Expert Insights on Performance & Recovery
Squat Down Not Back
Squatting is a quintessential exercise and staple in every lower body physical therapy and training program. As you can imagine, that means there’s an ample amount of information out in the world that exists on the topic that is easily accessible between the internet and social media. With all that information out there how do we know whats right, what’s wrong, are they telling the truth, and is it right for me? That’s why it remains one the biggest subjects people ask about when it comes to form and technique. I’m going to make it simple for you and bury the lead in the first 15 seconds.
How Simplicity Creates Clarity
When we talk physical therapy exercise and home programs, it can be easy to get caught up in what I refer to as “fluff.” What looks cool, what’s trendy, what did I just see on social media? While “fluff” might be fun in the moment, and just to be clear I’m not saying physical therapy can’t be fun, what happens is we begin to cloud proper decision making instead of a proper prioritization of our symptoms. In other words, we create noise where instead simplicity provides the clarity needed.
Footwear Fundamentals: Your Physical Therapist's Guide to Running Shoes
For those who know me best, there are few topics I love nerding out about more than running shoes. In fact, I worked at a running shoe store for a short while before starting physical therapy school- shout out to amazing Performance Running Outfitters in Milwaukee, WI!
I fully admit that the variety of shoes out there is overwhelming, with fancy jargon like “Ripstop upper”, “EVA foam”, “”guide-rails”...what does it all mean?
Mastering the Deadlift Bar Path
I joke with lots of people, weightlifting always boils down to two things, biomechanics and biology. In the case of the bar path, we’re looking to minimize the distance the bar needs to travel while maximizing our mechanical leverage. The farther the bar is away from our center of gravity, the more we have to work to move the same weight.
Soak Away the Pain: The Healing Benefits of Bathing
Taking baths is one of the most underrated tools in the physical therapy world when it comes to pain management and symptom improvement. We all know the benefits of taking a bath for stress management and the state of zen that can be realized. However, I believe many of us underestimate the value when it comes to acute or irritable symptoms.
Choose Your Weapon: Trap Bar vs Barbell
In a field where we have boundless choices and multiple pathways to success, there still lies the question, what will get us there the fastest and the most effective way? In the debate of whether or not to use a trap bar versus the traditional barbell in the deadlift, there are really no wrong answers. Rather what are the right questions that may lead you to the better choice.