The
Barbell
Physio

Mobility, strength, and prehab education for CrossFit, Olympic weightlifting, and powerlifting athletes.

Continuing education for medical professionals wanting to specialize in keeping fitness athletes in the gym - and out of the medical system.

Focusing on improving mobility in underutilized areas of the body and building targeted strength can greatly enhance recovery and performance. Incorporating hip mobility exercises, lower back strength exercises, and other targeted accessory work into your routine will help unlock your full potential and support long-term athletic progress.

ARTICLES

Programs

Seminars

ABOUT THE BARBELL PHYSIO

Dr. Zach Long is a physical therapist in Charlotte, North Carolina and runs an industry leading fitness website “The Barbell Physio” where he is a trusted resource to thousands of athletes, coaches, and health care professionals across the United States and beyond. Additionally, Zach teaches with the Institute of Clinical Excellence in their “Fitness Athlete” division where he helps medical professionals better understand the needs of CrossFitters, power lifters, and weightlifters. Zach is a Level One CrossFit Trainer, NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist, and certified SFMA practitioner.

Zach teaches athletes the importance of having sufficient ankle mobility, hip mobility and shoulder mobility to optimize technique and the importance of developing your strength in key areas such as developing low back strength. Having sufficient ankle/hip/shoulder mobility for great movement and maximizing your strength development by targeting key areas such as lower back strength.

Dr. Zach also educates coaches and healthcare professionals about the importance of various mobility and flexibility exercises as well as information about blood flow restriction bands (BFR bands) for improving injury recovery and sports performance.

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Improve Perfromance with Performance Plus Programming

IMPROVE PERFORMANCE WHILE REDUCING INJURIES

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clinical management of the fitness athlete seminars

Tired of seeing fitness-minded individuals being told to "just rest" after a minor injury?

Join Zach Long and the ICE Physio Fitness Athlete team to become an ICE Certified Specialist in Fitness Athletes. Over the past decade, we’ve trained thousands of medical professionals to understand the unique healthcare needs of fitness athletes. You’ll learn to go beyond simply treating pain — you'll empower your patients to transform their lives and achieve their fitness goals with the skills you’ll develop in this coursework!

Clinicians need to know the unique demands of the activities fitness athletes perform. This skill set will allow you to modify programming and program targeted accessory work such as focusing on lower back strength exercises and hip mobility exercises, so you can guide your patients toward reaching their fitness goals and improving their overall health. These exercises are key in building the foundation for long-term physical wellness.

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CRUSH YOUR GOALS WITH PROVEN PROGRAMS

To master challenging gymnastics skills like the bar muscle-up, toes to bar, and handstand walking, it's essential to combine strength, coordination, and mobility exercises into your training routine. Focusing on shoulder mobility, ankle mobility, and hip flexibility exercises will help improve your range of motion, enabling you to get into optimal positions for these complex movements. By combining these mobility drills, you'll be better prepared to achieve your gymnastics goals.

Designed to help prevent injuries by targeting common trouble areas in the body, like the lower back. With a focus on low back strength exercises and thoracic spine mobility, you'll build a stronger foundation for improving your fitness. These exercises are specifically chosen to improve your posture, enhance spinal mobility, and reduce the risk of injury, helping you feel stronger and more balanced in everyday movements and workouts.

What are BFR bands?

A: BFR Bands stand for blood flow restriction bands, which are elastic bands, which go around your thigh or arm to reduce blood flow in that targeted area, in order to stimulate muscular adaptations and improve recovery.

What is the difference between hip flexibility exercises and hip mobility exercises?

A: Hip flexibility exercises focuses on the lengthening of your range of motion, while mobility is more focused around targeted strength and control of the muscle during movement patterns.

Why is mobility important?

A: Increased mobility helps decrease the frequency of injuries through the degradation of the body.

Why emphasize low back strength exercises?

A: For both performance during barbell exercises, and low back pain rehab, building a lower back strength is crucial to reaching your goals. As powerlifting legend Donnie Thompson says, “You'll either recognize the importance of building back strength, or your back will force you into compliance.