Matthew Barker

Matthew Barker

Matthew graduated from Central College with a Bachelors in Exercise Science, and earned his Masters degree in Human Performance from Lindenwood University. He's a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) and is a certified National Coach for USAW. He has worked with athletes ranging from youth lifters to Olympians in the sport of weightlifting, professional strongmen, and elite powerlifters. He's currently a private personal trainer and sports performance coach, while also serving as an adjunct professor of Sports Science at Simpson College.

About BarBend

BarBend covers a wide range of topics in strength, including training, nutrition, sports, news, analysis, reviews, and opinion. Whether you’re a seasoned lifter, new to the gym, or a dedicated strength sports fan, we’re your go-to source for the content you need to know!

Our team of in-house editors has decades of combined experience in strength training content. The majority of reviews on our site are written based on their first-person experience and testing. We also feature content from dozens of top contributing writers, coaches, and athletes from around the world. And BarBend’s Expert Network features medical professionals, trainers, and researchers who help verify the accuracy of our content, specifically select training and reviews topics. Content that is Expert Verified is indicated at the top of each corresponding article. We also work to keep our content up-to-date and indicate the day of the most recent editorial updates at the top of our articles.

BarBend is also the Official Media Partner of USA Weightlifting, the governing body for the sport in the United States.

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