As many of you know I do my best to follow a joint by joint philosophy when I care for my athletes. Simply put the philosophy is that one joint can affect another. If one joint’s main function is to stabilize it allows the joints around it, which tend to be mobile, to be mobile. The quadruped ball wall pushback, as I call it, activates the lumbar spine to reflexively… Read More »Quadruped ball wall pushback – Applications
If you have read this blog before, I have expressed my personal interest in using the Kettlebell as an exercise tool and for back conditioning. Sadly, finding research on this piece of equipment is few and far between. I got lucky recently when I found a research paper by Dr Stuart McGill (One of the leading researchers in spinal biomechanics) . The paper is titled, “Kettlebell swing, snatch and bottoms-up carry: Back and… Read More »Protect the Spine: The Kettlebell Carry
Corrective exercise is a buzz word right now in the musculoskeletal health care circles (chiropractors, athletic therapists, physiotherapists etc.). What are corrective exercises? This is a difficult question to answer since there seems to be different definitions. How I define a corrective exercise. To provide a corrective exercise an examination/assessment needs to be performed where the practitioner looks for weaknesses, inflexibility, instability, hypermobility. hypomobility, imbalances, asymmetries and poor movement habits.… Read More »What is Corrective Exercise?
To prepare your spine for your work day or if you are suffering with acute lower back pain one of the exercises that I recommend is the cat-cow exercise. This is not an exercise that is intended to be a stretch or to seek greater range of motion. It is more of a mobility exercise. The cat cow exercise has been found, in as little as 5 to 8 cycles,… Read More »Exercise of the Week: Cat-Cow
The prone thoracic extension has become one of my most used corrective exercises. It seems to have multiple applications depending on the region that is a problem. Likely you will be the prone thoracic extension if you experience the following: Lack of neck extension and rotation range of motion Stiffness in the upper back Tight “traps” or “shoulders. If you remember from my earlier posts this exercise replaces my levator… Read More »Prone Thoracic Extension
I recently received a foam roller from m80roller.com. I had been interested in their product to see if it would be worthy of selling at my office since I often give foam roller exercises for my patients. I decided to write this post to compare my experience with different foam rollers. This will not be a post to say how wonderful the m80 roller is as a thank you for them to… Read More »Comparing Foam Rollers
As we enter middle age, many of us start to notice changes in our bodies, including the onset of aches and pains that may not have been there before. A common belief is that pain is an inevitable part of aging, and this misconception can significantly impact how we perceive our health and manage discomfort. Let’s explore some prevalent myths about pain and aging and look at how we can… Read More »Aging and Pain: Debunking Myths
When you see the word, Chiropractor, there are a number images that people conjure up; both positive and negative. One of the most common images is the image of back pain. Back pain is one of the most common ailments that people come in to see me at my chiropractic office. Spinal manipulation is often used in my treatments, in addition to Active Release Techniques, acupuncture and corrective exercises. This blog is… Read More »Conditions Chiropractic May Help: Lower back pain
Take a look at these exercises for taking care of your shoulders. There are a bunch of exercises I already give my patients, some new ones and some that I’d avoid for some of my patients. What I like is that the video promotes improving mobility in the thoracic spine, scapular stability and finally finishing it off with activities that promote motor control of all regions that aid in shoulder movement.… Read More »The Best Exercises for Crossfit Shoulder Health – YouTube
Many of the exercises that I use for my athletes may seem to be remedial but despite their simplicity they often result is many miraculous effects. Range of motion and strength improvements can sometimes be immediate. I found this article, “Low load exercises targeting the gluteal muscle group acutely enhance explosive power output in elite athletes”, which uses many of the corrective exercises that I already give to my patients.… Read More »Warm up your hips for power
