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Just last week, MedHab officially announced a partnership with Michael Johnson and Michael Johnson Performance, Inc. Michael Johnson, is a world record holder and Olympic champion and is founder and president of Michael Johnson Performance, an athletic performance organization based in McKinney, Texas. Michael Johnson Performance provides training for professional athletes of all sports as well as youth athletic training programs. Michael Johnson Performance is a global organization with operations and clients in China, Europe, South America, and the Caribbean. RPM², Endorsed by Michael Johnson and Michael Johnson Performance By partnering with Michael Johnson and Michael Johnson Performance..

Endurance athletes have likely heard the words “gait analysis” at some point or another in their athletic careers. The use of gait analysis to study the way people move is gaining momentum—especially in the world of professional sports. In recent years, more physicians, therapists, and athletic trainers have recognized the importance of monitoring and analyzing the gait to help improve performance and reduce wear and tear on the body. Here we address a few common questions regarding gait analysis. What does gait analysis actually mean? First, let’s define gait. When it comes to athletes, gait is defined as how the entire body moves to facilitate foot movements. To analyze gait, trainers and ..

Can injury and discomfort during running be prevented by adjusting a runner’s gait? In the past, our posts have discussed the importance of gait analysis and fluid biomechanical movement. We have also discussed common injuries among triathletes and long distance runners such as plantar fasciitis, shin splints, and runner’s knee. When it comes to injury among endurance athletes, the common perception was that the physical activity of running or cycling wore down the joints and tore muscles. The idea that endurance training itself is the source of injury is quickly becoming a notion of the past. A recent article published by the Wall Street Journal offers a different point of view that aligns ..

Once only found in tropical locales or health food stores, coconut water is now readily available at mainstream supermarkets, often displayed prominently near the checkout area in colorful cartons that resemble juice boxes. You may wonder if its prevalence is due to heavy marketing campaigns or because of a real consumer demand. Some health experts call coconut water “nature’s sports drink” and claim that it is healthier all around than commercially prepared sports beverages, but does the product live up to the hype, or should you stick to your old standbys for electrolyte replacement? What Is Coconut Water? Coconut water is the liquid found inside of young, green coconuts. In tropical count..

As the name suggests, runner’s knee is a common injury among runners, and it accounts for about 20 percent of running injuries. The condition also affects other types of athletes who frequently bend their knees, including cyclists. The official name of this injury is patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), and it is characterized by pain around or behind the kneecap. Runner’s knee can stem from a number of causes, including flat feet, tight or weak thigh muscles, acute trauma to the knee, overstretched tendons, worn cartilage, or misalignment of the structures of the knee. What Are the Signs of Runner’s Knee? Symptoms of PFPS include pain that can manifest in different areas around or behind th..

Endurance athletes commit to rigorous training to improve their performance. While year-round conditioning and strength training is a necessity for boosting stamina, too much training can impair the immune system—thus making endurance athletes susceptible to chronic fatigue and sickness. Committed to helping athletes achieve their goals, our team at RPM² has provided some helpful tips for boosting immunity. An Overview of the Immune System The human body and its systems are truly fascinating, especially immune functions. Like muscles, the immune system responds to stimuli. For example, suffering from the common cold helps the immune system adapt and build up immunity to viruses. Interestingl..

In past posts, we discussed the importance of fat and protein intake for the endurance athlete, in today’s post, we will highlight the importance of carbohydrates and how this food group can enhance performance. Before a big event, athletes of all levels typically “carb load” the night before a performance. While this is common practice, some may be unaware why carbohydrates aid in providing energy and improving performance. Our team at RPM² offers an overview of how carbohydrates affect the body during athletic performance along with a few suggestions for healthy sources of carbohydrates. Food is Fuel Just as a car requires gasoline to operate, athletes require proper nutrition to increase ..

Did you know that RPM² footbeds were validated and reviewed by Dr. Kelly Brooks during her time as a professor at Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi? In February of 2013, Dr. Brooks conducted a review of our product, its technology, and its applications for athletes. The results of the review were published in a White Paper, which you can read in full by clicking here. A Summary of the White Paper Focusing on the importance of accurate gait analysis, Dr. Brooks explains that preventative gait analysis is important for measuring an athlete’s form and biomechanical movement to optimize and enhance athlete mechanics, especially during times of fatigue at the end of performance. She states tha..

Improving speed is a common goal for any athlete. One thing that can help an endurance athlete overcome plateaus or push their performance to the next level is understanding the mechanics behind speed and adjusting training to achieve fluid, biomechanical movement. This week, our team at RPM² discusses important fundamentals that relate to speed. Bi-Lateral Equivalence As mentioned in many of our previous blogs, achieving bi-lateral equivalence (bi-lateral symmetry) can dramatically enhance an athlete’s performance. Bi-lateral symmetry refers to a balance of power in the force exerted by each leg in movement. When athletes lack symmetry, it can affect their speed and even increase the risk f..

Every runner has felt a throbbing or dull pain along the shin bone, often accompanied by mild swelling, at one time or another. This common overuse condition is called shin splints, and it is characterized by inflammation of the shin bone (tibia) and surrounding muscles, tendons, or other soft tissues. Fortunately, this condition, formally called medial tibial stress syndrome, often resolves itself with conservative treatments. What Causes Shin Splints? The simple answer to this question is, “Overdoing it.” A stress injury, shin splints often occur when you make a sudden change in your training rather than gradually working up to a new regimen. This may include suddenly increasing the freque..