Whether you’re getting ready for the Philadelphia Marathon or your next pickleball tournament, proper training is essential. Zarett Rehab’s Joseph Zarett breaks down what every athlete needs to know.
Distance runners are hitting the pavement across Philadelphia to prepare for fall marathons and charity races
Seek Out Experts
Athletes who want a more holistic approach to fitness should consider working with an exercise physiologist. Zarett explains that personal trainers specialize in exercise programs and physical therapists help with injuries, but an exercise physiologist can manage both while working with other qualified professionals like nutritionists and orthopedic doctors.
Train Smarter, Not Harder
Injury prevention is key, says Zarett, noting that running often leads to knee issues and racquet sports cause hip and lower-back problems. Athletes should focus on a lot of stretching and balancing out their bodies—strengthening muscles that are weak and building flexibility in muscles that tend to get overused—to prepare for competition.
Joseph Zarett of Center City’s Zarett Rehab.
Consider All Your Numbers
Don’t underestimate the impact that age can have on training, regardless of your fitness level. That’s where a prescriptive approach to fitness can help with age-related risks like fractures and osteoporosis, says Zarett, adding that menopause is a major factor for women.
Don’t Wait
The moment you feel some type of discomfort during training is the time to book an evaluation with a proper specialist. In most cases, people tend to work through the injury and make the problem worse. Zarett likens it to a Formula 1 driver—when the car starts having issues, they pull over immediately to have it serviced by a pit crew so they can finish the race. zarettrehab.com
Photography by: ISTOCK AND SABRINA PIERCE
