As society continues to modernize and evolve, one aspect of sports that has evolved the most throughout the years is sports performance training and injury rehabilitation. With new technology, equipment, and knowledge, today's athletes have all the tools they need to become the best at their sport that they can physically become. A perfect example to show exactly how in depth training is is the Sports Performance Lab, which opened it's second location in New Jersey in Ridgefield this past August. They opened their first New Jersey location in Middletown Township.
The newest location in Ridgefield is being lead by Gavin Ingster, Head Strength Coach and General Manager. Ingster has a Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science from SUNY Buffalo and a Master's Degree in Athletic Training from Seton Hall University. At Seton Hall, Ingster worked with both the men's and women's Division I basketball teams. Furthermore, Ingster has worked as an athletic trainer for several different schools, including Wagner College, Ranney School, and Bergen Catholic High School.
"I think from day one, I set a certain standard," said Gavin Ingster. "It's not just you coming here to train, you do your thing, I don't hear from you. I really really focus on taking care of athletes, them understanding that I'm in their corner but at the same time, it's a two way street. I'm giving you all the tools. We're only together for an hour and a half a day. What are you doing for the rest of the 22 and a half hours?"
Sports Performance Lab has quickly built up an impressive resume of athletes they've currently trained or are training. This includes football players, as the lab trained Chris Williams, NFL player and defensive end for the Indianapolis Colts, as well as college football player Tim Barrow, defensive back for Wagner College. The lab also has two NHL players training with them as well, Anthony Stolarz, goaltender for the Anaheim Ducks, and Cam Dineen, defenseman for the Arizona Coyotes. MMA fighter Armando Gjetja is currently training with SPL as well as he prepares for a fight on Oct. 22 against Cedric Gunnison.
"The closest thing I've seen to this is was in Ukraine with Lomachenko's father and they will use little wood blocks with little math problems," Armando Gjetja said on training with SPL. "This is ultimate level. Now you can really see and know how your body reacts under pressure, when you are tired and you're breathing heavy and you can rewire. That's how I feel. I've been able to rewire my brain faster and regain control of myself and control myself in the cage faster than before."
Despite training so many professional athletes, Gavin Ingster makes sure he doesn't treat his everyday trainees with any less care. Since Sports Performance Lab is open to all athletes at every level. Knowing that, Ingster puts all his knowledge and heart into every athlete he trains, regardless of their sport or the level they play at.
"It starts with a good first impression," said Ingster. "Showing people that you care and doing things that you need to do. At that's just the approach that I take. When it comes to my higher-level athletes and those a little bit older, the same thing. What you see is what you get. I don't pretend like I'm somebody who I'm not. I don't go out there and do things or say something to somebody that I can't fulfill. And that's just the approach that I take."
Obviously, however, each athlete training requires a different approach based on what sport they perform in. For example, a sport like football will focus more on strength and athletic training while a sport like baseball will have a greater emphasis on reflex training and getting the most out of quick spurts.
"I'm never gonna train a baseball guy who works in quick short spurts," said Ingster. "They're never running for long distance, so that cardiovascular component isn't always as important, but making sure you can generate force, generate power on a consistent basis is more important for a baseball player. But hockey for instance, you need to have that cardiovascular component."
Thankfully, Sports Performance Lab has all the equipment and technology to train all different types of athletes. Obviously as typical of most sports or fitness gyms, you have your typical exercise bikes and rowing machines. The lab has also ordered treadmills, but they have not yet arrived. You also have your medicine balls and weights that promote strength training.
However, what stands out is what the lab uses for coordination training. They use a television screen that gives the athlete several touch screen activities to train their reflexes, such as hand eye coordination, multiple object tracking, and perception span. At the end of the session, athletes get a scoresheet showing in-depth data regarding their performance.
But the advanced data doesn't stop there. The lab also uses InBody technology to measure their client's weight. However, InBody measures much more than just your weight. It also measures your percentage of body fat, your hydration, and your balance between your left side and your right side. It's data and technology such as this that really show how much more high-tech and in-depth sports training has become.
"Be systematic with that information," said Ingster. "So if we get it on one day after a month later, we train and we get another assessment."
Sports Performance Lab is just the latest example that shows just how much goes into the lives and training of athletes and how advanced athletic training has become. With all the information, equipment, and technology, it's no wonder why today's athletes are only getting faster, stronger, smarter, and better than ever before.
