Rhabdomyolysis is a rare medical condition that can result from intense physical exercise. When "rhabdo" occurs, severe muscle damage leads to the release of skeletal muscle contents into the plasma and can lead to serious medical problems, including death. While many fitness certifications address the...
Shoulder Internal Rotation ’s Impact on the Athlete and Fitness Shoulder internal rotation (IR) mobility is one of the most commonly restricted motions I see in fitness athletes. It is also one of the least self-treated areas by athletes. For the weightlifting/CrossFit populations, limited shoulder IR not...
As a sports physical therapist, it never ceases to amaze me how athletes can perform at high levels despite often having huge deficits. One of the most frequent weaknesses I see in athletes is poor core control. Perhaps the two most frequent sets of athletes...
More than any other area in the body, athletes regularly tell me that they have tight hip flexors or pain in their hip flexors. Commonly this has been something they've self-diagnosed after watching a youtube video or reading a blog. Or maybe they've had a...
Sub-optimal glute strength is one of the most common faults I see in athletes. This can lead to a host of injuries as well as decreased performance. We've previously discussed using the push press as a test of the hip (glute) versus knee dominance in athletes....
Here’s what you need to know Simply said, our Western society has lost the ability to squat. And no, just because you participate in CrossFit doesn’t leave you exempt from this list. You are just as, if not more, likely to be injured during squat emphasized...
Over the past two months, I’ve used TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) more than I ever have and with great results. Normally, TENS is rarely used by me in treatment plans and only saved for those in severe pain needing a temporary “break”. Lately, though, TENS has...
Thoracic mobility is one of the most important mobility drills for the fitness athlete. The thoracic spine plays a huge role in keeping the shoulders and the lumbar spine working properly, and pain-free. To test thoracic mobility, I look at the rotation in each direction....
Recently built my own Functional Movement Screen kit after looking at buying a kit and feeling the cost was too high for its' simplicity. Plus, I've seen the plastic version break a few times. I thought I'd share my plans for building a DIY FMS...
The snatch exercise is a frequently used movement in strength & conditioning programs, and for a good reason. This exercise allows the athlete to lift very explosively and with biomechanics similar to that seen in many other athletic movements such as running and jumping. However, the...