What is a Strength and Conditioning Coach?

The term Strength and Conditioning (S&C) can be confusing. You may have heard of it but perhaps you don’t fully understand what it means. If so, read on! 

 

In essence a S&C Coach plans, delivers, and reviews the physical and physiological preparation of athletes aligned to specific sports performance outcomes. 

 

To do this, Strength and Conditioning Coaches have a deep understanding of the physical characteristics needed for their clients to excel in sports performance and advanced components of training. They understand what it takes for an athlete to be resilient to the demands of the intensity and volume within their training environment, so maximising the technical training opportunities in their respective sports. Fitness and training plans can then be specifically tailored to the adaptations required and maximised in the strength and conditioning coaching environment in-line with the culture of the sport. 

 

Strength and Conditioning is about more than just lifting weights – it encompasses the entire physical development of the athlete and what’s required to allow them to be the best physical version of themselves. 

 

S&C also can assist with rehabilitation from an acute or chronic injury. Regular Strength and Conditioning sessions have also been shown to significantly reduce the risk of injury in both youths and adults (UKSCA 2012). Of course, there are athletic performance benefits via joint mobility and stability, musculoskeletal strength, cardiovascular endurance, power, speed and agility. Again, many of these aspects are applicable to the general population. 

 

From the perspective of someone who’s currently recovering from an injury, performing tailored and specific rehabilitation exercises prescribed by a S&C coach can significantly improve recovery rate (time) and effectiveness of treatment. This is particularly helpful when used in conjunction with other therapeutic interventions such as soft tissue release to prevent any additional muscle tension or symptoms occurring. 

 

Once the person is pain and symptom free, research shows a significant reduction in injury recurrence when integrative strength and conditioning is undertaken following the achievement of reaching this process in the rehabilitation continuum. Naturally, many people reach this point of the continuum and stop treatment. 

 

But, once the body has returned to its pre-injured state, it’s advisable and significantly beneficial to then begin strengthening and stabilising the previously injured area in the ‘new position’ to prevent the injury from happening again. 

 

In addition, for those who struggle with symptoms such as upper back and neck pain or tension as a result of work stressors, having a full body functionality and postural assessment conducted by our Strength and Conditioning Coach can help pinpoint problematic areas that need to be improved to help eradicate those chronic day to day symptoms. 

 

For example, if you suffer from upper back and neck pain, you could complete a progressive course of strengthening exercises, following a functionality assessment, to help you to improve your posture and improve your quality of life. 

 

So, the key benefits of Strength and Conditioning for non-sporting and sporting population are: 

 

 

If Strength and Conditioning is something you think may be beneficial to you, or if it is an area which you would like to know more about and would like to chat with our Strength and Conditioning Coach, then please do get in touch!