Strength Training for All Body Types

Book excerpt: Every person’s body is different. Short, tall, or big all over, training should be designed to accommodate an athlete’s different joint angles, bone lengths, and overall body structure. In Strength Training for All Body Types: The Science of Lifting and Levers, Lee Boyce and Melody Schoenfeld have teamed up to create a unique resource that explains how different bodies manage various exercises and how to best take advantage of physical attributes to optimize those movements. Strength Training for All Body Types covers 13 body types: Tall Short Big all over Short arms and long legs Short legs and long arms Long torso Long torso, short legs, and long arms Long torso, long legs, and short arms Short torso, short legs, and long arms Short torso, long legs, and short arms Long femurs and short shins Long shins and short femurs Small hands Professionals working with people of various shapes and sizes will learn how to modify common lifts like the deadlift, squat, and bench press to maximize training outcomes and reduce the risk of injury. Detailed analysis and descriptions for each exercise variation provide the rationale for the modification and the science that explains why it is beneficial. The authors also dig into the physics of the body and describe how the length and proportions of body levers (e.g., arms, legs, torso) have an impact on the body’s response to load. You will be better equipped to help clients use their body’s proportions to their advantage rather than being a hindrance to optimal performance. Packed full of strength training exercises, sample workouts, and conditioning work designed for different body sizes, Strength Training for All Body Types gives you the tools you need to help your clients make changes to their technique, become stronger, lift more, and avoid injury. Earn continuing education credits/units! A continuing education exam that uses this book is also available. It may be purchased separately or as part of a package that includes both the book and exam.