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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

Q & A with Gray Cook - Self Limiting Exercise Another great Q and A with Gray talking about the benefits of 'self limiting exercise' along with some great examples for the rehab and training settings. . . . keep reading Behind the Walls of the FMS' Rotary Stability Charlie Weingroff DPT, ATC, CSCS The Rotary Stability screen in the FMS yields much attention based its unique demands and what seems like an impractical role and very low rate of scoring a 3. It often is the subject of discussion, confusion, and leads many to stray away from the suggested protocol as per the FMS. So I would like to write up some bullets that come to mind on this particular movement. Some points may be fairly basic to the experienced user, but certainly there are many users that are self-taught and struggling with context and reliability. Others I have a feeling you've never heard before. I've saved as many e-mails as I've could to bundle into this article as well as adding some more context to what I think this screen is and also what it isn't. . . . keep reading A Key Link in the Locomotor System: The Upper Thoracic Spine Dr. Craig Liebenson and Dr. Brett Winchester With chiropractic backgrounds rooted in motion palpation and functional rehabilitation, we have observed that the upper-thoracic spine may be the most commonly restricted area in the locomotor system. This restriction of multiple segments (C7-T5) is likely related to cervical disc herniations; degenerative changes at the lower cervical spine; shoulder impingement and rotator-cuff pathologies; and low back pain. . . . keep reading Gray Cook Facility Tour - Benefits of the Versa Climber We continue on the tour of Gray Cook Sports Medicine taking a look at the Versa Climber. Hadn't ever really given it much thought but there are definitely some advantages to working on the Versa Climber versus other pieces of equipment, and Gray will cover those in this video. One of the cool things is working that cross crawl pattern that John D'Amico discussed earlier this week. . . . keep reading Cross Crawl Pattern and Mobility John D'Amico MSPT, ATC, TPI Med Pro Level 3 Over the past few years I have become interested in accessing the nervous system through manual therapy and exercise as a means to attaining better mobility in my middle-aged to senior golf fitness clients. Recently, on a hunch, I began using a modification of the neuro-developmental cross crawl pattern movement as a window to greater mobility. This idea came to me after using the pattern in standing to improve braided walking technique in older golfers. What follows is not peer-reviewed research, but merely food for thought. . . . keep reading MS Extension Pattern Q & A with Gray Cook In this week's video I ask Gray a question about the MS Extension pattern and where to begin with treatment. Gray has been known to say, "one shot - one kill" meaning take out the most important dysfunction first. Gray discusses the MS extension pattern as well as the SFMA/FMS hierarchies. . . . keep reading Webinar - Rehab and Athletic Peformance Training Progression- Post-Op Overhead/Throwing Shoulder Rob Panariello MS, PT, ATC, CSCS Rob will discuss some of the rehabilitation and athletic performance training strategies and progressions for the post-operative rotator cuff and/or labral repair athletic shoulder. The special needs and necessary adaptations during the application and prescription of performance enhancement strength and power exercises will also be addressed. . . . keep reading Eclectic Strategies to Improve Ankle Mobility Dr. Erson Religioso III, DPT, MS, MTC, CertMDT, CFC, CSCS, FAAOMPT Dr. Religioso has put together another great video showing a variety of manual techniques to improve ankle mobility. He's also in the process of putting together videos to cover the forearm/wrist and the thoracic spine so look for those coming soon . . . keep reading Gray Cook Facility Tour - Mat Table Set Up and Corrective Options Here is another video from my tour of Gray Cook Sports Medicine/Mountain River Physical Therapy in Chatham, Virginia. Gray has a pretty cool set up with his mat table, Life Line pulley system and Cook bands that allows him to use some great corrective exercise techniques. Gray demonstrates a few of these with me in the video. . . . keep reading Functional Strength Coach 4 - More from Mike Boyle I'm posting another article from Mike: Lifts I Never Did, Used to Do, or Just Started Doing Again, plus two more videos of Mike teaching his staff how he wants the Olympic Lifts and Rear Foot Elevated Split Squats coached. I really enjoy these 'staff inservice' videos and always pick up some great coaching cues from Boyle. Functional Strength Coach 4 will be released tomorrow so getting excited for that! . . . keep reading More