Case Study: Fix The Cause, Not The Symptom
I recently worked with someone who is training for the Boston Marathon, but was sidelined due to knee pain. We met for 2 (TWO) sessions and she's back to full-on training!
Case Study: Mysterious Hip Pain
Today I had an amazing professional experience. A client, who back in September suffered a hip injury, is now able to run again after a single session. Here's what happened...
The Most Common Injury That Haunts You To This Day
Just like lots of other injuries, surgeries, impacts, traumas, and sometimes just garden variety dings that we sustain over the years, an ankle sprain leaves an imprint on the brain. And it is likely you're still paying a price today.
No, It Is Not Normal To 'Leak' While Running
Sadly most just accept this as normal, thinking it's either "just part of aging" or, in the case of women who've given birth, that it comes with the territory. The point I'd like to make today is that if this sounds like you, there are absolutely solutions to this problem and there's no reason to continue suffering.
Quick Form Tip - Clock Squat
You need more than just strength to run well. You need CONTROL. Specifically, you need to be able to control your body in 3 planes of motion while on one foot. Here's my demonstration of the clock squat. And it's different than 99% of the “clock squat” videos out there for two big reasons...
Quick Form Tip - Deadlift
Today I'd like to highlight one of the most effective exercises one can do to improve their performance, the deadlift. This “basic” lift NEVER goes out of style and it strengthens the entire backside of the body, which is essential if you want to run stronger and faster.
Quick Form Tip - Goblet Squat
Watch the video to learn more about the exercise and a great tip that I believe makes the exercise more comfortable and allows you to lift more weight.
Shoe Flaw #2: The Elevated Heel
One of my mentors, Charlie Weingroff, put it best when he said, “the elevated heel is the bane of all human movement.” Ouch! Pretty harsh words, right? What's so bad about an elevated heel? And what exactly do I mean by an 'elevated heel'?
5 Shoe Characteristics That Are Ruining Your Life
The vast majority of casual AND training shoes on the market are not designed to allow our foot to function optimally – even though they may be marketed as such.
Runner's Cat 5 Marks (a.k.a. Dirt on Inner Calf)
Recently, I wrapped up a group run with Fairmount Park Conservancy (join us!!) and noticed a friend had dirty scuff marks all over the inner aspect of her calf. The scuff marks are a result of your swing leg foot swiping the stance leg calf as it...
The Form Flaw You're Not Seeing
There's been a ton of focus in recent years on running form. Yet certain aspects of form have gotten WAY more 'press' than others. I'm thinking specifically of footstrike. Forefoot? Mid-foot? Heel strike? Barefoot? Definitely useful to consider, but let's not miss the forest for the trees or overstate it's importance. Today I'd like to draw your attention to all of the various ways rotation is present throughout our body as we walk and run. Or, it's supposed to be.
Chronic Tightness? Don't Just Stretch - Ask WHY.
Wondering why that tight muscle is always tight? After a massage you feel great …then the tightness returns. Why is that?
Strength Basics pt 1: The Hip Hinge
One of my go-to bulletproofing exercises is the deadlift. With so many benefits from posture to hip mobility to force production (makes ya faster) to total body strength, it's a no-brainer if you're gonna spend any time in the weight room. But, before lifting anything, she had to demonstrate the “hip hinge” movement pattern.
Improve Your Warm-Up With The Lunge Matrix
Think about your current method (if you can call it that) of warming up. Perhaps you bend over and strrrrrretch to tie those shoes and then off you go? I think we can do better. This week I want to share a very simple warm up that carries with it several benefits like better muscle activation, range of motion, and potential injury prevention.
The One Trick Pony
Here's the problem with running as your only fitness activity. To a large extent, it neglects 2 of the 3 fitness bases. Not only that, I'd say over time it ERODES those bases. That's right, if you're like the average person (seated most of the day) and only run, then your basic movement patterns AND whatever strength you have will get worse over time.
Some Quick Thoughts On Calf and Hamstring Cramps
I've had several clients over the years who've sought my help because they were prone to these types of muscle cramps and I've noticed a few patterns I thought I'd share with you.
Middle Back Mobility: Why You Need It and How To Get It
Restriction in the upper/middle back, or thoracic spine (T-Spine), is one of the most common areas of the body to tighten up. And it's insidious, too. That is, the tightness evolves slowly month by month and yet you may not even realize you're tight there. Instead, you'll feel your shoulders get cranky, your neck get stiff, your elbows become prone to tendonitis, and even your wrists can pay a price. Carpal tunnel anyone? And we didn't even talk about the lower body yet!
Kettlebell Swing Tips and Video Analysis
I wanted to go a bit in-depth here and breakdown my swing so you can see what respectable form looks like. Since I spend LOTS of hours in a gym I see all sorts of attempts to swing a kettlebell and it just isn't very pretty much of the time. Additionally, instruction can sometimes be spotty at best. Again, fantastic exercise, maybe even the best single exercise you can do, but please own your technique
Control Your Hips To Improve Your Knees
This week I want to introduce you to a simple move that “should be easy”... if you have good motor control over your hip muscles. Many folks who end up with knee pain have lousy hip mechanics and thus, their knee pays the price. Those of you dealing with knee pain or who are interested in preventing knee pain, this is for you!