What is Sports Performance Training? 
by Chris Cothern MSPT, CSCS

Becoming the best athlete you can be by performing proper exercises and learning proper technique for running, jumping, changing direction, developing strength, and preventing injuries is one definition of sports performance.   If done properly, sports performance training can decrease injuries while improving performance.  For example, female athletes have an increased chance of an ACL knee injury.  AthletePlus has developed our own ACL Injury Prevention program to teach female athletes the proper way to jump, land, and run to prevent injuries.  Techniques and training methods that were once only available to professional athletes are now available to more and more local athletes.  The best programs include a core component, strength/power proper dynamic warm-up, regeneration, nutrition consults, and speed/agility.  AthletePlus focuses on these components along with AthletiCore Stability, Foundational Strength, Power for Speed, Change of Direction, Acceleration, and Lower Body Power.  A new development is online sports performance training. For those athletes and coaches in Arkansas without access to sports performance, we can provide an online training program with animated exercises:

Focus of Training:

• AthletiCore^TM - Athletes of all ages should start with a core program addressing the back, hips, hamstrings, etc. AthletiCore^TM is a stabilization program at AthletePlus that improves performance and decreases risk of back, hip, and knee injuries. 

• Dynactive Warm-Up - Performing the proper exercises to prepare for competition and perform at your peak. Sitting on the ground stretching is not the best way to prepare. In fact, static stretching has been shown to actually decrease performance.

• Strength & Power Training - Younger athletes start with body weight exercises for foundational strength and then learn proper technique for lifts such as front squats etc. 

• Speed/Agility - Athletes should learn the proper techniques of how to run and change direction.  Sport specific speed and acceleration can then be addressed. 

• Regeneration - The body needs to recover and rest at the right time to provide peak athletic performance.  The use of foam rolls to regenerate muscles is also important.

• Nutrition - A vital part of any athlete’s program will involve proper nutrition and hydration.  A PhD level nutritionist is available for consults at AthletePlus.