Back Pain
Do You Deadlift?
Maybe the better question is: Should You Deadlift? I have had many conversations about the Deadlift in my career. People LOVE to use this as a main-stay conditioning exercise. But, as PT who specializes in prevention, the Deadlift is just not a favorite of mine. Because Deadlift is intrinsically bad? NO, not all. The fact…
Read MoreBack Pain Series: NEVER Lift and Twist!
Over the years I have treated many patients experiencing significant and acute low back pain. It can be debilitating and fairly scary. When I ask them the cause of their pain, the answer usually entails some type of lift and twist. A few years ago, two patients were helping move a large fermenter that did not “pivot” well and…
Read MoreWhy Superman (The Exercise) Needs to Be Stopped!
The Superman Exercise has become very popular in the fitness world. I see it at the gym, online and as a part of new fitness trends. I even see it in rehab now and then. However, this move is dated. And, Just. Plain. Bad. Yes, I know it is known to strengthen the back and, some claim, the glutes. And,…
Read MoreVideo Blog: Activate the Core!
A friend of mine recently had a baby and asked: “So what is the best way to start building back my abdominal muscles?” Without getting into detail about core anatomy or into a debate over which muscles are really part of the core and blah, blah, blah, I’m certain we all agree we need the inner abdominal layers.…
Read MorePiriformis Syndrome: It’s Not About the Tennis Ball
Here we go. I believe the common treatment protocol for piriformis syndrome is not addressing the real issue. I understand this may stir some clinical debate, but as a PT who treats the cause of pain and not the area of pain, it doesn’t make sense to just treat the piriformis muscle. Currently, stretching, manual therapy and…
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