Range of Motion or Rom

As a personal fitness trainer and nutritional specialist,I often work with a client's range of motion.As you know,each synovial joint performs a particular ROM.For instance,the elbow joint only can bend and straighten flex and extend whereas the shoulder joint can raise,lower,open wide,hold close, and roll around.In other words it can flex,extend,rotate,abduct,adduct,and circumduct all terms you'll learn in the next section.

Blood in Motion

Now let's review how blood moves throughout the cardiovascular system.Remember,cardio refers to the heart,while vascular refers to veins,arteries,and capillaries.The right side of the heart receives blood from the body through systemic veins the superior and inferior venae cavae.This blood has delivered its oxygen load to the cells.First,the blood flows into the right upper chamber,the right atrium.It passes into the right ventricle,where it is pumped through pulmonary arteries to each lung.At the lungs, it gives off carbon dioxide and receives a fresh supply of oxygen,then returns to the left side of the heart through pulmonary veins.The blood fills the left atrium and passes into the left ventricle,where it is pumped through the aorta to take its supply of oxygenated blood to the rest of the body.

Body and Mind are Connected in Many Ways.

Whenever a person chooses to move,her body messages are sent from the brain and spinal cord to the bones and muscles, telling them what to do .Thought processes guide voluntary muscles.So when a person wants her arms or legs to move, her brain can control this action.Besides voluntary actions, the brain also sends out signals to individual blood vessels and organs, telling them  to ensure the muscles have what they need to perform.The brain does this involuntarily, meaning it's not something a person needs to think about doing or has any control over.Finally, the brain causes the body to excrete certain hormones that play an important role in physical performance.For instance,the hormone testosterone plays a role in muscle maintenance during exercise.

Steroids and Performance

There is a clear relationship between taking anabolic steroids and muscle mass gains.However, whether these gains lead to increased strength or improved athletic performance is less clear.No study to date has demonstrated a clear link between steroid use and improved athletic performance.Studies fail to show that steroids and able to do many of the things that people take them for including better muscle endurance, improved sprinting abilities,and shortened recovery times following workout.There are side effects that steroids bring on that can adversely influence performance such as unwanted increases in body weight,as well as declines in performance when steroid use is stopped.Furthermore,athletes who participate in team sports may find that the emotional outbursts that accompany steroid use hinder teamwork.

Athletes and Supplements

When advising the use of supplements as a personal fitness trainer and nutritional specialist, it is important to consider each client's case individually.In doing so, you will be able to make a recommendation that will prove most beneficial to that person.Some supplements can have a positive impact on athletic performance,especially if the diet is deficient in certain vitamins and minerals.Diets lacking in key vitamins and minerals provides the body with what it needs to perform at its best.People who restrict food intake or avoid certain food groups are most likely to need supplementation to meet their daily vitamin and mineral requirements.

Increaseing Calcium Intake

Calcium is a mineral that composes much of the bone tissue found in the body.From birth we must obtain all our bodies calcium needs from dietary sources.Calcium supplements may be necessary particularly for those who avoid dairy products or have a low caloric intake.Exercise increases the rate at which the body breaks down bone.Physically active people must be sure to meet their calcium needs if they want to avoid bone loss.

Some People have Special Needs

Today,we know that some groups of people require more of certain vitamins and minerals than others to function at their best.For example,women of childbearing age especially those who are pregnant require more folic acid.Our client Jessie falls into this category.Those taking oral contraceptives have an increased need for several vitamins such as thiamin and riboflavin.Smokers should consume more vitamin C, while heavy drinkers require more of the B vitamins.Older people may need higher amounts of all vitamins and minerals as a result of their bodies decreased absorption abilities.Those who take certain medications or are recovering from surgery,illness,or injury also can benefit from supplements.Along with a healthy,balanced diet,taking a daily multivitamin helps ensure that your client is providing her body with all the vitamins and minerals it need to function properly.