In a recent interview, fitness professional Glenn Dawson, owner of ResetU Fitness, shared valuable insights on functional training, injury prevention, and maintaining overall health. Here are the key takeaways from our conversation:
Q: What do you call what you do, and what does it involve?
Glenn: I call it functional training. We reset muscular imbalances that cause pain and hormonal imbalances that make it difficult for people to lose weight. We use exercise and diet to reset things so your body works like a fit, healthy, young person again.
Q: How do you identify and address these imbalances?
Glenn: We do a quick 30-second overhead squat test with a broomstick. This allows us to see every single muscular imbalance within seconds and identify the root cause of chronic pain. We then work on fixing the “tug of war game” between muscles, reducing friction in joints and ligaments.
Q: How does inflammation relate to muscular imbalances and joint pain?
Glenn: Chronic inflammation can lead to acute inflammation in joints, causing more friction and pain. This slows down healing and increases discomfort. By reducing inflammation through diet and exercise, we can decrease joint swelling and improve movement.
Q: What advice do you have for weekend warrior athletes to understand their body pain?
Glenn: Pain is the best tool we have to tell us what’s wrong with our body. Muscular pain from overtraining or hard workouts is normal and will heal. However, if you feel pain in your joints, even after rest, it’s likely caused by friction due to muscular imbalance and should be addressed.
Q: What’s your top advice for someone starting a new sport like pickleball to prevent injury?
Glenn: There are two key answers:
1. The clinically proven methods for injury prevention are:
– Warm up for five minutes
– Hydrate properly
– Get good sleep
2. Do resistance training.
After age 18 for females and 21 for males, if you’re not doing resistance training, you’re losing muscle mass. This affects overall body performance and longevity.
Q: What types of resistance training do you recommend?
Glenn: Resistance training can be done with weights, machines, or body weight exercises. For beginners or older adults, machines are often the safest and easiest way to start. Body weight exercises like calisthenics or TRX are excellent options too. The goal is to provide enough stimuli to tear and repair muscle fibers, promoting growth and hormonal balance.
Q: How often should people do resistance training?
Glenn: Aim for three times a week, especially if you’re already getting cardio through activities like pickleball.
Q: Any final advice for our readers?
Glenn: There’s a lot of fitness misinformation out there. If you just eat whole foods, exercise, and sleep well, your body will thank you. Remember, pain is the best tool we have to tell us what’s wrong with our body – listen to it and address issues promptly.
By focusing on functional training, addressing muscular imbalances, and incorporating regular resistance training, you can improve your overall health, prevent injuries, and enhance your performance in sports like pickleball.
