ExPhysiology

Strong shoulders are the key to performance overhead, and four simple movements can help you improve mobility and stability.

A look back at the workouts from CrossFit.com for the 2013 year reveals that over 80 percent of them involved at least one exercise that had a transfer of force through the shoulder girdle.

Therefore, proper function of the shoulder is critical for both optimal performance and injury prevention. An… Continue Reading

Lon Kilgore takes a look at the machine that produces fitness professionals, and he doesn’t like what he sees.

The problem with sport, exercise and fitness certifications is that they propose to supplant university education. The problem with sport, exercise and fitness university education is that they can.

Before you applaud or get your shotgun, no one really wins in this scenario—not the trainer, not the trainee.

It is an all-too-common occurrence for graduates in… Continue Reading

The topic is the “knees out” cue in this episode of Offline, an unscripted presentation of guests debating controversial subjects in the CrossFit world.

Host Russell Berger welcomes four guests:

• Kelly Starrett, leader of CrossFit Mobility seminars, owner of San Francisco CrossFit, doctor of physical therapy and author of Becoming a Supple Leopard.

• Jacob Tsypkin, owner of CrossFit Monterey.

• Lon Kilgore, professor at the University of West Scotland… Continue Reading

Some athletes and experts swear by ice baths, while others say they’re useless or even detrimental. Hilary Achauer investigates the potential end of the Ice Age.

Maybe CrossFit athletes have a thing for pain. The event is over, they’ve survived whatever crushing test was put before them, and instead of finding the nearest chair, many competitive CrossFit athletes decide to prolong the agony by submerging themselves in a tub filled… Continue Reading

Emily Beers examines the physiology of exercise-induced orgasms, and female CrossFit athletes open up and talk about them.

It was 1995, a time when crunches were the in-vogue ab exercise.

Wendy, desperate for a flat stomach to flaunt during the upcoming summer, started an abdominal routine in her living room. She told herself the monotony of the crunches would be well worth it.

“From pain will come pleasure,” Wendy remembers thinking.

Twenty, 25… Continue Reading

Hilary Achauer examines the physiology behind exercise-induced vomiting.

Ben Bristow was just being polite.

His girlfriend had brought in some homemade date-chocolate energy balls for him to sample pre-workout. Bristow, a coach at CrossFit 858 in San Diego, Calif., ate a few of them about 25 minutes before the workout that day. The Marine of 12 years was a two-year veteran of CrossFit and thought this would be enough time for… Continue Reading

For Team U.S.A., defeating Team Europe at last month’s CrossFit Invitational wasn’t the only challenge. While in Malibu, Calif., team members were subject to metabolic analysis by Pepperdine University. Athletes wore masks covering their noses and mouths, as well as gadgets to track various markers.

In this video, Julie Foucher, who finished second at this year’s CrossFit Games, does Fran inside one of the school’s lecture halls.

“Studying exercise can… Continue Reading

For Team U.S.A., defeating Team Europe at last month’s CrossFit Invitational wasn’t the only challenge. While in Malibu, Calif., team members were subject to metabolic analysis by Pepperdine University during a rowing Helen.

The athletes wore masks covering the nose and mouth, as well as gadgets to track various markers.

“What we look at is the volume of oxygen inspired and the volume of carbon dioxide expired, and it basically tells us how you’re utilizing fuel… Continue Reading