HeyReader, Hope your November is starting out with a bang! We wrapped up Physical Therapy Month in October but wanted to give you some last thoughts on how physical therapy effects you. I was once on vacation and met a woman from out of the country and she asked me "what do you do?". It always makes me pause and think for a second. Describing WHAT Physical Therapy is to someone whose never experienced it, is actually kind of hard. I make people feel better? I make people more mobile? I make...
about 2 years ago • 1 min read
Tis the season for hamstring strains!...It's amazing how injuries seem to come in waves. I've had runners, football players and cross fitters recently with acute hamstring strains recently and this particular group of muscles don't discriminate! Here's why... The hamstrings are actually a group of muscles on the back of the thigh that are responsible for bending the knee in isolation but during running also helps control your leg speed forward (decelerates your leg) and assists to pull the...
over 2 years ago • 2 min read
Runners! Try this mobility test for spine extension. Step 1: lay completely flat on your stomach. Step 2: fully straighten the elbows while keeping the hip bones on the floor If you have a nice uniform curve throughout the spine (think of a soft concave curve), then congratulations...you have great spine extension for running! But if you find the hip bones come up OR you feel pinching or pain in the back, OR present with a straight spine and hinging at the low back, you may be lacking some...
over 2 years ago • 1 min read
Your lean angle can influence a lot of factors during your run including where you land, how long your foot stays on the ground, your stride length and efficiency. So if you've tried to change where your foot strikes by trying the "baby steps" approach, you've probably noticed your cadence improves but your times get worse. Try this instead, lean from the ankles (not the chest) as if you were "falling into the wind", you'll notice you have to turnover the feet much quicker. So with that said,...
almost 3 years ago • 1 min read
I want to share the most common ankle/foot mobility exercises I give to my running clients. First, let me start by saying I will NEVER NEVER refer to my exercises as "The best exercises for _______". You can fill in the blank for whatever really! The best exercises for low back pain, rock hard abs, knee pain...It's hard to suggest "the best" exercises for something when the exercise has not been prescribed exactly to YOUR limitations and body. The best exercises are those that are...
about 4 years ago • 2 min read
As promised in our newsletter last week, here are the exercises you need for your ankle mobility and the most common ankle/foot mobility exercises I prescribe in the clinic. First, let me start by saying I will NEVER NEVER refer to my exercises as "The best exercises for _______". You can fill in the blank for whatever really! The best exercises for low back pain, rock hard abs, knee pain...It's hard to suggest "the best" exercises for something when the exercise has not been prescribed...
over 4 years ago • 2 min read
For the last two weeks we've talked about ankle sprains, mobility and how lack of motion may effect function so let's just stay on the same subject of the ankle shall we? I want to share the most common ankle/foot mobility exercises I give in the clinic. First, let me start by saying I will NEVER NEVER refer to my exercises as "The best exercises for _______". You can fill in the blank for whatever really! The best exercises for low back pain, rock hard abs, knee pain...It's hard to suggest...
almost 5 years ago • 2 min read
For the last two weeks we've talked about ankle sprains, mobility and how lack of motion may effect function so let's just stay on the same subject of the ankle shall we? I want to share the most common ankle/foot mobility exercises I give in the clinic. First, let me start by saying I will NEVER NEVER refer to my exercises as "The best exercises for _______". You can fill in the blank for whatever really! The best exercises for low back pain, rock hard abs, knee pain...It's hard to suggest...
almost 5 years ago • 2 min read