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Altered Motor Control - Review of Research Kyle Kiesel PT, PhD, ATC, CSCS This, of course is a complex question, but we have learned that the response to movement following injury is more complex than previously thought. One approach is to look at injury risk factors to, in a sense, we work backwards to help us answer the question. By considering risk factors for injury, we gain a better understanding of what happening in the motor control system after injury. It is clear from the peer reviewed literature that previous injury is by far the most robust factor related to future injury. With this fact in mind, it should make us feel somewhat uncomfortable as rehabilitationists that those with a previous injury, even after completing rehabilitation, are at the greatest risk of subsequent injury. . . . keep reading Is the Present Day Athlete Prepared for the Initiation of Athletic Performance Enhancement Training? Robert Panariello MS, PT, ATC, CSCS The lack of early age athletic "preparation" as well as the common occurrence of youth athletic "sports specialization" is presently an all too common theme in the United States. The dream of a college scholarship and perhaps an ensuing professional payday appears to often be the incentive for such early sport specialization. However, too early a sport specialization does have its consequences. An example of such a consequence is the 12-year-old baseball pitcher whom I recently rehabilitated after arthroscopic elbow surgery. According to his father "this young man is going to be the next Roger Clemens". Obviously the father did not realize that throughout Roger Clemens athletic career, this Hall of Fame caliber pitcher never had elbow surgery. My time and experiences with this young athlete was my incentive to write this article. . . . keep reading Audio Interview - Gray Cook updates the Joint by Joint Approach Anthony Renna asked Gray to update the Joint by Joint Approach a few months back on the Strength Coach Podcast. Ask Gray a question, get a 30 minute answer. Kidding Gray! It was a fantastic explanation and really takes you through his thought process so I annoyed Anthony enough he finally let me use it. Anyway, this is a must listen interview and I absolutely wanted to be able to share it with all of you. . . . keep reading Super Stiffness Stuart McGill, Professor of Spine Biomechanics At a gymnastics or martial arts meet, or at a weightlifting competition, listen to the coaches advice to the athlete -- Stay tight! This means to maintain stiffness. Being stiff ensures that there will be minimal energy losses as forces are transmitted through the linkages. Optimal performance requires stability, and stability results from stiffness. Stiffness in the body results from muscular co-contraction. Used properly, it will assist in getting through "sticking points", enhance whole body strength and speed. Be stiff, and be compliant. Knowing the difference and when to be one or the other is a major way to improving performance. . . . keep reading A Joint-By-Joint Approach to Training Mike Boyle MA, ATC In a recent conversation about the effect of training on the body, Cook produced one of the most lucid thought processes I have ever heard. Gray and I were discussing the findings of the Functional Movement Screen (www.functionalmovement.com), the needs of the different joints of the body, and how the function of the joints relates to training. One of the beauties of the Functional Movement Screen is that the screen allows us to distinguish between issues of stability and those of mobility. Cook's thoughts were simple and led me to realize that the future of training may be a joint-by-joint approach rather than a movement-based approach. . . . keep reading More

Lats: Friend or Foe? Mike Robertson Another great article from Mike discussing not so much how the lats affect the shoulders, but what they can do to the spine. Mike presents some great ideas for corrections unloaded and also standing to ultimately work back into pull-ups with correct form. I'll be having more from Mike soon as his 'Bullet Proof Athlete' program is just about completed. . . . keep reading Exercise of the Week - Deadlift Cuing: the Shin Drag Joe Heiler PT, CSCS I'm all about finding the easiest way to get something done. When it comes to exercise, finding the right cue can make all the difference in the world. I can remember when I first started out given multiple cues in an attempt to fix every little detail of the movement. I probably confused as many people as I actually helped. As I've gained experience I feel like I've become a better coach by talking less. This week's video gives a great example of this by focusing on one aspect of the lift which can effectively correct many common lifting errors. . . . keep reading Manual Technique of the Week - Glute Max Release Joe Heiler PT, CSCS This is part III in the series on soft tissue techniques to address the musculature of the hip, and in today's video I'm going to focus on the glute max. . . . keep reading Audio Interview with Tim DiFrancesco Tim DiFrancesco DPT, ATC, CSCS is a physical therapist and strength coach working with the LA Lakers. In this interview, Tim talks about his role with the Lakers, common basketball injuries, using a movement based approach in professional sports, addressing common movement dysfunctions as part of the rehab process, injury prediction and prevention. . . . keep reading Elite Physical Therapy Blog - Shoulder Rehab Part III Joe Heiler PT, CSCS In part I of this series I discussed how traditional physical therapy exercises for the rotator cuff often miss the mark, and then in part II how dysfunction and a lack of motor control in other areas of the body can significantly affect the shoulder and cause pain. Be sure to read those, if you haven't already, as this article will make much more sense. In part III I want to talk about another concept that has taken the therapy world by storm -- Scapular Retraction. . . . keep reading What is Our Baseline for Movement? - Gray Cook's 2012 IFOMPT Keynote Address The 2012 International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists Conference was held in Quebec in October 2012. Gray Cook was a keynote speaker. His talk, which provides an overview of his current thinking of Functional Movement Systems, was recorded and provided to us by the Canadian Physical Therapists Association, which you'll find at physiotherapy.ca. Big thanks to Laree Draper at MovementLectures.com for sending this over. You can catch the audio here plus I've got links to download the interview and transcripts. ... . . . keep reading Exercise of the Week - The Windmill Joe Heiler PT, CSCS This is one of my favorite exercises as a lot of good things are happening when it is performed the right way. As clinicians and trainers there are some things that must be addressed prior to attempting this exercise. Those are the items I'll be addressing in this 'Exercise of the Week' installment. . . . keep reading Manual Technique of the Week - TFL Releases Joe Heiler PT, CSCS This is part II in the series on soft tissue techniques to address the musculature of the hip, and in today's video I'm going to focus on the TFL. As most of you probably already know, the TFL is very often high tone and a major player in loss of hip extension... . . . keep reading More on the PRI Adduction Tests Great webinar by Julie Blandin last Friday. Here are a couple videos showing the Adduction Drop Test and the Hruska Adduction Lift Test, plus the article Julie referenced in the webinar. Definitely need to get her back on here for more. . . . keep reading Postural Restoration® for the sports clinician Julie Blandin, PT, ATC, CSCS, PRC This webinar will serve to introduce key Postural Restoration® concepts and applications, along with the PRI™ language to the sports clinician. Postural Restoration® is a very unique and integrated biomechanical approach to treating postural kinematic movement dysfunction. The approach teaches the sports clinician a framework to look at human movement and various anatomical relationships. It is a head-to-toe philosophy and engages the clinician to be aware of ascending and descending influences contributing to various symptoms. We will talk about this with respect to how the ultimate goal with PRI™ is to restore and maximize reciprocal alternating function, specifically around a pelvis (sacrum), thorax (sternum), and cranium (sphenoid). . . . keep reading More