Exercises

Crossfit requires physical and technical components to perform a workout (WOD). As fatigue sets in technique is of utmost importance.  Since I take technique seriously when it comes to lifting weights my eyes are focused on how the competitors are performing each exercise.  Some athletes’ technique stays perfect the through the workout, while others, well, lets just say, not so much. The Overhead Squat The most common problem I treat… Read More »Thoracic mobility: Overhead squat

Benefits of the Bridge Exercise for Back Pain Relief The bridge exercise is a foundational movement that offers significant benefits. It strengthens key muscle groups, improves posture, and helps reduce back pain. Research, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses, strongly supports its effectiveness. For example, a study in the Journal of Gerontology found that spine-strengthening exercises like the bridge significantly reduced hyperkyphosis in older adults. As a result, their… Read More »Benefits of the Bridge Exercise

The reach roll lift exercise may be a helpful exercise to practice if you are struggling with working overhead or performing exercises such as the shoulder press, snatch, push press, and overhead then you have poor scapular stability. The intent of the reach roll lift is to increase activation of the lower trapezius, rotator cuff and latissimus dorsi to aid in better shoulder stabilization in overhead positions. Better stability of… Read More »Exercise: Reach Roll Lift

If you’ve been following my previous post, “The Front Plank: New Challenges,” you know how crucial it is to maintain core stability while moving your limbs. Now that you’ve got a handle on those foundational exercises, it’s time to push your core strength even further. Introducing TRX suspension trainer exercises and therapy ball workouts can seriously ramp up the intensity. These exercises are perfect for athletes and fitness enthusiasts who… Read More »The Front Plank Exercise: More Challenges

The shoulder is one of the most common areas that I treat. Poor scapular stability is one reason for shoulder pain.  Serratus anterior seems to be the culprit.  Serratus anterior has forgotten how to works (let’s call this serratus anterior amnesia).  The Quadruped serratus push up is one of the first 2 exercises I used to teach the serratus anterior get working.  The other exercise is the prone thoracic extension… Read More »Shoulder Care: Quadruped serratus anterior push up and progressions

The hip hinge is not an exercise to increase strength or build flexibility.  It is an exercise to activate our hips to flex.  When I watch people bend over to lift up a box, change a baby or to brush their teeth one of the most common errors in movement that I see is that they bend at their lower back rather than at their hips.  There may be a… Read More »Exercise of the Week: Hip Hinge

Poor posture can be the reason for headaches, neck pain, shoulder pain as well as lower back pain.  Often on my twitter feed I remind my followers to sit up straight.  This may be one way to improve posture but can there be an easier way. I stumbled upon this research paper titled, “Effects of respiratory-muscle exercise on spinal curvature“, and thought it would be worth sharing. This was a… Read More »Improve Posture: Exercise your lungs