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KNEE,
ANDBACK
SELFCARE
MANUAL
START HERE
Everyone experiences pain and injury, but what we do with it determines how we feel in the
long-run.
This document includes a way to classify your own pain patterns, and make modifications to
your current training and prehabilitation programs. Doing so will allow you to continue
progressing, fix your injuries from the ground up, and learn how to administer your own
myofascial release techniques. This manual allows you to literally take your orthopedic health
into your own hands (instead of paying someone hundreds of dollars a session to do it for you).
Many people are dealing with a number of chronic issues across all three of these areas — if
that’s you, that’s okay. This manual will still help. To get the most out of your self care, I highly
recommend that you prioritize your ONE biggest challenging area and systematically work to
improve it before moving onto the next. (I’ll show you how.)
It’s easy to fall into the “if some is good, more must be better” mentality. That’s simply not true
when it comes to regaining your health and pain-free movement. We identify the ONE key
linchpin of pain or dysfunction, the one area that will help the OTHER areas if improved, and put
all our focus on that.
1
Once you get into a rhythm with your prehab programming, don’t just stop there. Continue to
use it, program it into your warm ups. If something starts working for you, keep doing it! Never
quit on a winner!
Self-care is something that I believe everyone on earth should be able to do with autonomy.
This of course does NOT replace a medical or professional diagnosis. If you are dealing with
serious injuries, or serious pain or dysfunction, I highly recommend you go in for a professional
evaluation with your doctor or physical therapist. When in doubt, get the green light from a
professional assessing you in person.
Feel free to reach out to me on social media or our Facebook community and I’ll be happy to
refer you into one of my trusted healthcare allies in our ever growing network!
Alright, let’s jump into the system! Be sure to take the time to watch the video tutorials, read the
coaching notes and corrective write ups, and move through at your own pace.
SHOULDERS
SHOULDER: SELF-ASSESSMENT
SHOULDER: EXERCISE MODIFICATIONS
SHOULDER: HARDCORE REHABILITATION PROGRAM
SHOULDER HANDS-ON SELF-MYOFASCIAL RELEASE TECHNIQUES
KNEES
KNEE PAIN: SELF-ASSESSMENT
KNEE EXERCISE MODIFICATIONS
KNEE: HARDCORE REHABILITATION PROGRAM
KNEE: HANDS-ON SELF MYOFASCIAL RELEASE TECHNIQUES
LOWER BACK
LOWER BACK PAIN: SELF-ASSESSMENT
LOWER BACK EXERCISE MODIFICATIONS
LOWER BACK PAIN: HARDCORE REHABILITATION PROGRAM
LOWER BACK PAIN: HANDS-ON SELF MYOFASCIAL RELEASE TECHNIQUES
Top 3 Coaching Cues To Increase Performance and Avoid Injury
2
SHOULDERS
SHOULDER: SELF-ASSESSMENT
Figuring out what type of pain you are dealing with is the first step towards developing a
program to rid your body of any type of shoulder pain. Due to the complexity of the
muscles and other structures around the shoulder, not every case of generalized
shoulder pain can be treated the same!
Use the following self-assessment tests to figure out whether you are presenting with
limited range of motion, and impingement syndrome, rotator cuff issues or a
combination of all of these. We will further define these types of pain in depth in each
section coming up.
https://youtu.be/y8FQ0TEloDo
In the Shoulder Mobility test we are looking for the same amount range of motion on
both the left and right shoulders. These specific functional movements combine many
common ranges of motions of the shoulder all in one move. If you cannot get your fists
within a hand's length of one another without cheating, you are dealing with a functional
range of motion deficit that can be easily corrected with some concentrated soft tissue
work and dynamic stretching.
https://youtu.be/IGVHv9w_o0w
The shoulder-clearing test identifies impingement syndromes that commonly cause pain
in the front of the shoulder over the joints themselves. If you have any pain during
these movements, you can self-assess yourself with an impingement type dysfunction
that is limiting the space that your soft tissues are able to freely move through when
actively utilizing the shoulders. Fixing your posture with the rehabilitation program
below along with the positioning of your soft tissue and joints will be key players in
getting rid of these lingering symptoms.
3
Active Shoulder Flexion Test
https://youtu.be/I8En5AF2U_4
Get in front of a mirror without a shirt on and check out the way your shoulder blades
move as you elevate your arms overhead. Are your shoulder blades shooting up and
around the sides of your back or do they move with rhythm and precision. Does the
right side movement identical to the left? If you see abnormalities in either the rhythm
or symmetry, you may be presenting with soft tissue restrictions and scapular rhythm
dysfunctions that place undue stress on smaller more delicate structures of the
shoulder. Relearning proper form of specific movements and enhancing your soft tissue
quality and length will help to return your shoulder back to a neutral position where they
belong.
https://youtu.be/-l8gNXS5yjA
Combining external rotation of the shoulder with elevation will challenge the stability and
position of the rotator cuff muscles. This is also the most injury prone position of the
shoulder. If you present with pain at end range of this test, your rotator cuff may be at
risk, especially with overhead and pressing movements! Time to modify your current
training routine and learn to live in certain ranges of motions and positions to limit future
damage of these intricate rotator cuff muscles. More on exercise modifications next.
4
SHOULDER: EXERCISE MODIFICATIONS
Shoulder pain can limit what you able to do in the gym there is no doubt about that! An
easy way to identify risky exercises and movements is by using pain to as your
compass. The only problem with solely using pain to provide feedback is that
sometimes everything hurts. This is when it is important to break down movements that
truly put you at risk for debilitating injuries and other you can manage to work through.
Using these simple exercise modifications for each type of movement, you will be able
to train with resistance while still allowing tissues and joints to heal up for more
permanent relief of the pain that has been holding you back.
Overdoing it on the bench press and its many variations is most likely what got you into
this painful position in the first place. Before you throw away the idea of pressing in any
capacity to “save your shoulders” make sure you using the correct incline on the bench.
It has been shown that a slight inclined angle for both the barbell and dumbbell
variations of the bench press can position the ball and socket joint of the shoulder in a
more stable position for less stress on the soft tissues and joints themselves.
A slight incline means one notch up on most adjustable benches. If you are old school
and only have a flat bench at your disposal, place two 45-pound plates next to each
other at the head of the bench to raise the incline slightly.
The traditional grip is just that, traditional. Pressing and pulling in any direction using an
overhand grip closes down the space in the shoulder girdle causing you to hurt in the
process. And if you have already identified yourself as presenting with impingement like
symptoms in the self-assessment section above, using the wrong grip could put the final
nail in your training coffin. In order to relieve some unwanted stress through the front of
the shoulder, we must change up the grip.
Enter the neutral grip, your new best friend. Positioning your palms facing one another,
the front side of the shoulder now has more room to move freely and has less likelihood
of chronic inflammation and injury among other things.
5
When combined with a slight incline, the neutral grip provides a huge training stimulus
for the chest and triceps, and will also enhance your rib cage stability and positioning.
You can use the neutral grip for flat or incline pressing along with overhead pressing
movements. Change up the grip and reap the benefits!
3: Positions to Avoid- End Range Internal/External Rotation + Elevation
If there was a single position in which you should never, ever train while recovering from
an injury it is the combination of elevation with end range internal and external rotation.
This position puts exponential stress on the four rotator cuff muscles. Simply said, we
need to minimize our risk of injury while healing up by staying the hell out of these
positions!
Common exercises that place our shoulders in these positions are the behind the neck
military press and lat pull down. Make the simple modification to these exercises by
practicing a bar to chin instead and avoiding the end range external rotation.
4: Positions to Protect and Progress- The True Neutral Open Packed
Position
If only there was a position that would protect our shoulders against painful injuries and
chronic overuse of our tissues…wait, there is! The open packed position used in
combination with the shoulder screw home mechanism prevents unwanted stress and
forces traveling through the surrounding tissues.
The screw home mechanism, also known as “packing the shoulder,” is the most
centered position of the head of the humerus (upper arm bone) in the glenoid fossa
(portion of the shoulder blade, think the socket). The screw home mechanism activated
stabilizers of the shoulder, and positions the shoulder in a neutral position before any
pressing or loading movements.
Fore more about the screw home mechanism, check this out: Shoulder Packing
and Centration
6
SHOULDER: HARDCORE REHABILITATION PROGRAM
Use this program three non-consecutive days a week to enhance your range of motion,
optimize your movement patterns and capacity and feel and move better than ever
before.
On-Wall Flexion
https://youtu.be/Dux1OuNp0ok
Sets: 2
Reps: 10
Key Points: Keep your Lower Back and Head in contact with wall
https://youtu.be/GEkT4I1PD90
Sets: 3
Reps: 8
Key Points: Contract your upper and lower traps while expanding the rib cage
https://youtu.be/UoyLGydlBhU
Sets: 1
7
Key Points: Position the lacrosse ball right behind your rear delt
Side-lying Windmills
https://youtu.be/TkcOdoNkIU4
Sets: 2
Reps: 10
Key Points: Expand the rib cage and coordinate breathe with reach
https://youtu.be/dVjEr9PjpYI
Sets: 1
Reps: 20
Key Points: Exhale fully as you extend the spine over the foam roller
https://youtu.be/mjLULV_jjY4
Sets: 2
Reps: 8
Key Points: Coordinate breathing and rotate fully at top of motion
8
Crucifix Stretch
https://youtu.be/VaE3xRf9e60
Sets: 2
https://youtu.be/CtFHN6f4-s4
Sets: 1
Key Points: Find dysfunctional tissue and oscillate over those spots
9
BONUS: SHOULDER HANDS-ON SELF-MYOFASCIAL
RELEASE TECHNIQUES
Using your hands on your own body provides the ultimate environment for soft tissue
recovery and regeneration. One of the most common sites of dysfunction and
mal-alignment is found through the front of the shoulders and chest. The main muscle
of concern is the pectoralis major which is the pain mover in any pressing movement.
More so, the pec major insertion point located in the armpit is the area that is prone to
neurological tension and scar tissue formation.
Treating effectively through this region can release tension and restrictions throughout
the entire upper extremity. Check out the exclusive Hands-On SMR video below to
master your technique and become your own physical therapist. Time to get to work!
https://youtu.be/RWtAYDumaEI
When presenting with impingement like symptoms in the front of the shoulder and soft
tissue restrictions from overuse or postural stress syndromes, a common area of
concern is the long head of the biceps tendon.
This tendon is highly active during both pushing and pulling movements, both as a
primary mover and secondary stabilizer of the true shoulder joint. With the dual role of
the biceps tendon, it takes on a huge load of stresses and shear forces that can cause
debilitating injuries both from overuse and trauma.
Using the exclusive Hands-On SMR videos below, learn to treat your biceps tendon to
reduce your risk of chronic injuries!
https://youtu.be/ckyzx90r3bE
10
KNEES
In an American society where severe, debilitating injuries have become an accepted
price of being fit and athletic, we, as an industry, must learn to evolve our thinking and
practices to address this injury epidemic before it puts us in the ground! Knee pain can
limit your ability to train pain free in the gym. It can limit what you are able to do in your
everyday life. And above all else, lingering knee pain can cause us to become inactive
due to the pain!
Over the past three decades, the only serious rival to the notorious increases of lower
back pain has been the drastic spike in the rates of knee injuries. Through both
overuse and traumatic injuries, knee pain is a top three orthopedic dysfunction in our
country.
Through this four part series, we will give you the tools to self-assess your knee pain,
figure out how to modify your existing exercise regiment to limit the damage, along with
giving you the tools to self-treat your knees with rehabilitation programing and exclusive
Hands-On Self Myofascial Release Techniques.
Common sites of knee pain usually have to do with the kneecap and its function. Since
many of the muscles of the upper and lower leg attach very close or directly onto the
kneecap, its movements and position are important for long-term health and reducing
the likelihood of injury.
After going through the following four self-assessment tests, you will be able to figure
out the exact location of your knee pain, and take the first steps towards your recovery.
11
Alternating Forward Lunge Test
https://youtu.be/4z8GLIsxQY8
The lunge pattern has caused many front of the knee injuries in its day! Due to the high
amount of force put through the quadriceps muscles and down into the patella
(kneecap), the lunge can be very debilitating if performed with poor form or high
frequency.
Lunge forward and make sure your knee is bending as deep as possible. You are
looking for signs of pain at the front of the knee around the kneecap on this test. If no
pain presents, then that is a negative sign! If pain is present, make note of the location
and move onto the next three tests to narrow down where that pain is coming from.
https://youtu.be/6sIqNFIwyaQ
The deep squat and hold is one of the most foundational movements that a human
being is capable of completing. Simply said, everyone in the world, no matter how old,
how athletic or how overweight, should be able to do this without grimacing in pain.
This is also a great test due to its simplicity.
Put your feet about shoulder width apart, point your toes out slightly and squat down.
Once you get as low as you can, sit in this position for 20 seconds. Notice how your
knees feel while in this position. We are looking again for pain to be present on the
front side of the knee, especially through the medial (towards the middle) portion of the
joint. If you have pain, this is a positive test and may be presenting with some joint or
cartilage issues that may require some hands-on soft tissue work, therapy and
modifications of your current exercise program.
12
Child’s Pose- Direct Knee Pressure Test
https://youtu.be/s9nfRb0V9-o
If you are thinking this test is too much yoga than you are capable of, think again! This
test allows us to put nearly your entire bodyweight through the fronts of your knees and
through your kneecaps. This again is a pain provocation test meaning that if you have
any pain, these is a positive test for anterior knee dysfunction, and are in need of some
remediation of exercise and rehab.
Bring your butt back as far towards your heels as possible and sit back deep into this
stretch. Be aware of how your knees feel, especially directly over your kneecaps. Hold
for 20-30 seconds and monitor if you have pain, a change in the type or pain or no pain
at all. Sometimes a deep ache will come on towards the end of the hold which most
likely points to some local swelling in the knee joint. Anytime there is swelling or fluid
present, something internally in the knee is not right.
https://youtu.be/SqsEb4ET1zY
If you have presented with pain in any of the three above tests, you can go ahead and
skip the jump test. This test is to weed out positional and direct force stress and pain
from dynamic pain. No point kicking you while you are down!
If you have made it through the previous tests with minimal to no pain, go ahead and
get your feet under your hips and explosively jump up in the air and repeat 5-8 jumps.
Stay on your toes, this will challenge the patellar tendon and kneecap stability and most
likely cause pain if there is something out of the ordinary going on.
Dynamically loading the knees challenges both stability and mobility all at once. This is
why it is a more high level movement that should be avoided during recovery from knee
pain. For more on exercise modifications, check out the next section!
13
KNEE EXERCISE MODIFICATIONS
Knee pain can hinder many types of training programs. From running to powerlifting,
knee pain not only holds back our capability to make gains towards our goals, but also
puts our joints at risk for long-term wear and tear and dysfunction.
Using the following quick fixes for exercise modifications to enhance your knee
recovery, you will be able to continue to train in a safe and effective manner no matter
what your specific goals!
Due to every human body being significantly different and unique from both a structural
and soft tissue standpoint, there is not one magic foot position for the king of all lower
body movements, the squat. That being said, while dealing with knee pain, we can
position ourselves for the greatest chance of avoiding pain and progressing throughout
training.
A standard starting point for squatting with knee pain is to place your feet at a slightly
wider stance than normal (4-6 inches wider than shoulder width with each foot), and
limiting your range of motion to just under parallel. The wider foot position will make the
squat more hip dominant, getting bigger muscles like the glutes and hamstrings more
involved while taking undue pressures off the front of the knee!
For more on choosing the optimal foot position for the squat visit:
14
Lunge: Reverse vs. Forward
If you crank forward lunges out long and hard enough, they will catch up with you, and
that’s a fact. No matter how pristine your forward lunge technique, time only leads to
discomfort, pain and injuries.
The reverse lunge can be a great alternative to the traditional forward lunge without the
anterior knee pain it’s gotten the bad rep for. Just because it’s easier on the knees
doesn’t mean the reverse lunge won’t deliver the training same training effect. The
reverse lunge is a hip hinge dominant movement, and will activate the glutes and
hamstrings more than the forward lunge.
For more on choosing which lunge is right for you visit:
Training involving high loads and frequent impacts may be the most debilitating form of
exercise known to man. Some forms of high impact training include running, jumping
and repeated single leg loading.
As you increase the force of your feet hitting the ground, the forces generated from the
ground reacting to your body also increase. This shoots unwanted stress up your legs,
into your knees, through your hips and even into your spine. When practiced multiple
times a week and for long and grueling sessions each training day, wear and tear of the
knees is bound to happen. It is just a matter of time.
Common forms of knee pain are likely to be caused by too much quadriceps dominant
training. Take running for instance, minimal to no glute involvement but huge amounts
of stress through the quadriceps. Building up your posterior chain (also known as the
glutes, hamstrings and positional muscles of the lower back) can play a protective role
in knee health while also limiting the knee dominant training.
15
A ratio that I use with my athletes and clients is 2:1 for posterior chain to anterior chain
specific training. That means for every exercise that involves a huge amount of force
out of your quads, you should be doing two exercises that specialize in your glutes and
hamstrings. This ratio will keep you healthy long into your training career.
https://youtu.be/iImnQNMBG0w
Sets: 2
Reps: 15
Key Points: Keep your front side heel pinned to the ground
https://youtu.be/-6rgrFEKjdE
Sets: 2
Key Points: Get a larger stretch into your hip flexors with each additional rep
16
Standing Hamstring Mobilization
https://youtu.be/fEP3fIUhMvM
Sets: 2
Reps: 20
Key Points: Hinge at the hips to accentuate the stretch through the hamstrings
https://youtu.be/g14aG2dQd8E
Sets: 2
Key Points: Breathe deeply and sink down deeper into the stretch
https://youtu.be/_Ktua957nDI
Sets: 3
Reps: 5
Key Points: The slower the descent from the step up the better
17
KNEE: HANDS-ON SELF MYOFASCIAL RELEASE
TECHNIQUES
The lateral knee can be a very problematic area for knee pain and dysfunction. Due to
the location of the insertion point of the IT-Band splaying across the front side of the
knee and coursing over many powerful muscles such as the vastus lateralis quadriceps
muscle, this location can literally get stuck with scar tissue and neurological tension.
Using a tension back up towards your hip with the index finger backed up with the
middle finger, get that knee moving and go to work! This is a dense piece of fascia so
you can treat the IT-Band aggressively with a ton of force. Also, it can be treated every
single day. Just make sure you are not irritating the underlying quad and hamstring
muscles!
https://youtu.be/4ECAm881a6E
The teardrop quadriceps muscle is very important for medial knee stability. This muscle
positions the kneecap in order to protect some of the more intricate structures of the
internal knee such as the ACL and other ligaments.
Using both hands tensioning and stabilizing, move your knee from a straightened
position into a fully flexed position using your hamstrings. Hold the tension for one
second at the back end range and repeat!
https://youtu.be/VLQJVuJqlNE
18
LOWER BACK
How’d your lower back feel today getting out of bed? Most likely not great after 8 plus
hours in the sitting in the office yesterday like many of us are forced to do. If you’re
having any degree of lower back pain, you are not alone! Over half the American
population walks around on a daily basis with some form of lower back pain (LBP), of
which a majority goes undiagnosed and untreated.
This condition is a major contributor to why our healthcare system has taken a huge
financial hit, our standard of care in treating this condition has dropped, and why more
and more people are going untreated. Why has lower back pain become to prevalent in
our Americanized society, and what actions can we take now in treating lower back
pain, and limiting it’s near epidemic effects?
In this four part series, we are going to teach you the skills to self-assess your specific
type of lower back pain, modify your existing exercise program to reduce the likelihood
of re-injury and get you on a tried and true lower back pain rehabilitation program
including exclusive Hands-On Self Myofascial Release Techniques.
Using the self-assessment tests below, you will be able to self-assess your lower back
pain, and take steps into figuring out which intelligent modifications to your exercise
program will keep you progressing towards getting rid of this pain in the ass once and
for all.
https://youtu.be/xt00SmWE5m4
19
The prone press up places the body in a supported position while still getting to near
end range extension of the spine. This is a pain provocation test meaning if you have
pain, you test positive for this specific test.
Position your hands under your shoulders and with your legs together press up into an
extended position and exhale deeply. Be aware of your spinal position. Are you able to
press yourself up into elbows extended position or is your range of motion limited? Do
you have local lower back pain when you extend? Make note of all abnormalities you
feel with the movement.
https://youtu.be/Vl-xTSLna-0
Though this is the same position as the knee pain test in the previous section, the
child’s pose allows us to place the spine in forward flexed position. If you have any pain
while in this position, this would be considered a positive test for flexion intolerant lower
back pain.
Sit deep into this position for up to 30 seconds. Sometimes pain will come on as the
stretch is held for prolonged periods. Pain that presents after longer holds in the testing
position are most likely to be joint related as opposed to involving the soft tissues
primarily.
When muscles compensate to protect the spine, they will fire off until they become
fatigued enough to turn off. By holding for the full 30 seconds, we are giving the
stabilizing muscles time to turn off, showing the true stability of the spine in this position.
For more on flexion and extension based intolerance for lower back pain visit:
20
Standing Toe Touch Test
https://youtu.be/HzP8eX4-XUg
Simple yet effective, the toe touch test identifies many potentially debilitating types of
lower back pain. From neurological tension to sacroiliac joint dysfunction, the toe touch
is one of the most functional movements we can look at to identify future injury risks and
current exercise modifications.
Stand with your feet touching and knees fully straightened and reach down as low as
possible with your hands towards your toes. Do not stay in this forward flexed position,
come right back up into neutral in a controlled fashion.
If you have pain either going down into the toe touch or returning back into a neutral
position, this is a positive sign. Make sure you are not having any shooting pain going
from your lower back down into your legs and past your knees. If you experience any
serious and sharp pain as described above, your best bet is to go in and get that
checked out in person!
https://youtu.be/onqEuUJMC88
While in a standing position, place your arms over your head and bend back as far as
possible then return back to neutral. This test, similar to the prone press up test, is
looking at your spinal extension, but only in a standing position.
Standing can test your ability to balance and coordinate movement along with range of
motion of your spine and hips working synergistically together. If you have any pain in
your lower back or pelvis during this movement, this will be considered a positive test.
Make note of the location of your pain, especially if it presents on one side and not the
other.
21
LOWER BACK EXERCISE MODIFICATIONS
If you have clocked enough hours under the bar and in the gym, you know that
lower-back injuries can easily derail your training and lifestyle. But if you’re in the
middle of your season, or are gearing up for an event, you don’t always have the luxury
of taking time off from training and sport specific work. When that’s the case,
intelligently programmed back-friendly modifications are a necessity.
Here are four strategies to train through lower-back pain while still making gains in the
gym. These strategies will keep your healthy and allow your body to still reap the
benefits of your training, all while being safe in the process.
In addition to avoiding the position you were in when you got hurt, stay off these
movements until you earn the right to program them back into your routine:
● Deadlift
● Barbell Row
● Good Mornings
● Full Range Crunches/Sit-Ups
● Back Extensions
● Low Bar Back Squat
● Leg Press
Single-leg work is essential to strength and hypertrophy gains. For your program, first
do heavy single-leg work, then movements out of the split stance for strength and
power, and finally, bilateral symmetrical work with extended sets, finishers and
conditioning work.
The key is to get as much work out of these single-leg movements as possible in order
to pre-exhaust your legs and move into the next phase of the training session. Choose
one hip-dominant and one knee-dominant movement for each of the three
subcategories of your workout (single-leg, split stance, bilateral).
22
Split Stance for Upper Body / Lower Body Work
Symmetrical stances are notoriously hard on the lower back and pelvis due to having to
stabilize both the right and left sides of the body equally and simultaneously.
By splitting the stance and incorporating single leg work into your lower body training
days along with working out of a split stance to deload your lower back during pulling
and pressing movements of the upper body, your lower back will not be taxed and will
have the chance to recover.
Proper posture is pivotal to taking stressful loads off the lower back during the day and
in your training. Protect your back by keeping your ribs down and in a neutral position.
This will position your core muscles for optimal activation and further stabilize your
spine. You can also tighten the muscles around your midsection by engaging your
glutes and lats.
This position and core activation should be used in every single movement done in a
training session. Whether it is biceps curls of deadlifts, stabilizing the spine, hips and
shoulders decreases the risk of an internal compensation that will shift your spine into
unwanted position. Even without lower back pain or dysfunction, keeping high levels of
tension in your core throughout your workout will yield better results and keep your safe
in the process.
23
LOWER BACK PAIN: HARDCORE REHABILITATION
PROGRAM
Use this program three non-consecutive days a week to enhance your range of motion,
optimize your movement patterns and capacity and feel and move better than ever
before.
Psoas Stretch
https://youtu.be/coku_lT-9yk
Maybe the best stretch of all time, the half kneeling psoas stretch works to regain our
hip mobility while getting you into a position that is polar opposite of what you most
likely spend all day in; sitting. If I were to do one stretch for the rest of my life, it would
be the psoas stretch.
Make sure your pelvis stays in neutral under you while stretching the hip flexors. It will
be very easy to dump the pelvis forward into an anteriorly positioned tilt. Make sure you
don’t dump by firing up your butt muscles on the side which you are kneeling on. This
will automatically increase the stretch and keep your spine and pelvis in neutral.
Sets: 2
Key Points: Keep your pelvis in neutral and flex your butt!
https://youtu.be/TkcOdoNkIU4
While in the side lying position, one knee is going to be placed up at 90 degrees of
elevation and flexion as shown in the video. This position makes sure that the pelvis
24
and lower back are locked into place in order to stretch some of the muscles causing
pain and discomfort.
Focus on stretching through the rib cage and upper thoracic spine. Incorporating deep
breathing with this movement will also increase the dynamic stretch, which is always a
good thing. Make the movements smooth and try to get as much range of motion as
you can out of each and every pass.
Sets: 2
Reps: 15
Key Points: Expand your rib cage and stretch through the entire shoulder.
https://youtu.be/5BSrSYvQNeM
This is a corrective exercise that I perfected over the years that mimics the type of joint
mobilizations that only the best physical therapists and sports medicine doctors are able
to achieve using external force!
The key to this movement is to pin the lower back and pelvis to the ground and use that
position as leverage to get a deeper stretch into both internal and external rotation of
the hip. You will be actively moving the hip you are stretching into the rotated position
and increasing the stretch with the opposite leg that is positioned over the knee. Use
gravity to your advantage!
Sets: 2
Key Points: Keep your lower back and pelvis pinned to the ground.
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Pelvis Repositioning
https://youtu.be/KzHBsyIQOtU
Getting your pelvis into a neutral position is one of the most basic things that we can do
in order to keep our lower backs healthy for the long run. This becomes even more
important when you have already sustained a lower back injury and are looking to
protect the spine at all costs.
No matter if you naturally fall into a posteriorly or anteriorly tilted position like I show in
the video, getting back to that neutral (spine straight) position can decrease unwanted
forces through the front and back sides of the spine.
Sets: AMAP
Reps: AMAP
Key Points: Relearn what it is to sit and stand in neutral!
This muscle can be literally turned off when not used properly. This disuse can cause
balance issues along with hip, knee and lower back pain from a lack of functional
alignment. By getting our hands on this muscle, we can increase blood flow and
nutrition to it and turn it on so to say.
You will be moving your body around your leg you are working on, so get ready to move
those feet. Just make sure that your tension is up towards your spine and your move
nice and slow to keep tension in the tissue throughout the move.
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Gluteus Medius
https://youtu.be/r1j07hih4xE
The quadratus lumborum can cause lower back pain and dysfunctional movement
patterns when it gets locked up from scar tissue or neurological tension. Due to its
location directly next to the spine on both sides, when there is a sense of instability in
the spinal column, this muscle will become highly active and guard the entire region.
Sit down for this move and get a feel for where the muscle is. Think an inch or two
laterally from the midline of the spine. Tension this muscle while it is shortened (side
bending towards the side you are treating) and under tension move towards the
opposite side in a side bending and flexing nature.
To get your hands on these muscles may take time to learn, so be patient with your
technique. Remember, many of the best physical therapists and soft tissue
practitioners in the world spend years mastering their manual skills!
Quadratus Lumborum
https://youtu.be/akXvRxvKs00
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Top 3 Coaching Cues To
https://youtu.be/MYrAXwwmZeY
For long-term success in any facet of fitness, learning to achieve and maintain a neutral
spinal posture through the lower back is pivotal.
Not only will a neutral spinal position decrease the likelihood of injuries in the lumbar
spine, pelvis and hips, it will also work towards improving your form and technique in
your major movements which creates a great foundation to work from moving forward in
your training.
Click here to learn how to assess your current posture, and how to achieve a neutral
spine for every single movement you plan to execute in training.
2. How To Avoid Knee Pain and Enhance Performance In Squats And Lunges
https://youtu.be/NImMlRwKxKk
For many lifters and athletes, the knees are common sites of pain, especially over the
knee cap and outside of the leg.
Two of the most notorious movements for predisposing knee pain in the gym are the
squat and lunge variations which are a prominent focus of many people’s programming.
Here are the common faults I see with these lower body movements, and how to correct
them to optimize and maintain perfect positioning for a better transfer onto the field or in
the form of more epic performances under the bar. No equipment needed.
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3. How To Pack The Shoulders And Position For Success
https://youtu.be/BBy5Tw4ydZM
Learning how to achieve a neutral shoulder posture in a stable and packed position is
one of the most game changing moves an athlete and lifter can make to help bulletproof
their shoulders, elbows and upper spine.Getting a feel for this position is tough to
achieve, thus why using these drills from a quadruped position have shown such great
success with my athletes and clients over the years.Here’s how to “feel” the correct
position of the shoulders, and how to translate this position into your upper and lower
body strength movements.
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