or machine approximation done in a rep range suitable to athletes rather than powerlifters or Olympic lifters is ALL YOU NEED.
You don't need periodization, plyometrics, or any of that crap. Get in the weight room, lift and get out. Your players have better things to do, such as actually practice the sport they are in.