For the basketball player that doesn’t have an off-season:¹

For most athletes year-round training has become a pinnacle part of the preparation cycle. Periodization has multiple definitions depending on who you’re talking to. Typically, it is broken down into macrocycles (season or multiple years) that include preseason, in-season and off-season. These are then further broken down into mesocycles (several weeks or months) such as transition period, preparatory period and competition period.  Afonso et al describes periodization as being the theoretical and methodical core concept in scientific based training that gives the layout for exercise prescription. This concept is meant to benefit the athlete in ways of finding appropriate times to hit peak performance. In other words, it’s a calendar with training cycles built into a program to maximize when an athlete peaks. As you can imagine this way of training is traditionally used for Olympic athletes or seasonal athletes. The ultimate goal of this well planned out calendar (other than peak timing) is to prevent overtraining and injuries.

Downfalls of periodization²

• Linear design (prediction based)
  • Meaning that you’re hoping that all things are going to go as planned
  • Linear vs nonlinear have shown no difference
• Some athletes play in multiple leagues
• No off-season
• Lack of research to support concept
  • Culture paradigm
  • The research that exists is poor or inconclusive
• Psychological instability with falling behind
• Response to training may not be as predicted
  • This will drastically change the plan
• Not everyone can complete a one rep max

Below are some simple examples techniques used for a periodized plan²

General Training Guidelines For The Advance Weightlifter 102 (https://www NULL.ncbi NULL.nlm NULL.nih NULL.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4637911/#B102)

Linear Periodization

Non‐Linear Periodization

How to address the AAU basketball player that never stops

The Problem

This is the type of athlete that is not ideal for this method of training that is shown above. There are no meso and macro cycles that exist for an athlete that is constantly in competition. There is one Macrocycle and it is competition. Every weekend this athlete will need to be at peak performance. This greatly exposes athletes to overtraining and injuries. Ultimately the goal of training is to avoid that isn’t it?

What is overtraining?

When an athlete is no longer able to adapt and recover from the physiological loads placed on their body. That may eventually lead to burnout or injuries. The exact cause and full impairments that occur during this change in someone’s body is not well known.

Signs and Symptoms (to name a few):³

1. Hormonal changes: hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands
2. Immune changes: decrease function, more likely to get sick
   1. Inability to recover
3. Neurological changes: decrease in neurotransmitter function
   1. Increase chances of injury

When periodization doesn’t fit your lifestyle what do you do?

The answer is quite simple! Sport specific personalized training with an emphasis on injury prevention, nutrition and performance enhancement. You can create your own schedule and train based off of game and practice dates and times without worrying about meeting a timeline of a meso or macro cycle. This type of training is built off of YOUR specific needs as a basketball player. Whether it be addressing previous injuries, increasing your vertical leap, providing a solid foundation of core and hip stability, speed and agility, vision training and the list goes on. From a biomechanical stand point there is no greater benefit to have someone cueing you as you train through ranges of motion on proper technique. Also, many periodization programs are based off on 1 rep maximum. What if you can’t perform the exercise properly in the first place? Why would I have you test at a weight when your technique and range of motion is lacking? These are all components that typically lack in periodization programs.

Rest is the new highly sought after supplement

Strength is NOT built in the gym. Strength IS built while you sleep. This concept is very hard for athletes and coaches to understand. Physiologically muscles are torn down in the gym. Shredded, pulled apart and weak. This response is highly catabolic to the muscle tissue. Which is why when you exercise at a certain threshold blood is shunted off to the damaged tissue attempting to repair it and make it even stronger than before aka SWOLE. This process of rebuilding begins approximately 30 minutes after you have completed your workout. Hence why everyone talks about taking your post-workout supplements with in that small window. If the proper nutrients aren’t there to repair the tissue you will remain broken down, become inflamed and eventually injured. This is why recovery builds muscle.

Best ways to avoid overtraining and injury

Sleep

My point to all of this is to try and shift the way people address recovery and to accentuate the importance of proper sleep and nutrition. No sleep is not for the weak. It’s for the elite. For the purpose of this article I am going to focus on sleep but without these two major components overtraining and injuries will present themselves, it’s only a matter of time. This component also needs to be personalized. Not everyone needs 8 hours of sleep. Some need more, some need less. There is approximately 5% of the population that can genetically perform at the top with only 5 hours of sleep. With that being said the other 95% of the population falls under the category of 7-12 hours like this list of elite athletes below.

Deep sleepers

LeBron James sleeps 12 hours a night

Steve Nash 10 hours a night

Roger Federer 12 hours a night

Usain Bolt 10 hours a night

Adequate sleep gets you GAINZ

• Increase your motor skills by 20%
• Increase testosterone levels (men)
  • After 4 hours each hour after that will progressively increase t levels by 50%
• Decrease inflammation and cortisol (stress hormone)

How to achieve elite levels of sleep

• Your bed is your sanctuary
  • No electronics or books (airplane mode when you enter your room)
  • This will tell your body it’s time to shut off and no disturbances
• Avoid large amounts of light exposure
  • As the night goes on move to less and less light
  • Instead of every light on in your house leave a small lamp on
  • This will also signal your brain that it’s getting time to sleep
• Complete darkness
  • Buy blackout shades or use an eye cover
• Buy a high quality mattress
  • You spend 1/3rd of your life here
  • Make the investment
• Train earlier in the day if possible
• Essential oil diffuser
• Warm bath with essential oils and Epsom salt

Listen to your body

The top performing athlete needs to be in tune with their body. Our bodies are very intelligent and give us key signs letting us know when something is wrong. Just like the pain response after getting injured. If you didn’t have a pain response your ankle could be broken and you would never know it. The same goes for hormone imbalance, nutrient deficiencies and so forth. This is essential to preventing overtraining. If you are exhausted, inflamed and aren’t sleeping, it is so important to address that as early as possible. This sounds cliché but this exact scenario is what led to me getting injured time and time again. I pushed it off and eventually suffered the consequences one to many times.

Find a hobby

Let an activity far from basketball become your outlet. No playing 2K on your Xbox is not an outlet from basketball. For example, my outlet is hiking and camping. These activities help me come back to balance with myself. This is not talked about enough and can become an integral part of becoming an elite performer. Try to pick things that reduce stress and can allow you to get outside and soak up some vitamin D. It only takes 15 minutes of direct sunlight to get the allotted amount of vitamin D. This is especially important for an indoor sport such as basketball.

1. Afonso J, Nikolaidis PT, Sousa P, Mesquita I. Is Empirical Research on Periodization Trustworthy? A Comprehensive Review of Conceptual and Methodological Issues. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine. 2017;16(1):27-34.

2. Lorenz D, Morrison S. CURRENT CONCEPTS IN PERIODIZATION OF STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING FOR THE SPORTS PHYSICAL THERAPIST. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. 2015;10(6):734-747.
3. Kreher JB. Diagnosis and prevention of overtraining syndrome: an opinion on education strategies. Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine. 2016;7:115-122. doi:10.2147/OAJSM.S91657.

Risk vs Benefit: Is Your Jump Training Program

Hurting You More Than Helping You?

In this series, Risk vs Benefit: Is Your Training Program Hurting You More Than Helping You?, I will be addressing jump training technique. When performed correctly, not only will you see your jumping improve, you will also prevent injury and ineffective training. In an era of year-round basketball, the body has little to no time for recovery. This lends itself to injury and overtraining, reducing playing time and performance. Scheduling sufficient recovery time between workouts and actual playing time is imperative to remain injury-free and to see improvement in your jumping ability.

There is no question that skill-set, fundamentals, athleticism, basketball IQ, and coachability go a long way in determining your level of basketball success. One aspect of athleticism, jumping ability, along with speed, quickness, and strength can all be enhanced by using safe and effective training programs. This includes training the appropriate energy system and musculature necessary to jump higher.

Lower body power as it relates to the vertical jump is a function of sport specificity. Simply put, a golfer isn’t going to get better at golf by playing football, he needs to fine tune his golf skills by playing golf. Likewise, if you want to jump higher, then the use of jumping and weight training exercises will help you reach your goals to jump higher. Jumping is a compound and dynamic movement that involves the entire body to some degree or another. Every body part works synergistically to propel your body to the greatest height possible. Your jump height will suffer if any one of these parts are not performing at its maximum.

Primary Muscles Exercised: Quadriceps (Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis, Vastus Intermedius, Rectus Femoris), Hamstrings (Semimembranosus, Semitendinosus, Biceps Femoris), Buttocks (Gluteus, Maximus, Gluteus Medius, Gluteus Minimus), Calves (Gastrocnemius, Soleus).

Secondary Muscles (Stabilizers) Used: Abdominals (Rectus Abdominis, Transverse Abdominis, Internal Oblique, External Oblique), Lower, Middle, and Upper Back (Erector Spinae, Latissimus Dorsi, Rhomboids, Trapezius), Shoulders (Anterior and Medial Deltoids).

The following exercises are part of a well-balanced workout program. Supplement each of your weight training workouts with 2-3 of these exercises. Rotate the exercises so that you will perform each one of them over the next 3-5 workouts. A half-hearted approach to any of these exercises will only lead to less than optimal results and possible injury. Each repetition should be performed correctly and at maximal effort. A 48-hour recovery period from each workout will allow an adequate amount of time to adapt to the training stimulus and recover from the micro-trauma caused by the training.

Exercise Procedure:

1. Jump Rope – Stand with your feet close together but not touching. Keeping both ankles together jump off the ground, don’t skip. This will activate the muscles used in jumping and will serve as an adequate warmup to your weight training workout as well. Start with 5 minutes with each workout and increase to 20 minutes as you become more efficient.

IMG_0779.MOV (https://vimeo NULL.com/214528003) from austinyouthbasketball (https://vimeo NULL.com/user65825859) on Vimeo (https://vimeo NULL.com).

2. Lunge Jumps – Place one foot in front of the other so that when you bend both your knees to a 90-degree angle, your front foot is flat on the floor and your back foot has only its toes on the floor. Your front leg knee should not extend beyond your toes of that leg. From this position, jump as high as you can, switching leg positions in midair. Perform one set of 20 repetitions (reps), 10 on each leg. Increase to 2 sets the second week and then 3 sets the third week.

IMG_0782 (https://vimeo NULL.com/214527794) from austinyouthbasketball (https://vimeo NULL.com/user65825859) on Vimeo (https://vimeo NULL.com).

3. Frog Jumps – Stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart, your feet slightly angled outward (everted), and your arms to your side. Squat down so that your thighs are parallel to the floor and your fingers are touching the floor. Your head and shoulders should be up and back with your hips down. Once you touch the floor with your fingers, immediately jump as high and as far as you can, thrusting your arms overhead to help propel yourself as high as you can. Perform one set of 10 reps. Increase to 2 sets of 12 reps the second week and then 3 sets of 15 reps the third week.

IMG_0783 (https://vimeo NULL.com/215517067) from austinyouthbasketball (https://vimeo NULL.com/user65825859) on Vimeo (https://vimeo NULL.com).

• Depth Jumps – Stand on a 12-inch bench or plyo-box. Step off the bench / box. Once both of your feet hit the floor, explode up onto or over a second bench. Land safely in an athletic position. Turn and repeat the process facing the opposite direction. Start with a 12-inch high bench, then progress to an 18-inch high bench. Perform one set of 15 reps. Increase to 2 sets the second week and then 3 sets the third week.

IMG_0788 (https://vimeo NULL.com/214531301) from austinyouthbasketball (https://vimeo NULL.com/user65825859) on Vimeo (https://vimeo NULL.com).

5. Knee Tucks – Stand with your feet slightly less than shoulder width apart, your feet slightly angled outward (everted), and your arms to your side. Lower your body to a quarter squat position and then explosively jump as high as you can, bringing your knees as close to your chest as possible. Land safely in an athletic position. Perform one set of 20 reps. Increase to 2 sets the second week and then 3 sets the third week. The use of a short pause (1-2 seconds) between each jump will enable you to regain your balance and set your position allowing you to jump higher with each rep. Eliminating this pause will train a quicker jump. Training both ways will improve your jumping on the court.

IMG_0791.MOV (https://vimeo NULL.com/214529477) from austinyouthbasketball (https://vimeo NULL.com/user65825859) on Vimeo (https://vimeo NULL.com).

6. Broad Jumps – Stand with your feet slightly less than shoulder width apart. As you descend into a quarter squat position allow your arms to swing backwards, then drive your hips forward as you jump as high and far as possible. Your arms will naturally swing forward during this process. Land safely in an athletic position. Your hip power will determine the height and distance of your jump. Perform 8 jumps one direction, turn and perform 8 more jumps ending at your original starting point (1 set). Increase to 2 sets the second week and then 3 sets the third week. The use of a short pause (1-2 seconds) between each jump will enable you to regain your balance and set your position allowing you to jump farther with each rep. Eliminating this pause will train a quicker jump. Training both ways will improve your jumping on the court.

IMG_0792.MOV (https://vimeo NULL.com/214530280) from austinyouthbasketball (https://vimeo NULL.com/user65825859) on Vimeo (https://vimeo NULL.com).

7. Squat Jumps – Stand with your feet shoulder width apart with your feet slightly everted. As you descend into a squat position, allow your arms to swing backwards. With an explosive effort, jump as high as you can, thrusting your arms forward and overhead for a momentum boost. Land safely in an athletic position. Perform one set of 20 reps. Increase to 2 sets the second week and then 3 sets the third week. The use of a short pause (1-2 seconds) between each jump will enable you to regain your balance and set your position allowing you to jump higher with each rep. Eliminating this pause will train a quicker jump. Training both ways will improve your jumping on the court.

Squat Jumps (https://vimeo NULL.com/214530198) from austinyouthbasketball (https://vimeo NULL.com/user65825859) on Vimeo (https://vimeo NULL.com).

IMG_0793.MOV (https://vimeo NULL.com/214531734) from austinyouthbasketball (https://vimeo NULL.com/user65825859) on Vimeo (https://vimeo NULL.com).

8. Uneven Foot Squat Jumps – Follow the same instructions as the Squat Jumps, but stagger your foot position. Make sure to keep your feet at shoulder width. Between each jump, place your feet at various positions simulating various dynamic situations found during basketball play. It is important to land safely in an athletic position before moving your feet to an uneven position for the next jump. Perform one set of 20 reps. Increase to 2 sets the second week and then 3 sets the third week.

IMG_0795 (https://vimeo NULL.com/214530457) from austinyouthbasketball (https://vimeo NULL.com/user65825859) on Vimeo (https://vimeo NULL.com).

9. One Leg Box Jumps – This exercise should not be performed until a sound weight training program has been followed consistently for several months. A substantial increase in leg strength from leg presses, squats, and deadlifts must be demonstrated before engaging in this exercise. Stand in front of an 8-12-inch-high plyo-box. Jump onto the box and quickly jump back off onto the floor. Once you have completed the prescribed number of reps with the first leg, begin with the other leg. Do not pause between reps. Perform 2 sets of 10 reps on each leg the first week, 3 sets of 8-10 reps the second week, and 4 sets of 8-10 reps the third week.

IMG_0797.MOV (https://vimeo NULL.com/214533348) from austinyouthbasketball (https://vimeo NULL.com/user65825859) on Vimeo (https://vimeo NULL.com).

10. Straight Leg Calf Jumps – Stand with your feet close together but not touching. Keep your knees straight throughout the set. Raise your heels off the floor so that they do not touch at any time. Begin jumping as high as you can which will only be a couple of inches off the floor. Do not pause between jumps. Perform one set of 100 reps. Increase to 125 reps in week 2 and then to 150 reps in week 3.

IMG_0800 (https://vimeo NULL.com/215517372) from austinyouthbasketball (https://vimeo NULL.com/user65825859) on Vimeo (https://vimeo NULL.com).

Incorrect Technique and Training Commonly Performed: 1) poor technique due to a lack of training information and / or fatigue; and 2) overtraining with less than sufficient recovery time leading to overuse injuries.

Tip: Perform every repetition with maximum intensity. Abide by adequate recovery times between workouts to take full advantage of your training and prevent injury.

Equipment: Jump Rope and Plyo-Boxes (Depth Jumps and One Leg Box Jumps)

Why This is Important for Basketball: If you are asking this question, then basketball is not your game. Bottom line … having a high vertical jump greatly enhances your game by allowing you to elevate over others for rebounds, loose balls and to shoot over defenders. An inability to jump restricts your ability to do those things and therefore, your effectiveness as a player.

Disclaimer: The purpose of this article is to share Rusty Gregory’s experience, education and research on the topic at hand. The contents of this article are the opinions of Mr. Gregory and should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Consult with your licensed physician or healthcare provider about your specific health needs. Be smart with the lifestyle choices you make and all your health-related decisions.

Risk vs Benefit: Is Your Training Program Hurting You More Than Helping You?

With the vast amount of misinformation being taught in weight rooms across the country it is essential that you heed good counsel when deciding on a workout program. The advice that you employ should consist of sound biomechanical and physiological principles. In this series, Risk vs Benefit: Is Your Training Program Hurting You More Than Helping You?, I am addressing common myths and errant exercise technique that can leave you injured and on the sidelines.

This article will focus on the lat pulldown (pulldowns) exercise, an excellent upper body strengthening exercise. The primary movers (muscle groups) of this exercise are the:

1. Biceps Brachii. The “bi” in biceps is the reference to two heads of the muscle that attach at one end in the shoulder area (scapula – shoulder blade) and just below the elbow (medial side of the forearm) at the other. When it contracts, it flexes (decreases the joint angle) the elbow and supinates (rotates the palm of your hand forward) the forearm.
2. Brachioradialis. It’s attachments on the humerus (upper arm) and radius (forearm) allow it to flex the elbow when it contracts.
3. Posterior Deltoids. The “shoulder” muscles of the deltoids have three heads: anterior, medial, posterior. The posterior deltoid attaches on the scapula and on the humerus. When it contracts it laterally rotates the arm and extends the arm.
4. Latissimus Dorsi (Lats). The largest muscle in your upper body is the latissimus dorsi (lats). It originates on vertebrae (T7-12) (L1-5), lower 3 or 4 ribs, ilium, and sacrum (posterior). The lats insert on the anterior or medial side of the humerus (upper arm bone). When it contracts, it adducts (brings toward the midline of the body) the humerus, extends the shoulder (arm moves backwards), and internally rotates the arm at the shoulder joint.

The lat pulldown exercise can be performed with three different hand positions: pronation (standard lat bar), semi-pronation (multi-exercise bar), supination (standard lat bar). Although all three hit the lats, a change in elbow and hand position create a different area of emphasis on the lats and the upper arms. For example, the pronated and semi-pronated lat pulldown require greater activation from the brachioradialis, whereas the supinated lat pulldown recruits the biceps brachii.

Procedure: The use of proper technique is essential to maximizing your training and lifting safely. Select the bar you would like to use for the lat pulldown exercise, either a standard lat bar or multi-exercise bar. Your choice will determine your handgrip and therefore, the specific muscles that are emphasized. Choose a weight that you can perform the proper technique for at least 10 repetitions (err on the side of lighter rather than heavier until you can properly perform the technique). Sit on the lat pulldown machine bench with your knees at a 90-degree angle and your feet flat on the floor. A pad should be resting on your thighs to help keep you seated.

If you wish to perform the pronated grip lat pulldown, your hands should be placed on the standard lat bar slightly wider than shoulder-width with palms facing forward. This grip will emphasize the lats, posterior deltoids, and the brachioradialis’.

Lat Pulldowns for Youth Basketball Strength (https://vimeo NULL.com/229498495) from austinyouthbasketball (https://vimeo NULL.com/user65825859) on Vimeo (https://vimeo NULL.com).

With the same bar, you can perform the supinated grip pulldowns that highlight the lats, posterior deltoids, and the biceps brachii. Simply place your hands shoulder-width apart with the back of your hands facing forward (underhand grip).

Lat Pulldowns with Supinated Grip for Basketball Strength (https://vimeo NULL.com/229499924) from austinyouthbasketball (https://vimeo NULL.com/user65825859) on Vimeo (https://vimeo NULL.com).

Attach the multi-exercise bar to the lat pulldown machine if a narrow grip is what you want. You will work the lats, posterior deltoids, and the brachioradialis’ by placing your hands in a semi-pronated grip with the palms of your hands facing each other.

Multi Exercise Bar Lat Pulldowns for Basketball Strength (https://vimeo NULL.com/229499415) from austinyouthbasketball (https://vimeo NULL.com/user65825859) on Vimeo (https://vimeo NULL.com).

Use a false grip (thumb on the same side of the bar as your other fingers) with all three angles. This will allow you to focus your attention on your lats rather than your wrists and forearms.

To initiate each repetition, remember to arch, lean then pull. Slightly arch your upper back without leaning back at your waist. Then, slightly lean back at the waist as you begin to pull the bar towards your body. The bar should touch your upper chest, just below your clavicle (collar bone) with your upper back arched (chest sticking out). Return to the starting position with the bar directly over your head with your back upright. Exhale as you pull the bar down to your chest and inhale as you raise the bar back to the starting position.

Incorrect Technique Commonly Performed: 1) Pulling the bar behind the neck. Done with the pronated or semi-pronated wide grip, this movement not only places stress on the cervical vertebrae, but doesn’t allow for the arch in the upper back essential for a full contraction of the back muscles. 2) Rounding the upper back when pulling the bar to the chest. This occurs when the weight is too heavy or when you start to fatigue and can’t perform the exercise correctly. This form doesn’t allow for the full contraction of the back muscles and therefore, minimalizes the amount of benefit you will receive. 3) Not pulling the bar to the chest, but several inches in front of the body, rolling the shoulders forward. Like the two previous errors in technique, this poor form will encourage a rounding of the upper back when it should be arched.

Tip: When performing the arch, lean then pull portion of the exercise, lead with your elbows and use your hands as “hooks” to pull the bar to your body. This will help you feel a greater contraction in the lats.

Equipment: Lat Pulldown Machine, Multi-Exercise Bar, Standard Lat Bar

Why This is Important for Basketball: The muscles strengthened from the lat pulldown exercise are needed to pull down a rebound, perform a rip-through, and protect the ball in the low post or in traffic.

Disclaimer: The purpose of this article is to share Rusty Gregory’s experience, education and research on the topic at hand. The contents of this article are the opinions of Mr. Gregory and should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Consult with your licensed physician or healthcare provider about your specific health needs. Be smart with the lifestyle choices you make and all your health-related decisions.  Rusty Gregory provides personal training in strength for Austin basketball players and their families as well.  Check out his website at www.RustyGregory.com (http://www NULL.rustygregory NULL.com).