Have you got rhythm?

When most of us think about rhythm we think of music. In the world of sports, however, rhythm shows itself in a different way. It's the football player who seems to easily change directions and juke his opponent, or the golfer who effortlessly crushes the ball 300 yards. In movement, rhythm is the language that connects the mind to the body. The body only knows how to move well at certain speeds. Whether it's walking down the street or going for a 360 dunk, our body cannot succeed without a specific rhythmic pace, and a lack of it is easy to notice. It shows in something as harmless as loud feet, or as serious as a blown ACL. In fact, a lack of rhythm is a contributing factor in all non-contact injuries in sports. Our minds, unfortunately, have a hard time with rhythm in competitive environments. We get fired up and when adrenaline is involved, it can get ugly.Since power production relies on core stability, it's important to know how a lack of rhythm can upset the transfer of energy from stable muscles to powerful ones. Rhythm is the only language that allows the core to talk to the rest of the body. It makes it possible for the right muscles to fire at the right time in the right sequence.Rhythm also makes the body more efficient. Everyone remembers the uncle at the wedding who tried to dance but looked more like he just got zapped by a taser gun. He left the dance floor dripping in sweat after a couple songs. No rhythm is a waste of energy; it's too many muscles firing with too little control. Instead of working as a team they are fighting against each other.Unfortunately, rhythm can also be hard to train. If the movement doesn't feel good, then you weren't speaking the language your body wanted to hear. Often that means you have to stop and start over at a slower speed. Remember, you have to own the drill don't just survive it. It's OK to walk through your drills; the time invested in quality rhythmic movements done at a successful pace during the off-season pays huge dividends on game day. It can be a big ego crusher when someone has to go back to crawling before walking, but for the athlete to train rhythm it has to be identified, analyzed and then, over time, trained to go faster. I have a few NFL and NCAA Division I athletes who started this way, and as I see our current athletes getting better each day, it's music to my ears. Patrick Gallagher, a certified athletic trainer and a strength and conditioning specialist, is the owner and principal trainer of Pure Athletics Human Performance Center in El Dorado Hills. Contact him via his web site at www.Pureathletics.com.