The squat is a staple exercise in almost every resistance-training program. Today athletes of all ages and skill levels use the barbell squat to gain strength and power. However, a good amount of controversy still exists on its safety. There are many opinions when it comes to optimal squat depth. Some experts claim squatting asContinue reading Are Deep Squats Bad For The Knees?
The knee needs to stay in perfect alignment with the toes when we squat. Any wobble from this position decreases our ability to produce strength and power. Instability also causes harmful forces to be placed on the structures deep inside our knee. This instability not only decreases our potential for performance but also increases our susceptibility for injury. Today I want to introduce to you my 3-step process for improving knee stability.Continue reading How to Improve Knee Stability
Most athletes do not have an issue in achieving full knee flexion. The main problem we see is the inability to control the knee during dynamic movements like the squat. When I say unstable, what I mean is that often athletes have a difficult time keeping their knee in a steady and unwavering position.Continue reading How to Screen for Knee Stability
Today I wanted to share a few of my favorite tools to improve hip mobility. I also want to share with you my 4-step process in dealing with hip stiffness. 1) Mobilize, 2) Foam Roll, 3) Stretch, 4) Posterior-Chain Activation. Continue reading How to Improve Hip Mobility
Hip mobility is a very important aspect in achieving a full depth squat. Stiff hips decrease our ability to properly activate the appropriate muscles in our hips. Essentially, we bleed out a good amount of power during heavy squats. Understanding the cause of our restricted hip mobility is the first step in establishing effective ways to fix the problem.Continue reading The Squat Fix: Hip Mobility Pt 2
Today I wanted to share a few of my favorite tools. I also want to share with you my 3-step process in dealing with ankle stiffness. If you want to remain competitive or move around pain free, it is vital that you improve and maintain good ankle mobility. Band mobilization, foam rolling and/or classic stretching is the way to go.Continue reading How to Improve Ankle Mobility
Stiff ankles are primarily caused by two different factors: joint and soft tissue restrictions. This lecture is intended to give you a more in depth understanding on the different mechanisms that can cause stiffness to the ankle joint.Continue reading The Squat Fix: Ankle Mobility Pt 2
Stiff ankles are often a culprit behind our squat problems. Today I want to introduce a simple way to assess our ankles. This screen will tell us if we have full mobility or if our movement problems are a result of a problem somewhere else in the body.Continue reading How to Screen Ankle Mobility
“Whether we are squatting, lunging, running or jumping, a stable foot provides a platform for efficient and powerful movement for the rest of the body.”Continue reading The Squat Fix: Don’t Forget The Foot!
Our performance driven culture has placed such an emphasis on performance that we have conceptually re-arranged our athletic priorities. More often than not athletes are willing to sacrifice movement in order to perform. After all is said and done we cannot escape the need for movement competency. This concept of movement competency can be described as the ability for an individual to move without pain or discomfort and with proper joint alignment, muscular coordination and posture.Continue reading The Movement Looking Glass
