Expert Insights on Performance & Recovery
The Bench Press: Feet Up or Feet Down
This past week, on a few occasions working with my patients I landed on the conversation of feet up or feet down when bench pressing. Now in the context of a physical therapy clinic, the generalization and potential history of back pain amongst our population skews to slightly higher, thus the consensus of these conversations was feet up to protect their backs.
I’m here to say, benching with your feet up certainly is an option and not necessarily incorrect, however, there are items to consider in the conversation.
PT-Approved Shoulder Fixes for Overhead Pain
Shoulder pain during overhead lifting is one of the most common complaints we see in the clinic—especially among our active adults, lifters, and rock climbers. But here’s the good news: pain doesn’t have to mean stopping. In fact, implementing specific and intentional modifications is often part of the solution. As performance physical therapists, we focus on helping you move better, not less.
a Fall FROM A Denver Snowboarder to Pain Free Pull Ups
Lower body injuries get a lot of attention in the world of outdoor sports, and as they should. They compromise a fair portion of the injuries we treat and the consequences of these lower extremity injuries tend to be quite significant. However, today we’re diving into an injury that I believe doesn’t enough love due to how it flys under the radar in rehab.
Improving Your Overhead Lifts for Denver Crossfit and Fitness Athletes
One of the more complex movements to master and feel safe doing is the overhead Olympic lifts. In Olympic weightlifting, the Snatch and Clean & Jerk force the lifter to end with a substantial amount of weight perfectly balanced overhead for several seconds until judges signal them to lower it to the ground. Meanwhile, in Crossfit, the athletes perform the above exercises, along with movements such as overhead squats, thrusters, and/or overhead walking lunges with much higher volume in what is referred to as cycling the bar.
God’s Greatest Gift to Shoulder Pain for Denver Climbers
The hubris behind the title is not lost on me, but I truly love this exercise and what it can do for people. When we think traditional shoulder rehab exercises, a lot people jump towards endless bands, dowels, and table exercises. While appropriate in some cases and with some people…….. they make die inside.