Tweet Last month, I was approached to try out Reeboks new “Easy Tone” trainers. The description from the Reebok Ireland site describes the shoes as:

Tailor-made for walking, with a slanted heel to propel your foot forward. Combine that with the latest technologies for comfort and muscle-toning benefits.

According to the website, Easytone uses;

Balance pods in the shoes to create natural instability, much like walking on a sandy beach, which encourage toning through increased muscle activation in 3 key areas of the leg

SmoothFit technology hides all …

Tweet New Blog (at least to me!) GymFinity
Research suggests that Americans are becoming fatter younger
BBC Sports Ollie Williams was at Lilleshall last night with a film crew, taking footage of the British National Squad who are in preparation for the European Championships later this month
I must congratulate Blythe on her excellent coverage of the French International last weekend. There’s lots to read about the whole weekend on the Gymnastics Examiner

Tweet NY Times on Sports Injuries – When to tough it out.
Balance training effective at reducing falls and improving function
How much water is enough? Nutritionist Amanda Carlson explains what to drink and when in this video
I like the information posted on the London 2012 website for Artistic Gymnastics, Trampolining and Rhythmic. Some great information there for those who aren’t involved in the sport but enjoy watching it and getting to know how the competition works.

Tweet An update from the GK Blog – including Nastia Liukin
USA Gymnastics invites you to enter their Chalk Full of Beauty Sweepstakes
An article from New Scientist Achilles Tendon is key to evolution of human running
Andy Thornton’s follow up What physical skills do you use to test a young kid for competitive gymnastics? to the previous post linked to in Little Links 30/3/10

Tweet I’m enjoying reading some old coaches blogs on Gym Smarts, tonight I read Tony Restrosi’s post on Injuries
Andy Thornton of American Gymnast writes about What are the most important qualities to look for in a potential competitive gymnast?
I love this video that Rick linked to today

Tweet Help Shawn Johnson again on Dancing With The Stars
Key Hydration and Nutrition Tips for Competitive Sports
Article on Australian gymnast Larrissa Miller being “back on her feet”
I see Beth Tweddle is a lot more active on her Twitter account. Wish she’d fix up the way it links to Facebook also, looks rather messy

Tweet USA Today on Vulnerability to ankle sprains varies with age

GymNiceTic is celebrating it’s First Birthday – Congratulations!

Shannon Miller has started a lifestyle blog. You can join and discuss baby tales, fitness etc.

The Science of Sport Blog have two new posts Barefoot running and shoes – the Q & A Part 1 and Part 2

Since David Beckhams injury there have been numerous blog posts appearing about Achilles Tendon injuries. I like this one I received by email from Sports Injury Clinic.

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I’m not a football fan but I support my country at International Level, I’m more of a rugby girl it has to be said. Yes it requires a lot of natural talent to be a World Class footballer but I always find rugby more impressive. One thing that strikes me is the attitude of rugby players opposed to that of football players. Rugby players get many bad knocks during a game and get on with it, whereas there’s a lot of drama in football with players diving and claiming …

Tweet Shin splints is one of the most common injuries in gymnastics.  It is a commonly used term for pain at the front of the shin. However, it is both medically and often diagnostically incorrect! A lot of people will say they have shin splints without really knowing what it is. Here’s a nice little video from Sports Injury Clinic which describes what happens and causes shin splints.

There are plenty of great videos on their YouTube Channel. Although you should always consult a trained Physician regarding injury for a correct …

Tweet Treating an Acute Injury by using the PRICE Principle
Irish Gymnastics adopts a  new disciplinary & complaints policy
You can follow UK Sport on Twitter – UK’s high performance sports agency working across all Olympic and Paralympic sports
A few other Twitter Accounts I’m following  GB Team 2012, London 2012, Team GB - none of them have the “verified account” tag unfortunately

Tweet Do swimmers sweat?
Sports MD on The Role of Balance in Sports
Blog of Sport on how Gymnastics Equipment Creates Balance
Barefoot Running Biomechanics Expert Casey Kerrigan, Hopes to Develop a “Naturally Compliant” Shoe

Tweet Char wrote a nice piece on Aerial Skiier Ashley Caldwell
Your chair is your enemy -  a piece from The New York Times
Aileen Gallagher of NY Magazine on Why figure skating is so much better than gymnastics
Blythe has a response to Aileen Gallagher’s article from a gymnastics point of view
Ross Tucker on The mental edge or physiology – what separates champions from contenders?

Tweet Become a fan of British Gymnastics on Facebook
New Shawn Johnson leotards for spring – opinions?
Sports MD has an article on ”Healing after a Traumatic Event”
Blythe is running a poll – Which US gymnast do you want added to the American Cup line up?
The TV Chick has a review of the latest episode of Make It Or Break It – what do you think?

Tweet As gymnasts, we all succumb to injury at some stage. Whether it’s a bruise, a bump, a scrape or break, we all suffer with an injury somehow. The question is, how do you deal with it? For those who are told they can’t attend training for a week or 2 weeks, it’s upsetting but what about those who are told that they can’t train for a longer period of time?
 
Last year, a mother of one of our gymnasts came to me asking me for advice. Her daughter had been …

Tweet New tactics urged to fight female sports injuries

Salto Gymnastics Club – Irelands top gymnastics venue

Female athletes injured more than male athletes

Reduction in Irish Sports Council funding for Irish Gymnastics

FIG on “cracking down and easing up”

The current WAG World ranking lists

Which MIOBI character are you? I’m Payson “You’re talented and totally focused which makes you Payson. You’re the best of the best, you can afford to relax a little”