Should I wear a minimalist shoe?

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Should I wear a minimalist shoe?

One of my amazing golf fitness clients asked me, “Jason, what do you think of me starting to wear minimalist shoes?”

Personally I am a big advocate for “Minimalist Type Shoes” as long as you are PHYSICALLY READY for them.

Orthotic inserts definitely do have their place with a certain population, but not everyone. I am a big proponent of our clients being able to “feel the ground” which does amazing things to help activate the core stabilizers, gluteal muscles and intrinsic foot stabilizers.

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My doctor told me to rest a month, but how come my injury isn't any better?

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My doctor told me to rest a month, but how come my injury isn't any better?
"My doctor told me to take sometime off and rest, but come my injury isn't getting any better?!"

How many of you dealing with pain have been told this by your physician? As a physical therapist, I've heard this hundreds and hundreds of times from my clients seeking rehabilitation for the first time... months after injury!

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Hip Mobility & Strength for Athletic Performance

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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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My Taekwondo Career: Looking Back as a Physical Therapist

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My Taekwondo Career: Looking Back as a Physical Therapist

It has been a while now since my last competition, which was at the 2005 World Championships in Madrid, Spain. Since then, I have completed my Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at Washington University in St. Louis, and just recently a sports residency with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. I am very fortunate to have experienced the successes and failures that come with being a taekwondo athlete because they have undoubtedly helped shape the person I am today, as well as the way I treat my patients.

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Why are my hamstrings always tight?!

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Why are my hamstrings always tight?!

Have you ever asked yourself:

“Why are my hamstrings always tight? I stretch them all the time!”

We often times see this in the office with a wide variety of clients, ranging from the man with the 12 hour desk job to the super flexible yoga practitioner that stretches 24/7.

Here are two very common underlying causes for your “tight hamstrings”:

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