Paragon Sport Performance offers respiratory testing and training. We measure how and where you breath. We test your FEV6 and FEV1 to determine your lung volumes and how well you can expel the air from your lungs. And we measure how you move air at rest AND under exercise stress. We can thereby determine if your respiratory system is limiting your performance and if so, we will design a sport specific training program for you using Spirotiger. Your training time is valuable – make sure you are focusing on YOUR limitations to performance through accurate testing and training.

SpiroTiger Brochure

Here is what some of Daniel’s personal training clients have to say:

I met Daniel on my 53rd birthday. I have been running since 2004. I first started having problems with my foot while training for my first Marathon , the Bluenose, in May 2010. After my long run I would feel pain in my right foot and some of the symptoms are described in the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis. Happily, I was able to complete the Marathon as the real pain didn’t come until late July/August. Unwilling to settle for the “standard PF diagnosis” I made an appointment with Daniel.He was highly recommended to me by a fellow runner. I was immediately impressed with his professionalism and personable manner. We met for about two hours and by the end of the assessment I was astounded by his findings. As a community pharmacist I am required to stand on my feet for up to eight hours at a time, therefore my feet and the ability to stand on them are very important to me not just for my running and recreation but for my profession and livelihood.

Daniel Crumback is the first physiotherapist I have ever seen that thinks outside the box. I have been running for 9 years, completed 24 half marathons and 2 marathons. I have

I am a passionate recreational athlete as well as a Phys. Ed teacher so being active and healthy are a huge component of my life. After just over a decade of serious running and cycling, certain limitations had presented themselves, as well as a few injuries, both acute and chronic.
Trying to make the most of my training time I was searching for information about these “roadblocks” to my performance. That search lead to Daniel and Paragon Sport Performance. With his knowledge and experience, and the way in which Daniel is able to communicate what his findings are to you, you leave after the first visit with a whole new outlook and a sense of positivity. As well as homework. Do your homework, and you will see and feel results quickly.
With your goals and motivation being the base, Daniel’s “exercise and education” approach is the key to being engaged in your own wellness. His connection to other experts has also been a huge asset. You are given access to an amazing online resource that will help you keep your “homework” in check.
Simply put, Daniel’s testing and assessment were eye opening. I now know what I need to work on, not only to stay healthy and injury free, but to break through the plateau that I have been facing. I am so thankful for my time with Daniel and I have never looked forward to a racing season as much as this upcoming one. I’ll raise a pint to Major Dan for all my PB’s this year.

Cheers,
Rob Chambers (age 33)

When I first met Daniel, my new physiotherapist at Paragon Sport Performance, I was a disillusioned marathon wannabe. About 3 years earlier, I had taken up running with great enthusiasm and confidence. Running seemed like the perfect way to regain my shape after 2 pregnancies, and simple enough to adopt despite a busy working mom schedule. I had always been active and was now in the best decade for long distance running. What could possibly go wrong?

Turns out a lot could. After successful initial progress, I found myself stalled. My long runs couldn’t get past the 12-15 km mark without me getting a nagging injury that kept coming back in spite of my best efforts to pace myself.

I did physiotherapy (elsewhere). It only relieved the symptoms. I took a membership at the gym. I did become stronger and leaner. I hired a personal trainer. Every possible aspect of my physical capacity improved… except that I was still stuck at running distances that were way below than what I was aiming for. The aforementioned injury had become my undesired best friend. I was abandoning all hope of ever running a half-marathon, let alone a full marathon!

That was until I met Daniel. He had been recommended by a friend and fellow runner who couldn’t rave enough about him. She kept saying how an unusual physio he was, in the best possible way. She was a limping injured runner; he turned her into a healthy full-marathoner in just a few weeks! I figured I had nothing to lose and agreed to make an appointment with him. It appears that my friend was right: Daniel had a completely different approach than all the other physios I had ever worked with.

I could begin by telling you he is significantly more knowledgeable, thorough and attentive. I could add that he doesn’t count his time and is completely devoted and available. I could also underline the fact that he fully involves his patients in the recovery process, instead of barely treating them. I have come to see him as my coach/personal trainer/mentor, because he plays all those roles on top of being my physio. The cherry on the cake: he is very personable.

But the bottom line is that after seeing him for a few weeks, I now feel completely confident about something I had lost almost all hope about: I am going to become a strong, fast, efficient and happy runner… whether I like it or not. Needless to say, this is wonderful news!

Julie

I am a 38-year old cyclist. I like to think of myself as a hobby-athlete. In the past, whenever I encountered a setback in my training, I would always wish that I had access to some of the high-level care that the elite athletes seem to live by. In August of 2010, I herniated a disc in my lower back and feared the worst—that riding, let alone racing, may never be the same again.

Daniel Crumback and the folks at Paragon have made me feel like that elite athlete from day-one. He seemed to be as motivated to get me back on the bike and performing as he would be if he was working with a professional cyclist. His initial assessment was very thorough and actually pointed out other old injuries that were also limiting my performance. He put me on a program not only to rehab my back but also to correct those older imbalances. As I worked at home on the drills and exercises that he prescribed, he was in constant contact with me always looking for an update. He was constantly monitoring my progress and always looking to push me to the next level. My confidence grew with every workout.

Spring has just sprung, and I’m right where I want to be—in a base phase on the road and looking forward to the racing season ahead. I’m no longer questioning my back, but instead I have full confidence in it and my aging body in general. When I signed on for treatment with Paragon, I thought I was getting a physio, but in the end I think I got the coach that I always wished I had.

Shane

What are the current trends in fitness training design. Well gone are the days of bodybuilding and long slow cardio to get our modern client in shape. The modern client has changed and so must the programs we give them. They are generally in worse shape than 10-20 years ago and with that want results in a quicker time frame than ever before. So how do we go about this?

So how do we go about this? Well today clients want in and out of the gym in 60 mins ideally three times per week. To begin we need to have our clients perform a dynamic warm-up lasting 5-10 minutes. Gone are the days of static stretching before training. A dynamic warm-up helps activate the muscles before the main portion of the program and also helps improve movement patterns. Exercises such as ankle mobilization, walking lunges, knee hugs will ensure the body is ready for the next stage.

The next component essential in todays programming is the strength workout. Strength training is so important for general well being and movements. As we get older we naturally lose strength and power, both of which are essential for functional ability i.e. the ability to perform basic tasks such as rising from a chair. The most important aspect is that both power and strength can be increased no matter what the age of the person. Movements incorporating every major muscle group such as squat and deadlift variations, combined with power movements such as olympic lifts and plyometrics are essential. Caution must be given not perform plyometric training without proper instruction. The early emphasis should be based on learning how to land and stabilize.

Two other components of a modern plan must be prehabilation/ corrective exercise and core training. Todays modern client has a range of shoulder problems and extremely poor posture due to the large amount of time spent driving, at desks or hunched over a computer screen. Exercise to correct these problems or indeed prevent these is essential. When discussing core training I am not advocating hundreds or crunches, we must learn to stabilize the core muscles with exercises such as the plank and various other variations.

The last component of the science of fitness has pointed us in the direction of high intensity interval training as part of our cardiovascular training. Gone are the days of long slow boring cardio. This is just not efficient. Numerous research articles have shown the benefits of high intensity intervals for improving the aerobic capacity of a person as well as being the most effective for losing weight. It is not about the calories burnt during an exercise. Both strength training and interval training raise the metabolism for at least 24-48hrs after the exercise has finished. This means more pounds lost.

Finally diet is key to obtaining success in getting in shape. Although not a specific training component it is essential to eat a well balanced and nutritious diet in order to either lose fat or increase lean muscle mass. Failure to do so will only lead to minimal gains.

Everything has changed and we need to change with the times. Make our workouts more efficient and more effective to suit our new clients needs.