For those who regularly strength train, seeing the weight on the bar increase each week can be a great motivator. Most people in the gym measure their progress solely through increases in weight. While weight increases provide an easy indicator of progress, using this as your only measure can invite injury, stifle motivation, and lead … Continued
The squat is a fundamental human movement and a crucial element in any good strength program. When done properly, the squat will build leg muscle, improve athletic performance, and help prevent knee injuries. At SPARC, we teach the squat pattern by performing the wall squat. This seemingly simple test requires perfect form to complete. But … Continued
The demand placed on today’s youth is greater than ever before. With school, sports, other extracurricular activities, friends, and family, their days are filled from sunrise to sunset. In addition, youth athletes often compete in different sports and/or for a variety of teams, leaving little time for recovery between practices and sport seasons. Additional hurdles … Continued
One of the biggest causes of poor posture and shoulder injury is a lack of upper back and scapular (aka shoulder blade) strength. These muscles stabilize the shoulder joint during movement and help keep the shoulders and torso in an upright position. The Dumbbell YTWL is one of SPARC’s staple exercises for shoulder injury prevention … Continued