BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) There is no single proven treatment for shin splints (MTSS). Start with rest and reduced running volume, and progress based on soreness. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) and arch-support orthoses show promise in some studies; lasers, braces, and pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) do not. Diagnose clinically (diffuse tenderness >5 cm along […]
Emmett Shaul
MTI’s Mountain/Wilderness SAR Fitness Assessment
By Emmett Shaul The fitness demands of Mountain/Wilderness SAR professionals and volunteers include relative strength (strength per bodyweight), chassis integrity (functional core strength), work capacity, and mountain endurance (uphill movement under load) SAR professionals and volunteers must move quickly and efficiently in the mountains under load, while also possessing the strength to handle and evacuate […]
Case-Study: 3 Weeks of MTI’s Working Strength Progression Improves Max Effort Strength
By Emmett Shaul, MTI CoachBLUF We tested MTI’s Working Strength methodology over a short, three-week cycle to see the effects it has on improving max effort strength. Athletes progressed by adding reps in their working sets while keeping the load the same as the previous week or increasing if possible. Both Michael and Emmett improved […]
Research Review: Resort Skiing’s New Reality — Shorter Seasons, Fewer Trips, Expensive Snowmaking
BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) Climate change is shortening ski seasons and reducing natural snow. Low-elevation resorts are hit hardest, leading to operational problems and closures. Skier satisfaction and loyalty drop; trips and overnight stays decline; regional economies absorb losses. Resorts turn to artificial snowmaking and year-round diversification; skiers substitute destinations, timing, or activities; governments […]
Mini Study: 300m Shuttle Progressions Improve Work Capacity in Just 3 Weeks
BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) Two MTI athletes completed a 3-week shuttle sprint progression and improved performance in a short, multimodal work capacity assessment. Even with just five sprint sessions across the cycle, both athletes showed measurable improvement — Emmett cut 4 seconds, and Michael cut 10 seconds. Background Work capacity, as MTI defines it, […]
Touch Jump Touch to Box Intervals: MTI’s Most Intense Work Capacity Event?
Above: US SKi Team Downhiller, Tommy Beissemeyer completing a 20:40 round of Touch/Jump/Touch to Box intervals. By Rob & Emmett Shaul Development of Touch Jump Touch to Box Intervals followed classic MTI design method: Identify fitness demands of the sport or event, identify exercises that train to that demand, and then interate and simplify. […]
Research Review: Elastic Band Squats Deliver Extra Explosiveness Without Strength Trade-Off
BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) In college basketball athletes, adding elastic bands (about 30% of total load) to barbell squats for 8 weeks produced a greater improvement in squat jump performance compared to traditional barbell squats. All other jump, sprint, and strength measures improved similarly in both groups. Max strength gains were equal, and eccentric […]
Lessons Learned Climbing the South and Middle Tetons in One Day
By Emmett Shaul, MTI Coach We started at 5 a.m. with headlamps, and the parking lot at Lupine Meadows was already packed, busier than I’ve ever seen it in past years. The first stretch up to the boulder field went quickly and smoothly. I used trekking poles during this section, and they worked extremely well […]
Muscle Fiber Type Shifting—Myth or Misinterpretation?
By Seung Choi The idea of muscle fiber type “shifting” is widely accepted in fitness culture and even illustrated in many academic texts. However, this concept oversimplifies the underlying biology of post-mitotic skeletal muscle. In reality, what is often described as “shifting” is better characterized as functional remodeling rather than a complete reprogramming of fiber […]
My Own Obsession: The Relentless Pursuit of Podium Performance
By Seung Choi As I near the end of my graduate program, the question of “what’s next” feels more real than ever. For me, the answer is clear: I want to work in a traditional strength and conditioning facility, alongside a renowned coach in strength or power sports — someone capable of guiding elite-level athletic […]