Season 1, Episode 7 - Dr. Rick Howard

The Medical Fitness Podcast

Dr. Rick Howard is an assistant professor in Applied Sports Science at West Chester University in Philadelphia, PA and holds a PhD in Health Promotion and Wellness. In this podcast Rick does a masterful job of merging his education and experience as he discusses the importance of making fitness fun from childhood to old age as a primary way to improving exercise adherence in the pursuit of public health.

Some of the topics covered include:

• His ability to tie in fitness, sports, athleticism, health, wellness, and other related topics from both an academic/science and application perspective.

• His view on the importance of cradle to grave fitness, exposing fitness and good health behaviors, and physical literacy while we’re young.

• Connecting the need for physical fitness to what’s fun and enjoyable for the individual instead of dictating what people should do, which is a very common problem in our society.

• The importance of the medical fitness continuum in lifelong health and fitness.

• The importance of personal responsibility for health, and common roadblocks.

It’s always worth your time to learn from the best, so I hope you enjoy our conversation!

Speaker Bio:

Rick Howard, DSc, CSCS *D, RSCC *E, FNSCA

Rick Howard is an Assistant Professor of Applied Sports Science, the Sports Performance Coordinator, and Coaching Minor Advisor at West Chester University (PA); Visiting Professor at Reykjavik University, Iceland; and Teacher at Keilir Health Academy in Ásbrú, Iceland. He earned his doctorate from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (Provo, UT). Rick is a certified strength and conditioning specialist (with distinction), a registered strength and conditioning coach (Emeritus), and a fellow of the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Rick contributes peer-reviewed articles, book chapters and books, as well as blogs and podcasts. Rick presents nationally and internationally on a variety of topics- most notably long-term athletic development (LTAD) and the application of concepts of sports performance and foundational coaching principles for coaches, students, personal trainers, physical education teachers, and those who wish to improve the lives of young people of all ages.

Rick is a master’s Strongman competitor.

Links:

NSCA Long-term Athletic Development SIG: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1618121688456853

NSCA Special Populations SIG: https://www.facebook.com/groups/504773110959370

NSCA Strongman SIG: https://www.facebook.com/groups/584604148900213

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