Known as one of the top MMA doctors in the local scene, Dr. Jason Weeks will be submitting articles to Georgiafighters on a monthly basis. Topics will range from injury management, to peak performance, with a emphasis on what he sees most often in his office while treating MMA fighter’s injuries.
By: Dr. Jason Weeks
Todays training techniques in the MMA game are constantly adapting to the versitility of the sport, along with the technologies made available to elite level athletes. While nothing replaces an old fashioned work ethic, the field of sports health science brings the ability to harness the bodies full potential by stimulating human physiology in ways that until recently have never been possible.
Due to the popularity and the success of the UFC, many of the training methods and technologies that are being used by other professional sports (football, hockey, baseball), are now becoming part of the MMA fighters training routines.
Virtual training is a concept that combines two high level sports physiology modalities, patterned electrical neuromuscular stimulation (PENS), and simulated altitude training (SAT). Combining these two modalities allows the athlete to train a very specific body part and its particular movement (ie: shoulder complex/punching) while at the same time stimulating the cardiovascular and circulatory system to enjoy the same benefit of training at altitude (ie: pre-fight training camps at Big Bear). No physical activity can be performed at an optimal level without the synergistic use of both the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal system. Virtual training provides the fighter the ability to maximize both systems full potential without crossing legal or ethical boundaries, such as the use of steriods, synthetic EPO, ect.
In using this system, the athlete uses a mask that delivers hypoxic air in conjunction with a 15 min PENS protocol specific to the event they are training for – in our case, punching, kicking, jumping ect. The body adapts to a new altitude training level, while embedding an elite level contraction into the very specific muscle group being targeted, namely the fast twitch muscle fibers that are typically used during a kick or punch. The net result is more muscle 
power, as well as increased efficiency in overall muscle output. Increased efficiency leads to improved endurance during higher levels of performance. The research on high altitude training show that the improvement in endurance is due to a building up of critical protiens and other enzymes within the muscle cells to improve metabolic efficiency.
Let’s put it to use in a real life scenario. Billy Bad Ass has a fight with his toughest opponent yet in 60 days. While his normal training routine wont change – MMA, BJJ, Boxing, Muay Thai, Wrestling, and conditioning, he’ll start virtual training to give him a distinct advantage over his opponent in the cage in two months time.
Training day 1 -10
Hypoxic air 15 min @ 6000 ft on stationary bike in neutral resistance (blood oxygen level should be monitored with an O2 sensor, and never drop below less than 80-85)
PENS 15 min protocol – alternate upper and lower extremities (punch day 1, kick day 2, punch day 3 ect..)
Training day 11-30
Hypoxic air 15-30 min 6000-10000 ft on stationary bike or treadmill with increase in resistance (depending on blood O2 level)
PENS – combine upper and lower extremity protocols (15 min upper, 15 min lower) and add or replace with jumping and sprinting protocols
Increase intensity of contractions as tolerated by the athlete and record duration and intensity after each workout
Training day 31-60
Hypoxic air 30 min day 10000-15000 ft on stationary bike or treadmill with resistance (monitoring blood O2 levels)
PENS – combine all pertinent and desired protocols while recording duration and intensity of each protocol to measure the objective increase in muscle output
Fight night
Billy Bad Ass submits his opponent in the 2nd round after clearly out-classing him with exceptional hand speed, powerful kicks, and tireless cardio.
Along with being a team physician at a local gym, Dr. Jason Weeks is also in private practice and can be reached at 678 471 1292, or visit www.cobbpainandrehab.com
