Q: I have been having dizziness when moving my head in certain positions and getting up and down out of bed. Sometimes it goes away on its own, other times it lingers for days and makes me feel sick. My friend thinks I have vertigo and should see a physical therapist. What can you do for me?
A: This question from a Chapel Hill reader really hits home with me because I myself have had episodes of vertigo. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, also known as just Benign Positional Vertigo or BPV, is one of the most common causes of vertigo and can be treated with some of the movements that I will describe in this column and hopefully a therapist can show you how to properly perform.
Amy Hedrick Top Ironman Finisher
ActivEdge client and UNC-Chapel Hill postgraduate, Amy Hedrick, was the top finisher in her class in Duke Liver Center Half Ironman. Amy has been training hard for several months combining cardio work, intervals, and resistance training to help her achieve her goal of completing her first half-Ironman. A tough course located just outside of Durham, she needed to swim in a wind-exposed lake for 1.2 miles, bike a 56 mile loop, and then run 13.1 miles. We are so proud of her accomplishment and dedication. Congrats Amy!
Train Fast, Get Fast – Train Slow, Get Slow
Q: My track coach is also the cross-country coach and he wants us to run cross-country in the fall. I am a top-level sprinter that competes in the 60m (indoor), 100m, 200m and occasionally the 400m dashes. Doesn’t running 3 to 5 miles a day make me slower?
A: While most times coaches have the best interest of their athletes in mind, it sounds like you may need to approach him on this issue. The old saying, “Train fast, get fast. Train slow, get slow” applies directly to this case.
AE Sends 13 Class of 2007 Athletes to College
ActivEdge sends 13 more recent high school graduate athletes from its year-round and summer programs to college with high hopes and expectations, both scholastically and athletically:
Proper Training Frequency For Youth
Q: I’ve noticed how several of my son’s friends are getting personal trainers and trying sports performance training. I want to try to add some agility and conditioning exercises to his routine to keep up with his friends. How much and how often should he do these types of exercises?
A: I get asked this question on a weekly basis by Internet users and sports enthusiasts. Most are people who live in rural areas and may have to travel several miles to the nearest gym. I usually just write back with a response based on their specific needs. But then one morning I saw a father out at a local track putting his sons through a 2-hour workout that just did not make sense. This prompted me to respond on a more regional scale to spread the word on proper training techniques.
Low Back Problems In Young Athletes
Q. I just started the training packet that my college strength coach gave me but I have been having some low back pain. I’ve never had significant low back pain or remember “pulling” anything, so what could it be?
A. Low back pain can come from a variety of sources and I suggest that you have a physical therapist or orthopedic specialist take a look at it before continuing.
Angels Among Us 5K 2007
ActivEdge sponsored the Angels Among Us race once again at Duke University. helping the organization towards a record-setting day of fund-raising. To find out more, visit:
Too Low Body Fat Can Be Harmful
Q. My daughter has been watching what she eats and has really been paying close attention to her body fat over the past couple of months. She is a track and cross-country athlete who doesn’t have much fat to begin with, could this be destructive?
Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are generic terms giving to tendonitis or epicondylitis of the elbow. For the sake of this article, I will apply the terms to a right-handed individual for a more simple explanation.
Sixth Annual “Chip in Fore East”
ActivEdge was one of the leading Platinum sponsors for the sixth annual “Chip in Fore East” event for East Chapel Hill’s Athletic Booster Club.
Tennis Elbow Vs. Golfer’s Elbow
Q. What is the difference between “tennis” and “golfer’s” elbow and how do I treat them?
Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are generic terms giving to tendonitis or epicondylitis of the elbow. For the sake of this article, I will apply the terms to a right-handed individual for a more simple explanation. The term “ tennis elbow” is commonly used for a lateral tendonitis or epicondylitis and the term “golfer’s elbow” refers to medial tendonitis or epicondylitis.