Lebron James is arguably the greatest basketball player of all-time and without question perhaps the most physically gifted player ever. At 6’8” tall and 250 pounds of chiseled muscle, James combines awesome power with speed, intelligence, and skill to devastating effect. From the time he arrived on the scene as one of the most-hyped high school prospects of all time, James has fulfilled that promise by winning multiple NBA championships, Olympic Gold Medals, NBA MVP Awards, and even working his way into a credible contender to Michael Jordan as the best to ever step on the court. So with almost superhuman physical gifts and abilities, it would be understandable for him to take the easy path and not put in the normal work needed to achieve legendary status.
However, that is not the way James approaches thing. Instead he invests an ungodly amount of time and money into ensuring he can maximize his abilities while at the same time keeping open a longer window to perform at an elite level
Lebron James’ Physical Training and Diet
As you would expect, James has a first class home gym and employs a veritable army of professionals chefs, trainers, and massage therapists to keep him firing on all cylinders. For his strength and physical conditioning program, Lebron uses of mixture of heavy weights, bodyweight exercises, and cable work to ensure a strong core, flexibility, and superior mobility. It is a balanced approach that doesn’t lean heavily in any one area, but mixes all methods into the ideal one for promoting the stability and endurance needed to go toe-to-toe with some of the world’s largest athletes on the hardwood.
When it comes to his diet, James has experimented with modified versions of the paleo diet that limits the intake of processed foods and high carbohydrates options, that is not his year round agenda. Instead he keeps a general focus on getting a good amount of lean meats and vegetables as the staples of his food regimen. So while the lifting and diet regimen are about what you would expect from an elite athlete, it is the exotic treatments that James utilizes that really set the bar for a premier training plan for for a King!
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is a treatment method where extremely cold temperature is used to reduce inflammation and pain while speeding up standard recovery time. It has been defined by some as “an ice pack on steroids”. With this treatment, the subject enters a chamber where liquid nitrogen is released to drop temperatures as cold as -250 degree fahrenheit. It is a somewhat trendy recovery method used not only by James, but elite athletes like Floyd Mayweather and Antonio Brown. It can be pricey though ranging up to $100 for a session that generally lasts only a few minutes. It is not without its dangers either, as Brown recently reported some frostbite damage to his foot after undergoing a similar cold treatment.
Hyperbaric Chambers
With the use of a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, air pressure is increased up to three times higher than normal, which in theory allows your lungs to gather more air. The result is that your blood carries oxygen throughout your system to fight bacteria and stimulate growth hormones and stem cell regeneration. Normally found in hospitals, elite athletes such as James can afford to build such chambers in their home at a cost of several hundred thousands of dollars. Obviously not a standard feature in most homes, but one that elite athletes swear by in the search to get that elusive physical edge over your competition.
Compression Gear
Compression gear is a unique type of garment that fits tightly against the skin and is specially designed to enhance athletic performance during short exercise sessions by improving blood flow and improving oxygenation of muscle tissue. While compression gear is not overly expensive, some of the more high end and cutting edge devices can be pricey for the average user.
Electrotherapy
Electrostimulation therapy is used in a number of different devices to provide electric energy for focused treatments. It is used to alleviate muscle spasms, combat atrophy, increase range of motion and address chronic pain. These devices can range in price as low as $100 for cheaper options up to hundreds of thousands for medical grade versions. As you can imagine, an athlete the level of James, has the resources to get world class treatment options.
How You Can Train Like The King
Most people, if any, are ever going to perform physically at the levels James has achieved. Still, you can utilize some more affordable versions of his unusual therapies to promote good health and improve your own athletic performance, Here are some lower cost options to consider if you want to apply some of the above-discussed treatments.
Cryotherapy Option
Looking for a reliable ice treatment option on the go? Then try the Arctic Ice Cold Water Therapy unit. This versatile product allows you to enjoy the benefit of cryotherapy in an affordable package for effective relief of pain and swelling. SImply load it up with some ice, then use it to apply soothing cold therapy via universal treatment pads to the back, neck, or other achy joints. The unit has a timer as well to make sure your sessions are controlled and prevent any type of damage from overuse.
Electrostimulation Option
The Beurer EM44 TENS device is designed to offer customized relief to pain points throughout the body and can also be used to stimulate and relax muscles. The package comes with four electrode pads which can be set to areas such as the neck, back, or knee and then used in tandem with one of 15 adjustable therapy programs to provide immediate results. The intensity setting can also be adjusted so that no matter your sensitivity level, you can find a viable option to address either chronic or acute pain. The unit itself is fairly user friendly and you can get set up in no time. It is also both compact and light which makes it ideal for taking to the gym, office, or wherever you want to get some relief.
Compression Boot Options
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The Rapid Reboot Recovery System is a powerful and versatile compression boot that utilizes dynamic air compression to improve circulation and speed up recovery times for athletes of all ages. Whether you are a runner, cyclist, or do any excessive exercise that taxes your legs, this is the system for you to recharge. Simply slip on the compression boots, attach them to the control panel, then customize your optimal settings for intensity and length to tailor the best treatment plan for you. The one drawback with this option is the price. Unless you are a serious athlete, you are probably not going to want to drop close to $1000 for the product. However, given the effectiveness and quality of the system, it is worth every penny in the results you will see and feel.
For a more cost-friendly compress boot product that gets top reviews, you may want to give the Fit King Leg and Foot Massager a try. Though it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the Rapid Reboot Recovery unit, it does offer 10 different massage therapies which are surprisingly effective. The unit itself is a bit clunkier and a little less travel-friendly, but it does get the job done.If you are a competitive athlete or simply someone who spends a lot of time on their feet during the course of the day, this is a great option for alleviating pain and soreness while revitalizing tired muscles
Conclusion
With the resources at his disposal, Lebron James can truly train like a King. For those of us with more modest resources, who want to maintain peak athleticism, enjoy faster recovery time, and use cutting edge techniques to be our best physical selves, these are still some excellent options.
Combined with a healthy diet and the right combination of performance supplements, you can live your best life by applying smart fitness principles and making them a part of your every day regimen.