The stork exercise is one of our all-time favorites for gluteus medius activation and neural priming prior to exercise. Not only is it already in a functional weight-bearing position, but you can ramp up as much activation as you want by pushing harder and harder into the wall!
When beginning the transition to plyometrics, I always want to make sure my athletes can first control regressed movements, positions of instability, and demonstrate good deceleration control in all three planes in a SLOW AND CONTROLLED MANNER. This is an absolute prerequisite before I ask them to generate power (speed component) and change directions (agility component), especially in reaction to an external stimulus (ie an opposing player or ball). Assessing and training deceleration control in all three planes is absolutely vital for the athlete, as no sport is truly one dimensional.
Slings (also referred to as chains and/or loops) are a functional component of the musculoskeletal system. If we think of our torso as a core cylinder, there are multiple slings that wrap around the cylinder in different orientations. The cylinder depends on strength and balance from the slings to provide a stable foundation. This article will cover a brief overview of the sling systems, as well as cover the anterior and posterior oblique sling exercise progressions and assessment!
Scapular dyskinesis (aka SICK scapula syndrome) is an alteration or deviation in the normal resting or active position of the scapula during shoulder movement. This observation of “abnormal” or “erratic” movement is often associated with pain. 
⁉But does scapular dyskinesis actually cause a painful shoulder? Does SICK scapula equal pain ⁉
Americans consume a large majority of the world’s opioids. Approximately 80% of the global opioid supply is consumed in the United States, a country that represents a mere 5% of the global population. There were approximately 300 million pain prescriptions written in the US in 2015 equating to a $24 billion market. While we seem to know a fair amount about pain from the financial side, the actual science behind pain is still somewhat of an enigma. Let’s take a closer look at pain science.
Personalized blood flow restriction training is a training strategy (or an exercise modality) that involves exercising at low intensities (i.e. 20-35% 1-RM) while occluding venous blood flow out of a limb and restricting arterial blood flow into a limb by using a Doppler controlled computer tourniquet. This type of training is accomplished by wrapping off the proximal portion of a limb. In the upper extremity this is done at the level of the deltoid tuberosity, while in the lower extremity this is performed at the level of the greater trochanter of the femur. As future healthcare providers, we recommend using an FDA approved personalized tourniquet system to perform personalized blood flow restriction training (like that found at Owens Recovery Science) as opposed to other methods such as knee wraps and/or voodoo bands.
Partner Core Workout Series Why Train With A Partner? Core workouts can become repetitive and boring when consistently performed on your own. One of the smartest ways to stay motivated with your core workouts is to add variety. SO grab your gym buddy and join us in our partner core workout series! Partner core Read more about Partner Core Workout Series – How To Make Core Training More Engaging[…]
There are more than 200,000 ACL injuries each year in the United States alone, and approximately 65% of these injuries are treated with reconstructive surgery. ACL graft options and selection is one of the main topics of discussion between orthopedic surgeons and their patients. Numerous factors including patient age, occupation, and activity level, graft availability, surgical history, existing tendinopathy, and the experience and preference of the surgeon, should be considered prior to determining which type of graft will be used for reconstruction. We’ve teamed up with Dr. Nima Mehran, an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine, to cover everything you need to know about what you can do prior to surgery for maximal results, graft selection, and what to expect immediately after surgery. With this guide, you will no longer have to fear the unknown!
Bulgarian Split Squat Muscle EMG = Back Squat? While our focus is on #prehab, i.e. finding the weak links in your movement system and addressing them through specifically targeted exercises, we are HUGE ADVOCATES OF BARBELL TRAINING and train this way ourselves every day. That being said, not everyone is a fan of (or comfortable Read more about Bulgarian Split Squat is an Effective Alternative to the Back Squat[…]
Jump Training Demonstrated is a flow of progressions from double leg to single leg box jumps. But why jump training? Why single leg? Jump training, also known as plyometrics, should be an integral part of every strength training and injury prevention program. Plyometric training focuses on increasing power, which is equal to force times Read more about Jump Training – Box Jump Progressions For Evidenced Based Performance[…]
