Stretching Is Great... But Are You Lacking Stability?

Stretching Is Great... But Are You Lacking Stability?

When there is a problem in an area such as the knee or the lower back we want to address all factors that may have either caused or had a part in the problem.

After an injury there are three main steps in the recovery process that need to be addressed. First is to minimize and reduce pain. Of course this is the step that everyone wants and is the most noticeable, but just because the pain is reduced or gone does not mean you are completely “fixed or healed”. The next step is to restore range of motion and mobility. The last step is to regain strength and stability to the region. The reason it is done in this order is because our activities will most obviously be limited by pain. Then if we try to build strength and stability in a joint or area that does not have full mobility then we build improper patterns and create extra tension and compensations.

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Hip Mobility & Strength for Athletic Performance

Hip Mobility & Strength for Athletic Performance

Those of you who have trained under me are probably sick to death of how much I stress the importance of proper hip function. I truly believe that regaining proper function of the hip complex is a preventative measure for injuries as well as improved athletic performance.

Probably one the most fundamental movements we all need to master is a proper squat. It carries over to a majority of our daily functional activities such as getting out of a chair, walking up stairs, and lifting objects. It also pertains to the daily function of our athletes such as maintaining a good base position as a lineman, jumping for a basketball player, and exploding out of the blocks as a sprinter.

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