All movement requires an interplay of tissues, joints and motivations to develop a shape that is conducive to our aim in a given moment. Attempting to isolate an area in hopes of changing a systemic movement strategy could result in the desired outcome, however the probability is lower than if we targeted the body as a whole. Every client requires an individualized program, and that makes all the difference.

The muscles in the area, including but not limited to the core muscles, guide connective tissue and the guts in a way that facilitates efficient movement.

Dry needling is another tool in a manual therapist’s repertoire. It can be useful in some cases, and the evidence for it is growing. The important thing to remember is that without an active use of the changes attained, default movement patterns most likely return.

The SI joint is built to withstand heavy loads and does not tend to have a great degree of mobility right out of the gate. It can be a source of pain or immobility in the right circumstances and the way we approach our training programs influences these symptoms.

Movement is fundamental to our health; we need it to maintain tissue quality and all aspects of life require some form of motion. Finding ways to continually challenge our different physical characteristics is one way to promote healthy tissues. This involves removing previous held beliefs or altering our patterns.

We were made to move, that’s why we have all of the joints we have, and down to their microscopic structure it becomes very evident that stagnant states do not survive.

The rotator cuff is an area of intense interest for those with shoulder problems, and those four muscles do play a large role in mobility of the arm. The mechanics may go deeper than any of us actually realize, but with some degree of certainty, it goes well beyond simply making those muscles larger via isolated exercises. The body is a vastly interconnected network, if we can alter some pathways it may allow for more desirable capabilities.

Scar tissue is a normal aspect of healing, it will most likely forever change the dynamics of the area, but not necessarily in a limiting way. The scar typically is less capable than the original, but nearby tissues can respond to those changes by increasing their capabilities to make up for the injured area.

Shrugging during an upper body exercise is a common compensation that is recognized by most movement specialists as a weakness issue. Typically associated with rotator cuff deficits, the shrugging motion is created to elevate the arm when there is a significant tear in the cuff. That compensation is also noted when there is no known rotator cuff pathology, however the same thought process is applied and may be underappreciating the complexity of the issue at hand.

Most of us probably have a fairly negative association with the word homework. Maybe a middle school teacher comes to mind, an awful geometry class, or maybe you had an unfortunate physical therapist that insisted on it. The work that gets prescribed for between treatment sessions is usually not the sexiest thing to do on a Wednesday morning, I don’t even like doing my own to be honest. It obviously serves a purpose and has potential benefits, but there are times when life ge

Perfect doesn’t exist. All too often we seek the perfect exercise, or the right way to move to get the perfect outcome with the unfortunate realization that it is always out of reach. Attempting to better yourself and learning how to move differently is a worthwhile cause that may improve your capabilities, but perfection will remain elusive. I spend the vast majority of my time coaching clients through exercises or teaching them how to feel what different movement feels like

We notice the transitions during daily movement more than anything else. If you are walking through the park at a constant speed enjoying the scenery, nothing really grabs your attention. However, if you notice a crack in the sidewalk or trip over a rock, now you’ve noticed something. It is the things within the environment that are unexpected that we pay attention to. This is also usually the case with injuries and/or pain. We tend to go about our daily life not noticing par

Pain on the bottom of the foot, just in front of the heel that is worse than stepping on a Lego first thing in the morning is typically diagnosed as plantar fasciitis. The verbiage essentially indicates inflammation of the fascia on the bottom of the foot. This can be an acute thing, meaning it is quick to arise and resolve, or it can be a more chronic issue where inflammation has subsided, yet pain persists. In either case, it may be that the loads on tissues at the bottom o

A consistent process provides a reliable environment for learning and growth. It allows for the development of data collection and then the reflection on that data to make better decisions going forward. As a physical therapist I operate with a process-oriented approach to address patient’s issues week in and week out. My patients will tell you that they also have a process, one that requires the application of effort in order to move differently and get where they want to be

Single arm and leg exercises are often programmed as a means of isolating particular body parts or to train athleticism specific to a given sport. These rationales serve as reasonable points in the world of fitness and do hold some degree of merit. I will often encourage clients to perform these types of activities when they see me for pain as they limit interference with the rehab-ish exercises I prescribe along with them. They are also truer to the way we seem to prefer to

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