This is more like it

It's fresh in my mind because Kelvin Giles spoke at GAIN 09. OK, I know Gray Cook's FMS is the most popular one. It just isn't my favorite:

www.movementdynamics.com

Great Experience

Just returned from GAIN '09 with my head swimming full of new ideas. My contribution was "reactive core". My goal was to scientifically challenge traditionally accepted models of core stability & simplify core training. I will clarify this in a series of upcoming posts.

I also led a heavily Mabel Todd ("the thinking body") influenced Smorgy workout; & finally applied reactive core to thrower/swimmer rehab.

I don't think Vern planned it that way (or maybe he did...), but all the presentations seemed to mesh into one another & build upon one another. Biomechanics professor Dan Cipriani started us off with his functional anatomy lecture, leading into John Perry's "propriability" lecture & workout. By the time it got to me I was worried there wasn't going to be anything to talk about!

I picked up some great shoulder rehab tips from Steve Myrland, LE tidbits from Bill Knowles. Jack Blatherwick got our BS detectors fine tuned regarding research interpretation. Ed Ryan updated us on some cool new products for edema reduction. Jim Radcliffe, strength coach at Oregon, is in a class all by himself.

It was great to see Kevin Moody again; I haven't seen him since my days at the Lake Placid OTC 12 years ago! I finally got to meet Tracy Fober, the Iron Maven herself. Oh yeah- she has this incredible secret she cannot share with anyone!

There is a LOT more, I will get to it in coming posts.

Phew!

Exhausted, & exhilarated at the same time. It's 5am, I'm brushing up on my last lecture for GAIN '09, which begins at 7:30am.

p.s.- the Aussies are incredible. They are dedicated, passionate, & are driven by sound research & methodology. They could make a big difference in American football, I'm certain.

GAIN '09

I'm really getting psyched- this time next week I'll be down in Fla knee deep in function with G-Unit. No, not the 50-cent one; but Vern & his crew.

I'll be leading the group in a smorgy workout, then giving a long talk on core training. Preparing for this has been an interesting experience. In attendance will be Dr. Dan Cipriani, biomechanics professor at San Diego State. He is the acid test as to whether I'm track or not. But I've really done my homework and certain I'm solid ground. I'll be looking forward to sharing my ideas with my blog readers in the coming weeks to get your input.

I finish at the end of the week with injury prevention concepts for the throwing athlete. Wish me luck.

Kevin Moody's Flexibility Question

Kev asked for a good substitute test for the standard sit & reach test.

I like Steve Myrland's smart-test.

It is described on the web site, but there is also a hand out you can get if you call or email them.

http://beaconathletics.com/store/products/Smart_Hurdle_Smart_Tests-502-28.html

However, remember it's all about mostibility- the ability to take advantage of just the right motion, at just the right time, at just the right speed, in just the right plane in just the right direction, not flexibility.

For rehab documentation of functional ROM, I use Gary Gray's 3D testing pole.

?

"The Use of Occlusion Training to Produce Muscle Hypertrophy"-Strength & Conditioning Journal June '09

you tie a giant rubber band around your leg & do leg extensions.

page 81- "patients who are injured, specifically ACL injuries, have been shown to benefit from an occlusive stimulus".

page 82- "even recommended for astronauts!"

A. The S&C Journal is running out of things to write about.

B. These guys pulled off a great practical joke.

C. Like many orthopedic surgeons I have worked with, their's are also hell bent on quad hypertrophy and, well, it's the end of the school year, and these poor guys just lost it.

Juan Ruiz- Tagle asked a couple good questions I thought deserved a post:

1. In a team of a very competitive athlete, what percentage of those athlete would you expect that would get permanent injuries (labral tears, meniscus tears, rotator cuff tears, spinal dysfunctions, etc.) and in your opinion what is acceptable part of the sports and what is just poor coaching?

*In 27 years of baseball I've never had a labral tear (shoulder) or a rotator cuff tear. Maybe 5 ACL constructions from soccer/football in that time frame. About the same for meniscus tears. However, probably hundreds of aching backs. None serious, all got better with some rest, massage, rehab etc.

I'm sure that is way below the norm for a high school program as huge as ours. I can only take a small part of the credit for that. I have been privileged to work with some great coaches.

I'm not sure Juan what is avoidable & what isn't. I do know that many take certain injuries for granted, that are definitely preventable. "Shin splints" are preventable. (most) Hypermobile shoulders in swimmers & throwers are preventable. (most) non contact ACL tares. (most) hamstring strains. Athletic hernias.

Hip labrum tares? That is a matter of opinion, I say probably.

2. Do you stop the athlete from playing for a while and rehabilitate or do you rehabilitate without taking time off ?

*it depends. But, if there is any possible way I can keep an athlete in competition, I'll do it. In the inner city, there is the risk of an athlete with an injury "disappearing" from you & the team. It is not physically, nor psychologically good for the athlete to be separated from his team. If I can reasonably tape, brace, or softcast something, I'll do it. Ultimately, it depends on what they look like functionally by way of objective testing. I think that is one of the things that separates athletic training from physical therapy.

Bueno topic Juan- I'll comment on your last few blog posts in the coming weeks.