– Upper Trap – Thought Viruses – Deadlift – 5×5 – Reciprocity – Sensory Fascia – E5 – Perception – Anti-Valgus – Bad Medine – Cook’s 3’s – Doga
1) The poor upper trapezius. It might be the most understood muscle in the body. It’s not a major shoulder elevator and it isn’t a big problem in shoulder patients. In fact it’s usually the opposite. Check out this months post to learn more.
2) “Thought viruses” are a big problem in rehab. Sometimes patients come in with them, other times PT’s give them to their patients. We need to stop using harsh pathoanatomical diagnoses (use movement instead). I’ve seen it way too often; a patient comes in with some shoulder pain and leaves with subacromial bursitis, RTC tendonitis, and impingement syndrome. Don’t plant diagnoses into patients minds. It can cause centralization, it’s unfair, and maybe even unethical. Check out some Erson’s pet peeves on thought viruses.
3) Cressey has some great advice on how to deadlift forever. Hint: don’t have setbacks!
4) The great Pavel writes about the benefits of the 5×5 training program. If you are trying to get stronger or training to get someone stronger you should pick a lift and give it a try.
5) Reciprocal pelvis and thorax motion in gait is extremely important. Both for mechanical and central mediated neurological factors. The Gait Guy’s talk about it in this article. “The hip must pass through the internal rotation phase before it starts into hip extension. This means that the opposite shoulder must do the same thing.”
6) Fascia is more important than just tensegrity. “Fascia nevertheless is densely innervated by mechanoreceptors which are responsive to manual pressure. Stimulation of these sensory receptors has been shown to lead to a lowering of sympathetic tonus as well as a change in local tissue viscosity. Additionally smooth muscle cells have been discovered in fascia, which seem to be involved in active fascial contractility. Fascia and the autonomic nervous system appear to be intimately connected. A change in attitude in myofascial practitioners from a mechanical perspective toward an inclusion of the self-regulatory dynamics of the nervous system is suggested.” -Robert Schleip (Fascial Plasticity, 2003)
7) More Erson’s Friday Fives – This is a great one on mobility problems hiding stability problems. I’m always amazed when someone’s cervical patterns will become FN after some core or scapula activation.
8) Paul Bach-Y-Rita: “We see with our brains, not with our eyes.”. Todd Hargrove gives an excerpt from his upcoming book on the difference between sensation and perception. Great read.
9) This is both an assessment and an exercise. When my patients can do this it usually correlates with pain free return to activities.
10) Mike Reinold writes about a problem with the medical professions. “We have created this “paralysis-by-evidence” situation where some people think you can’t do anything unless it has strong evidence suggesting it is effective. This approach is challenging and ultimately unrealistic.”
11) Gray Cooks 3 R’s: Reset, Reinforce, Reload. I’ve been using this with every patient for every treatment since I first heard about it a couple years ago. It makes a huge difference and is a great way to treat (regardless of your approach).
Reset: Passive, Reduce Pain & Inflammation, Make Change in System
Reinforce: Behavioral, Lifestyle Changes, Conservative Management, Taping
Reload: Active, Therapeutic/Corrective Exercises, Movement, Motor Pattern Training
12) Dogs will always be better at yoga.
