KIDS FITNESS

At PeakFit we make fitness fun and challenging without compromising safety. All our programs are specifically designed to meet the needs of the individual. So, whether its is weight loss, sports specific or health fitness our programs are efficiently designed. Experience the difference of a professional environment dedicated to meeting your child's needs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 80 percent of sports-related injuries in children result from playing football, basketball, baseball, or soccer. Two-thirds of these injuries are soft-tissue injuries, including sprains (tearing of a ligament) and strains (tearing of a muscle or tendon). Only 5 percent of children’s sports injuries involve broken bones.

Millions of children, ages 5 to 15 years, participate in the fun and excitement of sports activities every day as their parents happily cheer them on in the stands. However, the fun can soon turn to fear and panic when a child is injured. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 3.5 million sports-related injuries in children under the age of 15 are treated in hospitals, clinics, and emergency rooms each year. Long after the panic and immediate treatment, possible problems could appear later. So, what can parents and coaches do to protect their kids?

FIVE TIPS TO HELP PREVENT SPORTS INJURIES IN YOUNG ATHLETES:

Dr. Packard Spicer offers the following suggestions to help guide young athletes to safety:

1. Parents and coaches should be aware of the appropriate body mechanics and physiology behind each sport. “It’s key for a coach and for parents to understand what body positions and stretching techniques best protect a player,” says Dr. Packard Spicer. “A classic example of an incorrect technique that can possibly tear ligaments is a hurdle stretch that has kids stand on one leg and reach their other one off to the side. The correct method is to bend the elevated leg and hold it or tuck it close to the backside of the body.”

2. A proper resistance training program to meet the demands of the specific sport. Despite previous concerns that children would not benefit from resistance exercises or that the risk of injury was too great, clinicians and exercise scientists now agree that resistance training exercising can be a safe and effective method of conditioning for children. Resistance training can reduce injuries in sports and recreation activities, and improve motor skills and sports performance.

3. Wear protective gear and make sure it fits properly and is sport-appropriate. “Only use equipment specifically designed for the sport your child is playing. I’ve seen some kids wear football cleats for soccer and due to the peg underneath the shoe, they end up tripping,” says Dr. Packard Spicer

4. Kids should play by the rules. Not playing by the rules results in fouls and penalties, which increases the likelihood of injury.

5. Don’t play through the pain or with an injury. “It’s important to respect the healing process and to avoid playing when one has an injury,” says Dr. Packard Spicer. “Also, know your child and the signs that he or she shows when in pain, and instead of telling him to “tough it out,” pull him out of the game to prevent an actual injury.”

Good nutrition is important for bone building. “Especially for kids, it is important to eliminate the “junk” food from their diets and to add the necessary fruits and vegetables, calcium, and protein that help build strong bones,” Dr. Packard Spic

At PeakFit we make fitness fun and challenging without compromising safety. All our programs are specifically designed to meet your kid's needs. This is a non-competitive environment and our program help kids reach their general health or specific fitness goals. Our method of choice is Strength and Conditioning. This is very practical training and it teaches a kid how to use their body and is designed to help the individual to thrive and grow physically and mentally, in a supportive environment.

· Core Competency: Functional-based Training

o Strength
o Conditioning
o Weight loss
o Acceleration
o Flexibility
o Nutrition,
o Injury Prevention
o Proper Technique

Core Mission: Life Skills
o Integrity
o Work Ethic
o Self-discipline
o Confidence
o Individuality
o Healthy Food Choices
o Leadership
o Teamwork

PLYOMETRICS

Plyometric exercises are specialized, high-intensity training techniques used to develop athletic power (strength and speed). Plyometric training involves high-intensity, explosive muscular contractions that invoke the stretch reflex (stretching the muscle before it contracts so that it contracts with greater force). The most common plyometric exercises include hops, jumps, and bounding movements. One popular plyometric exercise is jumping off a box and rebounding off the floor and onto another, higher box. These exercises typically increase speed and strength and build power

Plyometric movements, in which a muscle is loaded and then contracted in rapid sequence, use the strength, elasticity, and innervation of muscle and surrounding tissues to jump higher, run faster, throw farther, or hit harder, depending on the desired training goal. Plyometrics is used to increase the speed or force of muscular contractions, often with the goal of increasing the height of a jump

Agility is the ability to rapidly change directions without the loss of speed, balance, or body control. It includes strength, reflexes, and coordination. As with other fitness components, agility is specific to a particular movement pattern. It is a whole-body movement with a change of velocity or direction in response to stimuli.

Athletic speed can be improved in the following ways: Starting ability (acceleration)Stride length (increase after initial acceleration)Stride rate (number of steps per time)Speed enduranceSprint form and technique