Ankle mobility is, without a doubt, the most commonly found mobility limitation I see in the fitness athletes that I work with, whether that is the weekend warrior or elite Olympic weightlifter. Restricted ankle mobility can significantly alter movement patterns. It will make obtaining full depth squats very difficult, and has been associated with a  variety of injuries. Fixing stiff ankles...

Hanging Band Technique for Shoulder Stability The use of hanging band technique for shoulder rehab and performance gains has become very popular on my various social media accounts, and for a good reason….this training tool works! While I’ve used this throughout the body, I’ve found the athletes that I work with respond very well to utilizing this tool for the...

The squat is the king of all exercises, unrivaled in its ability to build explosive hip strength, power, and develop athletes. But many athletes develop hip pain during squats making performing them near impossible. And when they seek treatment for this, they’re commonly met by medical professionals who don’t understand squat mechanics and waste time on treatments to address hip...

Eccentric Isometrics might be the best technique you haven’t heard of in the strength & conditioning world. They also have a great role in rehab as well. Learn how they can be used to improve your movement, strength, and hypertrophy. I learned of eccentric isometrics and immediately began implementing them into my programming – and knew right away that eccentric isometrics...

Thoracic spine mobility is vital to optimal performance and execution of the overhead lifts, such as the snatch or overhead squat. But proper mobility requires more than just stretching the joints. It demands active control and stability throughout the full range of motion.  Use the following drills to not only improve your thoracic spine mobility but to help you own your...

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 need to screen for rhabdo, little information is available on getting back to CrossFit and...

Your Don’t Have Tight Hip Flexors 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 physical therapist, chiropractor, or massage therapist diagnose tight hip...

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. Analyzing an athlete’s movement while doing high rep push press’s will show their default...

The Truth About Squat Depth 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 movement than nearly any other athlete. It’s generally accepted that knee...