Apr 16
What if getting stronger and preventing injuries wasn’t about doing more exercises, but about moving better? That’s the idea behind functional movement training. Functional movement training grew out of physical therapy, rehabilitation science, and strength and conditioning. Instead of isolating single muscles, it focuses on training fundamental movement patterns your body uses every day (e.g. …
Apr 12
Along with injuries and joint complications in the lower back and knees, shoulder injuries are among the leading causes of issues affecting everyday functional ability in the general population. Upper neck and shoulder impingement, rotator cuff strains, and frozen shoulder are among a slew of conditions that can afflict people’s shoulder health, causing pain, weakness, …
Apr 08
“That’s just bad math,” my physics professor told me, clearly unimpressed, as I struggled through a long equation involving solving for potential energy involving force production in overhead throwing athletes in the lab. “Use PEMDAS.” She had a way of delivering that line with just enough irritation to make sure it stuck. At the time, …
Mar 19
“Drop Neck” is a condition where the neck muscles are too weak to hold the head upright. It is also known as Dropped Head Syndrome (DHS). This causes the head to tilt forward and downward. “Drop Neck” is caused by weakness in the neck extensor muscles. This can result from sedentary lifestyle habits, overuse or …
Feb 12
Consistency can be defined as “the way in which a substance holds together” or “conformity in the application of something, typically that which is necessary for the sake of logic, accuracy, or fairness.” Adhering to specific actions that reinforce health and well-being supports goals for a fulfilling and enjoyable livelihood. Daily actions such as setting …
Jan 30
Exercise journeys can be challenging, depending on a person’s circumstances and physical condition. The demands of time spent at our jobs, household chores, and family obligations can make it difficult to find time for exercise. Previous or current injuries and health conditions can create a daunting experience when starting or re-entering a fitness routine, as …
Nov 20
Recreational physical activities bring joy to our lives. If we have kids or grandkids, sporty physical activities such as heading out to the field to play catch or getting down on the ground on the hands and knees to interact with a 6-month-old infant, require the confidence, coordination, and strength to bend the knees, move …
Nov 14
Let’s take a moment to reflect on a few simple actions that we do in our everyday lives. The start of the morning usually entails rolling out of bed, standing up, and walking to our next location in the house. It could be the bathroom, the kitchen, or scaling a set of stairs. After our …
Sep 26
The body’s connective tissue has structurally significant properties, enabling humans to function effectively throughout their everyday lives. Ligaments hold bones together. Tendons attach muscles to bones. Muscles act as motor units to move bones closer or further away from each other. Bones act as the internal framework that allows our body to move through various …
Sep 12
Lower back, knee, and shoulder pain rank among the top contributors to hindrances to functional movement and participating in physical activities we enjoy. Sitting at desks all day or mustering through routines of manual labor can cause us to ignore our body’s pain points. After logging off the work scene, physical pain from previous injuries …
