{ FITNESS BLOG }

Tools of the Trade Here is a picture of all self massage tools I use. Each one has a particular application, they range from big – small: foam roller, medicine ball, soft ball, tennis ball, pinky ball and hard blue ball (squash?). The foam roller is the softest and has a broad contact point which is […]

Self massage, also called self-myofascial release has become a standard practice in the fitness, rehab and sports performance community for good reason. The repetitive stress of exercise and training can take a toll on muscles and connective tissues like ligaments and tendons. Painful muscle tissue (trigger points) can restrict full muscle function leading to decreases in […]

Knee pain is a common complaint for a large percentage of the US population seeking medical care especially the athletic population. There are various names for knee pain depending on symptoms, diagnosis and location. Patellofemoral syndrome and chodromalacia are common terms. Other possible causes of knee pain include arthritis, meniscus/cartilage damage and ligament sprains. This […]

I work with a lot of runners with lower extremity pain and dysfunction. I insist they bring in their running shoes on the first visit so I can review what type of shoe they use and how they fit their feet/body. All shoes are not created equal. I often find differences in fit and alignment […]

Training The internet is overflowing with content about core training and exercise. The focus of my blog posts are to provide a snapshot of my work, informing potential as well as current clients the scope of my work experience and philosophy. I like the saying “less is more”.  That said, all exercises have the potential to […]

Posture Assessment The first step in assessing core function is to observe the client’s posture when they stand, sit and move. Ideally the spine should be supported in a neutral position by good core muscle tone during all these activities. Excessive curvature in the lumbar spine (lordosis) or the absence of a lumbar curve (flat back) […]

Core exercises and core training are interchangeable terms for exercises that target the abdominal area, low back and pelvis. Core training is not a new concept. Joseph Pilates, the founder of Pilates training method focused on abdominal training, postural alignment and mindful exercise in the early part of the 20th century. In the past 15 […]

“How long will it take for this injury to heal”? This is a common question I hear frequently from athletes with sports injuries. They don’t like slowing down or stopping their routine, injuries are inconvenient disruptions to their busy training schedule.  Answering this questions isn’t easy or straight forward.  There are many factors involved in […]

“B” came to my office several years ago barely able to walk, in fact she used crutches due to severe back pain. B had a long history of back pain, now retired she wanted a more active lifestyle without pain or the constant sense of vulnerability surrounding her spine. It took some time but gradually her […]

As the winter months waned I kept thinking about riding my bike. I put it away when the snow started to pile up in December, it was safer to walk to work than risk falling hard on a patch of ice. Finally in March the temperature was above 40, clear skies and the roads were […]