Back in the swing of things...

It has been entirely too long since I have posted here! We've been busy getting ready for so many exciting new developments that I haven't had time to post. Our summer schedule is up and running and we currently have a number of athletes gearing up for their fall seasons. We've recently added some new gear, including SPARQ agility webs and extra SPARQ resistance vests. We're also stoked because we were recently named the official sports performance provider for the Southern illinois Miners and we have entered a partnership with Southern illinois Orthopedic Center. Things are looking good for us for the future...but we are more concerned about YOU!

This post I thought I would discuss the importance of sleep in the developing athlete. Just like mom said, sleep is critical to making sure you develop as you should, grow as tall as you can grow, and heal as quickly as you can from any injury. And contrary to popular belief, a few hours of sleep at night coupled with a powernap or two sprinkled through the day won't get it done. You need Rapid Eye Movement (REM) cycles to really be restored from your night's sleep, and the more REM cycels the better. Unfortunately for the nap crowd, most people don't hit a REM cycle until they have been asleep at least an hour and a half. What is more, REM cycles get progressively longer as you sleep, so the difference between sleeping six hours versus eight hours could mean a whole hour of REM sleep lost. That's bad, as REM sleep has been linked to memory and learning. People who are deprived of REM sleep may have memory problems and might also have difficulty learning new things. Both are bad, especially if you are hoping to crack the starting line-up. Add in the fact that athletes in training need more sleep to promote recovery and ensure well-restedness, and you quickly realize that maybe staying up late texting friends isn't the best decision. Now go to bed!