The Joint by Joint approach Everyone realizes how complicated the human body is, yet it can be so simple at times. This article will demonstrate that although we are capable of extreme things from fine motor control movements like threading a needle to gross motor control activities such as bungee jumping and gymnastics,…
Me: “Okay Johnny, let’s see you touch your toes!” Johnny: “That’s not going to happen! I was never able to touch my toes!” How many times have we heard this? It is not the be-all-end-all to touch your toes but it does give us the indication that your joints are working synchronously. Toe touching is…
Have pain in your back, knees or ankles? Is the idea of touching your toes laughable? Do you cringe at the idea of foam rolling your hamstrings? You might very well be hamstrung. The hamstrings are very important muscles in the body that are constantly being used to accomplish daily activities as simple as walking….
“Foam Rolling hurts!” The foam roller can indeed causes soreness but not because it is the roller’s fault! This is due to fact that the individual has a tightness in that particular area, say we use the front thighs (quadriceps) as an example. When muscles develop trigger points and “hot spots”, it is a simple…
Crunches? Side Crunches? Oblique Crunches? ummm…not anytime soon! As Mike Boyle, one of the world’s leading exercise experts says, “We use our abs to crunch when get up out of bed in the morning!” That is a little bit of a stretch however, but there is an underlying message there. Our abdominal muscles, which range…
During a recent training camp that I was privileged to help out with, I came to the realization that these high level (albeit, still developing) athletes have remarkable resilience to injury and are driven through passion, monetary compensation, and sheer joy to keep plying their trade. What is so different about them compared to us…
Stretch before or after? YES One question that pops up almost on a daily basis is, “When should I stretch? Before or after my workout?” The answer to that is “yes” on both counts. “They say that we shouldn’t stretch before exercising!” If you begin your exercise routine without addressing the tightness in your right…
You ALL know what’s coming! While some of can melt, we can be sure that more of the white stuff is on the way and with the snowfall comes shoveling and MORE shoveling. But shoveling doesn’t need to equate to low back pain. With proper technique and precautions, you can keep your back healthy so…
The most important lower body exercise you AREN’T doing! Following Gray Cook’s joint by joint approach, one knows that the lumbar spine is supposed to be a stable segment of the spine not a mobile one. When performing a single legged deadlift (SLDL), use a mirror and take note of what happens to your pelvis….
Swoosh! Swoosh! Pole! Carve! …and a roaring fire at the end of a long ski day! The best part of the day does NOT happen when you hit the après-ski. It happens DURING the ski run! You see, skiing becomes that much more enjoyable when you are skiing pain-free, with great technique, and when you…
