Dr. Keith Baar is the Head of the Functional Molecular Biology Laboratory (FMBLab) at the University of California Davis. On this week’s Pacey Performance Podcast, we discuss how the musculoskeletal system functions including how diet and physical activity affect muscle growth, and how tendons and ligaments respond to the stresses of exercise

Dr. Keith’s teachings are absolutely invaluable for both coaches, sports scientists and athletes alike as he tells us why injury rates are still on the rise despite coaches knowing more about the human body than ever before, and how to specifically avoid injuring tendons and ligaments whilst still developing muscle growth.

As a bonus, he also gives us some excellent nutritional tips. Don’t miss out on all this expert advice gained from a career dedicated to learning just what it is that gives the very best athletes that slight advantage over their rivals.

Topics:

• What inspired him to get into sports science
• Why injury rates are still on the rise
• Why so many coaches only have a short-term view of training
• A masterclass in tendons and ligaments and how to avoid injuring them
• What makes every athlete unique when it comes to tendons
• How to identify an imminent muscle injury
• What athletes can do to become more flexible
• Why static stretching is now outdated
• Keith’s thoughts on isometric training and the techniques he recommends
• The benefits of fast and slow training
• The importance of nutrition and Keith’s advice